The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
The main body of the 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment/New Zealand (ANZAC), Australia's last major combat unit in South Vietnam, left yesterday aboard HMAS Sydney to return to Townsville. The departure of 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) left behind at Vung Tau logistic elements of the Australian Force to complete the cleaning and packing of stores and equipment for their return to Australia. The Force's headquarters remains in Saigon. The Townsville-based battalion arrived in Vietnam on May 23 this year to replace 2RAR. Shortly before, a New Zealand company had arrived to service as the New Zealand component of 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC). The battalion was not new to Vietnam having completed its first tour in 1968/69, and quickly began operations in the northern areas of Phuoc Tuy Province. In mid-June the battalion took part in a major Task Force operation in the Phuoc Tuy-Long Khanh border area - the second of eight major operations 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) would take part in during its six-month tour. The battalion's headquarters spent nearly all its time on the top of Courtenay Hill, a 600-ft high, red-tipped feature only a few hundred yards from the Phuoc Tuy-Long Khanh border. The main enemy operating in this area was 274 North Vietnamese Army Regiment. Between mid-June and late July the battalion and its supporting elements severely disrupted the enemy's plans in the northern areas of the Province. The Vietcong/North Vietnamese Army units were forced to abandon constructed base camps and relocate them outside the Province. In September 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC), again operating in the north of the Province, contacted a large group of enemy, later identified as members of the 3rd Battalion of 33 NVA Regiment, in a heavily defended bunker system. By the end of this operation 3/33 NVA Regiment was forced to move out of the Province. Altogether, 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) killed more than 70 enemy during its shortened tour and played a major role in forcing two enemy main force units out of Phuoc Tuy Province. In the same period, seven members of the battalion were killed in action and 39 wounded. Also identified: President Thieu; Colonel John Salmon of Canberra, ACT; 47001 Lieutenant Colonel James Curnow (Jim) Hughes, CO 4RAR, of Townsville, Qld; Major Keith Towning, BC of 104 Bty, of Townsville, Qld; 174128 Lieutenant Christopher Effey (Chris) Stephens, Cav Officer, of St Lucia, Qld.
The Woodside-based 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, mounted one of the most colourful parades yet seen at the 1st Australian Task Force base, Nui Dat, South Vietnam, this month. It was th
Australian and New Zealand soldiers of the combined Anzac battalion, in South Vietnam, returned to their base at Nui Dat recently from the first major operation. The Anzac battalion is made up of thre
Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. 1968-09. After driving Viet Cong from a bunker complex during Operation Hawkesbury, these men of B Company, 4RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 4th Batt
It was the culmination of a year's extensive training for members of the 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) when they sailed from Townsville this week for South Vietnam, on board the troop
Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. 1968-09. Company Sergeant Major (CSM), Warrant Officer Jock Richardson of Mitchelton, Qld, climbs from a captured Viet Cong bunker with a bag of enemy grenades found
Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. 1968-08-30. Private Bruce Hooper of Coorparoo, Qld, a member of the 4RAR /NZ (ANZAC) (The ANZAC Battalion comprising 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and
