The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Near century temperatures and hundred percent humidity is enough to drive anyone to their favourite water hole. These Australian soldiers in South Vietnam are not out for a quick dip, though. The unbearable climate of South Vietnam's steamy jungles, and the swift-flowing, murky waters of the Soui Da River are all part of the job, and these diggers take it all in their stride. They are taking part in Operation Burnham, which is concentrated on the south-eastern corner of Bien Hoa province, traditional stronghold of the 274th Viet Cong Regiment. The soldiers shown are members of Alpha Company, the Sixth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment/New Zealand, better known as the ANZAC Battalion. After negotiating the slippery river bank, the company found an unoccupied Viet Cong base camp consisting of 15 large bunkers and a number of small fighting pits. Often, camps such as this yield large caches of rice and weapons, but this one, although deserted very recently, was bare. No chances can be taken here. The enemy could be anywhere close by, so a protective cordon is thrown around the base camp. Meanwhile, a temporary headquarters is set up, the company's find is radioed back to the Australian Task Force headquarters at Nui Dat, and engineering supplies are ordered. The bunkers must be destroyed, denying the Viet Cong of yet another strongpoint from which to launch attacks on South Vietnamese and allied installations nearby, and on the civilian population of neighbouring towns. Immediately the two Army engineers travelling with the company, together with other soldiers prepare the bunkers for demolition. These are strong bunkers. The Viet Cong have learned the hard way that they must build three feet of overhead cover on the bunkers to even withstand an indirect hit from aerial bombardment. Five small but deep holes are dug around the roof of each bunker. Into each hole will go four pounds of explosive. It was only minutes ago that the engineering supplies were ordered, but a message is received that they will be arriving by helicopter anytime now. Coloured smoke is thrown to help the chopper pilot find the small opening in the thick jungle canopy, and the RAAF Iroquois helicopter is talked into the dropping zone by the company's 2IC Captain Leonard Grant, a New Zealander. Immediately, the helicopter crew begins winching the explosives and detonators, detonating cord and fuze to the ground. Altogether, 250 pounds of plastic high explosive is delivered. The chopper crew wastes no time getting the supplies on the ground. The longer the helicopter hovers in the one place, the more likely it is to be observed and shot at by the enemy, so the RAAF fly-boys make their stay as short as possible. No time is wasted preparing the explosives...and laying it in the holes. A main line of detonating cord is laid through the axis of the basecamp, and branch lines from each block of explosive are attached to it. The job must be done as quickly and as thoroughly as possible, as the sweat on the face of Sapper Lindsay Cavanagh of Townsville, Qld, testifies. Then a detonator and fuze are added, the company moves 200 yards away, outside the danger area, the fuze is lit, and the engineers head for cover. Four minutes later, what has taken Charley, as the Diggers call the enemy, weeks of hard labour, goes up in a cloud of dust and smoke. The job completed, the company moves on, not knowing what lies ahead. Darkness comes quickly in the thick jungle, and a position is chosen where the company will spend the night. Corporal Vic Zhukov of Neutral Bay, Sydney, NSW, knows how the Australian soldier became known as the Digger, as he digs the pit where company headquarters will operate throughout the night. The other soldiers sleep under plasticised mini-tents which will be pitched after dark...that is when they are not manning the gun positions around the night position. What excitement or tragedy will tomorrow bring. No-one knows, least of all these latter-day ANZACS. Also identified: Private Robin Delaney of Cabramatta, NSW; Pte Bruce Lewis of Belrose, NSW; Pte Tony Muir of Devonport, Tas; Pte Clive Purcell of Broken Hill, NSW; Sgt Steve West of Coopers Plains, Qld; Sapper Bill Miskin of Townsville, Qld; Pte Richard Lucas of Seaforth, NSW; Pte Donald McLeod of Joondanna, WA.
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Less than two months before being due to return to Australia, soldiers of the 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, have made a hilltop to hilltop change of location in Vietnam to occupy and f
Three miles south of the Australian Task Force base, troops of the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, are building a fence which will be a Viet Cong barrier unique in Vietnam. Stretching fo
