Description
Object description
Australian officer served with L Troop, 3rd Sqdn, Special Air Service Regt, 1st Australian Task Force in Vietnam, 1969
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of background in Australia, 1945-1963: background to interest in military history including father's military service, impact of meeting veterans, family military service, 1914-1918, awareness of role of grandmother Elaine Roberts known as 'Soldier Queen', 1914-1918; movements and disruption to education during father's military service; relationship with father and question of effects of active service; sporting activities; recreations; Boy Scout activities. Recollections of service with 13th Field Engineer Sqdn, Army Reserve, Carracatta, Western Perth, 1962: failed attempt to join Light Horse; recruitment; uniform; assistance from father in preparing for kit inspections; drill night training including concentration on drill; weekend training camps including demolition exercises and building Bailey bridges; rifle range training and problem with Self Loading Rifle <SLR>) illustrating importance of training; story of saluting drill on camp; exercise in repairing roads.
REEL 2 continues: nature of infantry patrol training; relationship with ORs, NCOs and officers. Recollections of service with Western Australia University Regt, Perth, 1962-1963: unit role as officer training unit; weapons training including Self Loading Rifle <SLR>, interruption in training to secure educational qualifications, value of theoretical drills on SLR and Bren gun; relationship with other ranks <ORs>; value of regular instructors and reserve soldiers. Background to applications for Royal Military College, Duntroon, Canberra, Australia, 7/1963: nature of radioactive bridge command test; written logical tests; impromptu talks; interview and irrelevance of class; intelligence and psychometric tests; selection with educational proviso; pass rate; father's reactions.
REEL 3 Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period as cadet at Royal Military College, Duntroon, Canberra, 1/1964-12/1967: question of organisation of tertiary degree course; question of sanctioned bullying by senior classes; ignorance of academic element of course; reception; basic training course at Point Huq including PT, SLR, General Purpose Machine Gun M60 (GPMG M60), question of bayonet training, introduction to engineering, exercise in preparing defensive position and navigations skills; morning routine and bullying; syllabus for academic studies with civilian lecturers; PT; punishment drills; room accommodation; food rations; academic exams; educational visits; 6 week field training exercise including platoon training, tactical exercises and carrying GPMG M60.
REEL 4 Continues: 6 week field training exercise including value of instructors' active service experience, role of punishments; question of jungle training and final company attack; question of bullying junior classes; progression of tactical exercises; military history lectures; final year training including engineering, Viet Cong tunnel simulation, battalion tactics, TEWTS, artillery, background to choosing infantry service and logistics; nature of jungle training course at Canungra including battle inoculation, navigation skills, setting up overnight camp, story illustrating importance of drills in reacting to contact with 'enemy' and subsequent analysis of problems; learning teaching skills as cadet; question of leadership training; final exams and assessment.
REEL 5 Continues: passing out parade and ball on commission as lieutenant, 12/1967. Recollections of period with L Troop, 3 Sqdn, Special Air Service Regt, Campbell Barracks, Swanborne, Perth, 1/1968-2/1969: volunteering for SASR; reception; role as duty officer and story of arranging collection of soldiers from Swanborne composition and distribution of unit; nature of SAS selection course at Kingston Barracks, Rottnest Island and Garden Island including failure rate, opinion of instructor Lieutenant Mick Deak, PT, route march, performance of national servicemen, patrolling techniques, jungle training and exercise manhandling railway carriage, arrival by landing craft on Garden Island, patrol training and 9 mile test run.
REEL 6 Continues: nature of SAS selection course at Kingston Barracks, Rottnest Island and Garden Island including road cutting test, final assessment patrol and success in passing course; story of involvement in fight, subsequent threat of court martial and assistance of Major Reg Beesley in securing withdrawal of charges; attending parachute training course at Williamstown including ground training, flight drill, fan tower and Polish tower jumps, exit drills, first parachute jump from Caribou aircraft and award of SAS parachute wings; composition of 3 Sqdn and L Troop; relationship with platoon sergeant and Major Reg Beesley; attending Recondo Patrol course including extreme conditions and effects of fatigue.
REEL 7 Continues: attending Recondo Patrol course including value of course in weeding out unsuitable soldiers, assault boat exercise on reservoir, Collie River crossing, move to Pemberton Forest, capture on patrol, interrogation, abortive escape attempt, release and assistance from civilians to reach rendezvous; live firing tactical exercises including contact drills, use of grenades, technique of evacuation on ropes by helicopters, inadequate maps, navigation skills and battle inoculation using explosives; rifle range exercise; jungle training and final exercise based at Ingham Barracks, Lahore, Papua New Guinea including necessity of acclimatisation to tropical climate, long distance patrol in Aseke sector, maps, climbing mountains, loss of signaller, villages, sleeping arrangements, familiarisation with faunae, issue of live ammunition due to hostile nature of local tribe, story illustrating native's speed across ground.
