The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
This diorama portrays one type of 'cordon and search' operation conducted by Australians in South Vietnamese villages. Also shown is a form of Viet Cong tunnel system often encountered by Australians. Cordon and search operations were conducted with the aim of eliminating Viet Cong influence in the villages. Before dawn, Australian troops would surround the designated village with a cordon of men. With the assistance of South Vietnamese forces, they would search the village for Viet Cong guerrillas and political leaders, arms and food caches. The entire population of the village (which, in some cases, was temporarily removed from the village) would also interrogated, a process which often led to the capture of further Viet Cong and suspected sympathisers. The Viet Cong used intricate tunnel systems to store rice, arms and ammunition and to provide secret refuges. Command posts and small hospitals were also incorporated into the systems. Entrances and exits were carefully disguised; sharpened bamboo panji stakes were some of the booby traps used to protect the tunnels.
A chronological compilation of footage shot during the building of the east and west wings of the Memorial. All stages of the construction and gallery fit out are depicted. The film shows the fitting
VIETNAM. 1965. PHOTOGRAPH FROM A CHINESE PAMPHLET SHOWING A WOMAN, AN OLD MAN AND A YOUTH, VIET CONG SYMPATHISERS, PREPARING A PANJI PIT (SHARPENED BAMBOO STICKS) OUTSIDE THEIR VILLAGE. WHEN COMPLETED
Australian troops of the 2nd and 7th Battalions of The Royal Australian Regiment, assisted by Vietnamese national police, recently cordoned and searched the village of Binh Gia north of the Australian
Officers of the 5th Battalion RAR are briefed by their CO, Lieutenant Colonel J A Warr for an operation to cordon and search a village for suspect Viet Cong and their sympathisers. Troops disembark f
Difficulties in village cordon and search operations have been many and varied, but one of the greatest difficulties has been the problem of screening the inhabitants and effectively searching a villa
The first item is an mute Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) news report using North Vietnamese and US news footage. Shows a Viet Cong supply route. Viet Cong guerillas in training with sub mach
Centurion tanks preceded soldiers of "D" Company, 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment as they took part in a cordon and search mission covering a number of small hamlets and villages in Phuoc
