The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment celebrated the Battalion's 23rd birthday at the weekend in a setting of rubber trees and amid the noises of war at their base at Nui Dat, Vietnam. It was the second Vietnam birthday for the Battalion - the only Battalion to have served two tours of duty in Vietnam. The day began with church services at which prayers were said for members of the Battalion killed in action. Chaplains of religious denominations, and the Battalion Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Phil Bennett of Sydney, NSW, addressed the men. A non-stop sporting programme included touch football and volleyball. The Company teams played enthusiastically in the 90 degrees heat, spurred on by their mates on the sidelines. A barbecue lunch and a birthday cake were highlights of the celebrations. One company, unable to obtain candles discovered that 23 cigarettes served just as well. The honour of cutting the cake was shared by two veterans, Warrant Officer Ron Pincott of Sydney, NSW, now on his third tour of duty in Vietnam and Warrant Officer Cramp of Sydney, NSW, in Vietnam for the second time, and the newest member, Private John Willis of Lithgow, NSW, who joined the unit a few days before the celebration. In its 23 years, 1st Battalion has had birthdays in other war zones - Korea and Malaysia - and has a proud record of distinguished service. (Also identified: Padre I. Clift; Staff Sergeant Frank Deane of Bendigo, Vic.)
Bien Hoa area, South Vietnam, July 1965. Shows a small group of 1 RAR troops being briefed for a patrol. 1 RAR troops out on patrol across grass plains and through thick jungle to a rendezvous point
Viet Cong dance around a large birthday cake with candles. A caption below the image narrates the happy birthday song being sung for 'Uncle' Ho Chi Min. A caption at the top of the drawing reads "Gun
Troops of the 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, took a break from the war to celebrate their unit's birthday in Vietnam this week. About 600 troops - including two companies which returned fro
Troops from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, gained a short respite from most operational duties in South Vietnam on September 1 to celebrate their unit's birthday. It was the first time
The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment last week returned to a parade ground. The first time it has done so since arriving in Vietnam just on five months ago. The occasion was the unit's t
For a birthday with a difference, the most northern Australian Defence installation in the Malaysian Federation, Butterworth RAAF base, where members of the 110th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery are celeb