REEL 8 Continues: jungle training based at Ingham Barracks, Lahore, Papua New Guinea including local police guide, speed across ridge, rendezvous at Wav, navigational difficulties on Bouzeville trek, terrain, leaving local police guide behind losing track, presence of Second World War weapons pits and war debris in jungle, muddy conditions, river crossing and crocodile threat, final exercise in Lae sector, opposition, landing in swamp and realism of training; attitude of local units to SASR and retaliatory practical jokes; relationship with ORs; opinion of Major Reg Beesley; disbandment of K Troop due to inappropriate relationship between officer and ORs; opinion of Second Lieutenants Terry Nolan and Nock Howlett.
REEL 9 Continues: attending course in colloquial Vietnamese at School of Military Intelligence, Woodside, Southern Australia, 11/1968-12/1968; attending NBC course; nature of officers' mess including drinking habits, guest nights and mess games; embarkation leave and reactions of parents to Vietnam posting; flight with advance party to Vietnam, 2/1969. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during operations with L Troop, 3rd Sqdn, Special Air Service Regt, 1st Australian Task Force based at Nui Dat Camp, Vietnam, 2/1969-2/1979: personal morale; nature of defensive positions on SAS Hill; review of Battle of Long Tan, 1966; reputation of Australian troops amongst Viet Cong; role of advance party.
REEL 10 Continues: accompanying patrol of 2nd Sqdn, SAS in Ho Tram Cope sector including helicopter lift, terrain, move into lying up place in scrubland, movements, cautious approach of patrol leader, pick up by helicopter and use of US C food rations; securing floorboards and tents to reorganise accommodation on arrival of L Troop; introduction of corrugated iron wall and sandbag defences around tents; explosion of ammunition dump; sheltering in bunkers during Viet Cong rocket and mortar attacks; construction of bunkers; morning routine; attending squadron 'O' group and briefing NCOs; role of troop sergeant; working parties improving camp infra-structure; food rations; hut buildings and camp layout including bars, showers and latrines; role of hygiene corporal.
REEL 11 food rations; cinema; opinion of drinking habits in bars and messes on camp; composition of 1st ATF; relationship with 4 Troop, New Zealand SAS added to 3 Sqdn including questions of NZ insistence on maintaining national identity and relative competence; nature of typical 5 man reconnaissance patrol including warning orders, preparations, issue of Australian and US dehydrated food rations, hexamine cooker, use of converted SLR, Armalite M16 rifle, 40mm grenade launcher M79 attachment, hand grenades and magazines carried, use of 63 High Frequency wireless set, ground to air beacon and 25 wireless set and water bottles.
REEL 12 Continues: nature of typical 5 man reconnaissance patrol including use of claymore mines, batteries carried, plastic sheet and silk, weight of kit carried, area of patrol operations and buffer zone, receipt of final orders and code pads, checking intelligence reports, issue of final orders, method of insertion by HUHE helicopter, prior visual reconnaissance flight to identify landing and extraction zones, flight out in helicopter covered by helicopter gunship, method of landing, move into laying up position to await possible Viet Cong reaction, question of weight of pack, moving in single file formation, slow progress, lying up drill, method of cooking dehydrated food rations, sleeping arrangements and question of snoring, lack of sentry, moving off, use of sign-language field signals, whispering and minimal conversation, navigation methods and maps.
REEL 13 Continues: nature of typical 5 man reconnaissance patrol including moving and stops, drill on crossing tracks, setting up observation post overlooking track, recording intelligence of Viet Cong movements, presence of major Viet Cong supply route in Courtney River sector, method of laying claymore mine ambush towards end of patrol, opening fire and searching Viet Cong corpses for weapons and papers, change in Viet Cong tactics to catch ambushing patrols, withdrawal to extraction zone, checking absence of Viet Cong, process for extraction by helicopter, flight back to base, handing in ammunition, debriefing, mixed US and British non-standard equipment carried, wearing American uniforms, field dressings, strobe light and special equipment carried; initial patrol assignments and variations in Viet Cong contacts; success in saturation reconnaissance patrol prior to deployment of 6th Bn, Royal Australian Regt in Courtney Rubber Plantation sector; health problems on patrol; patrol to disinter suspected Viet Cong corpses, 4/1969, including prior reconnaissance, additional GPMG M60 carried, old nature of graves, checking graves in exposed clearing, photographing graves and dispute with Major Reg Beesley on return to base.
REEL 14 Continues: story of first contact with Viet Cong during patrol to discover suspected bunker in Courtney Rubber Plantation sector, ca 11/5/1969, including discover of Viet Cong sleeping area, defoliation in sector, sending radio schedule message, effects of monsoon seasonal rains, light shower, taking over from scout, approaching ridge line, firing at Viet Cong armed with RPG, escape of second Viet Cong, carrying out contact drill, approach of VD patrol, taking up firing positions in defoliated sector, failure of wireless, success in sending message to aircraft on 25 wireless set, use of signalling mirror to identify position to aircraft, giving situation report, smoke grenade signal, disruption of Viet Cong attack by helicopter rockets, rescue under fire by ropes from helicopter, landing from ropes in paddy field and embarkation on helicopter; personal morale; story of contact with Viet Cong in Courtney Rubber Plantation sector, 7/8/1969, including discovery of Viet Cong weapon pits, move over creek, discovery of footprints, setting up lying up point, discovery of occupied Viet Cong bunker system, setting up observation post and mapping tracks around bunker.
