Description
Object description
Australian private served with 1st Bn Royal Australian Regt in South Vietnam, 1965
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Perth, Australia, 1945-1964: family; family's military service from First World War; membership of Australian Army Cadets, including attending camps; Anzac Days and hearing stories of Second World War; outline of military career. Aspects of period as private with 2nd Bn Royal Australian Regt in Australia, 1964-1965: degree of awareness of Vietnam War; attitude of regulars to influx of National Service conscripts; pattern of training; attitude of civilians towards National Service; method of selection for National Service; attitude to prospect of going to South Vietnam; degree of awareness of situation in Vietnam.
REEL 2 Continues: question of personal morale in unit; problems identifying civilians from Viet Cong; leave prior to embarkation for Vietnam; attitude to going to Vietnam. Recollections of operations as private with 1st Bn Royal Australian Regt in South Vietnam, 1965: voyage aboard HMAS Sydney from Australia to South Vietnam; awareness of American forces' behaviour and tactics; contrast in Australian and American tactics; initial impressions on arrival; unit officers; actions on making contact with Viet Cong; platoon commander's poor leadership in the field.
REEL 3 Continues: arrival in camp; incident of being stung by scorpion whilst showering; daily activities around camp; relations with civilians; treatment of civilians by Australian Army troops; laying in ambush for four days; occasion of being under fire whilst cutting bananas; problems of accidental discharge during patrols; arms and equipment carried; contact with Viet Cong during patrol and aftermath; size and composition of patrols.
REEL 4 Continues: search of villages and use of helicopters; use of night glass; helicopter evacuation of wounded; attitude to operations; incident of unit member who shot himself in foot; attitude to being under-fire; attitude to Australian presence in Vietnam; attitude towards Vietnamese and opinion of their tactics; lack of contact with American forces; fight during leave; activities on leave and security measures taken.
REEL 5 Continues: use of armoured personnel carriers for patrols; sight of aircraft strikes and helicopter attacks; threat of mines; Vietnamese method of catching lizards; threat from bomblets; use of graves to sit on; incident of accidental firing on own troops; exploration of Viet Cong tunnel; experiences during hospitalisation; presence of cameraman and artist with unit; attitude to visit by profane entertainer; nature of air support received; question of not taking prisoners of war on operations; unit discipline especially on patrol.
REEL 6 Continues: patrol techniques; use of Self-Loading Rifle; use of dogs; sense of smell in jungle; rations; water carried; actions on return from patrol; comradeship; opinion of role of Salvation Army personnel; relations between officers, NCOs and Other Ranks; contact with home and question of effect of 'Dear John' letters.
REEL 7 Continues: attitude to ending of tour; activities prior to leaving; return flight to Australia; attitude of civilians towards Vietnam War veterans; reaction to people sneaking up on him; problems adjusting to civilian life; story of friend who committed suicide; death of friends who he served with in army; question of alcohol abuse amongst veterans; psychological effects of military service; medical problems.
REEL 8 Continues: lessons learnt from military service in Vietnam War; how servicemen's attitudes changed in Vietnam War; attitude to service in Vietnam War; attitude to firing weapons; attitude towards Vietnam War.