REEL 15 Continues: story of contact with Viet Cong in Courtney Rubber Plantation sector, 7/8/1969, including sighting Viet Cong patrol, reaction to Private George Frankland unexpectedly opening fire, rapid retreat south, making wireless situation report, continuation of patrol, move to east, composition and situation of patrol, view of approach of massed Viet Cong troops with trackers, situation and personal morale, shooting trackers, Viet Cong contact drill, effects of heavy fire and personal morale, noise of battle, success in rescuing of Private Mick Malone under fire, sending wireless report, resuming retreat, arrival of Major Reg Beesley in helicopter, situation and rescue by ropes from helicopter; personal morale; detachment to Headquarters, 199th Light Infantry Bde, US Army, Xim Loc, 9/1969, including role as liaison officer.
REEL 16 Continues: detachment to Headquarters, 199th Light Infantry Bde, US Army, Xim Loc, 9/1969, including nature of US Tactical Operations Centre, US hut and caravan accommodation, comparison of conditions of service for officers and ORs in US and Australian Armies, opinion of US brigadier, sue of resting US troops on working parties, reaction to ambush of American patrol adopting standard route, visit to over-crowded fire support artillery base, nature of US intelligence briefings revealing disproportionate American casualties in contrast to Australian Army, opinion of US officers, American individual replacement system with static units, Viet Cong night attack on base, question of American treatment of wounded Viet Cong, opinion of US officers, ORs and NCOs; story of double patrol in Hat Dich sector, ca 7/1969, including closeness to 'No Fire Zone' near Vietnamese civilians, move north along defoliated ridge line.
REEL 17 Continues: story of double patrol in Hat Dich sector, ca 7/1969, including shortened afternoon rest, signs of Viet Cong tracks, approach to suspicious mound, sighting Viet Cong, personal morale, size of Viet Cong bunker system in mound, opening fire, Viet Cong machine gun fire, withdrawal of patrol covered by firing Armalite rifle grenades into bunker system, success in breaking contact, wireless message for helicopter gunship support and question of requesting air strike, climbing ridge line, discovery of Viet Cong track, close escape from Viet Cong patrol and establishing OP covering track; story of close escape from large Viet Cong patrol, 5/1969; story of special 3 patrol mission to blow up bridge beyond Mai Tau mountains, 10/1969, including nature of road bridge used by Viet Cong supply lorries, failure of US bombing raids, aerial reconnaissance, question of approach route and method of demolition, explosives, plan, Viet Cong camps on far side of river, question of immediate evacuation by helicopter, practice demolition exercises, monsoon rains, patrol role covering far side of river, laying charges, effects of explosion and destruction of bridge.
REEL 18 Continues: story of special 3 patrol mission to blow up bridge beyond Mai Tau mountains, 10/1969, including difficulty of helicopters locating extraction zones in heavy monsoon rain, evacuation of 2 patrols, establishing 66mm Light Anti-Tank Weapon <LAW> in ambush position on road, lack of Viet Cong traffic and evacuation by helicopter; question of helicopter extractions; frequency of patrols; state of feet following patrols; story of emergency patrol to locate Viet Cong battalion suspected of being in Nui Dat sector including accelerated preparations, state of uniform, dropping in by helicopter, terrain and lack of Viet Cong sightings; story of parachute drop during squadron patrols in Song Rai River sector, ca 11/1969, including question of justification of use of parachutes, advance patrol led by Major Reg Beesley to lay out drop zone, dropping patrols in relays, parachute jump from Caribou aircraft, patrol zone across river, landing in tree, lack of Viet Cong contacts, sight of patrol in APCs, deferment of crossing river and disputes over patrol boundaries; departure of Major Reg Beesley; administrative role on posting as second in command; question of posting as platoon commander to Royal Australian Regt; relief of unit by 1 Sqdn, SAS Regt, 2/1970; role with rear party and flight back, 2/1970; personal morale and physical exhaustion; prior local leave.
REEL 19 Continues: amusing stories including meeting troop at Saigon, attempt to steal new camouflage uniforms from US supply depot and relating to food rations; importance of humour in maintaining morale; leave on return to Australia. Recollections of period as captain with 5th Bn, Royal Australian Regt, Tobruk Barracks, Holesworthy Camp, Sydney, 4/1970-2/1972: composition of camp; initial posting as second in command of D Coy; administrative role on posting as adjutant; training role; responsibility for battalion command post; opinion of colonels; question of role and quality of unit; opinion of NCOs; nature of exercises; state of military career; attitude as adjutant. Recollections of period as instructor at Officer Cadet School, Portsea, Port Philip Bay, Victoria, 2/1972-12/1973: story illustrating strict disciplinary standards as officer.
REEL 20 Continues: varying quality of cadets; question of relaxing disciplinary standards due to relationship with cadets; role as platoon commander including inspection of rooms, assisting struggling cadets, welfare issues and identification of below standard cadets