An interesting article concerning Jock Buchan, KIA 11 December 1969, his ashes found in Scotland!

You can read it here  Buchan Article

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Further to the above article, comments and a link from Paul Jackson, Jock’s Platoon Commander.

Hi Fred, 

What a special journey. It is hard to believe that after almost 50 years we have finally completed Jock’s story. We have come so far over the past year or so. A little over 12 months ago those involved in the action, Jock’s closest mates, did not even know where his body had gone after watching him being wrapped in a hutchie, tied on to a jungle penetrator and then winched slowly up to the hovering Dustoff chopper. Due to the tireless and dedicated work of a group of committed brothers-in-arms, Jock’s sacrifice has now been properly recognised, first with a Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial and now with your special service at his gravesite in far off Scotland. 

Most of you reading this email would not be aware that Jock Buchan’s death holds a very special place in our Vietnam war history. On the day of the action, an official Army photographer was moving with the company and took a series of photographs immediately after the contact. Of the many thousands of photographs taken during the Vietnam War, these are the only ones that actually record the death of an Australian soldier. For this reason I believe that Jock’s death has become symbolic of all those Australians who lost their lives in that conflict. Too graphic and politically sensitive to be publicly released at the time, the images are a poignant reminder of the human cost of war. 

The importance of this series of photographs is also well recognised by the AWM who have been corresponding with me recently seeking help identifying other members of the platoon captured in those iconic images. With your agreement Fred I would like to send your article to the Head Curator, Photographs, Film and Sound at the AWM. She has already expressed interest in the Dundee ceremony. I believe that this would also be an appropriate place for ‘Jock’s Story’ to be recorded.   

On behalf of all Jock’s 12 Platoon brothers, well done and thank you. 

Regards 

Paul 

ps For those interested, the AWM link to those photographs is attached below: 

https://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=11+december+1969&submit=&op=Search&format=list&section%5B0%5D=collections&filter%5Btype%5D=Photograph 

The details are here, click to enlarge

You can find out here September at RAR

Read it here

http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/

WE NEED YOUR BLOOD: Army competes against the other services to donate the most blood. – cover, page 6

INFANTRY TESTED AT COMPETITION: Soldiers have been put through their paces in the Duke of Gloucester Cup – pages 2-3

INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIP: The remote Queensland town of Laura benefits from the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program – page 9

And in sport: Army wins the Australian Defence Interservice and International Snowsports Championships – back page, pages 30-31

A good read.  Here is the link to the Tunnel Rats Newsletter page

http://tunnelrats.com.au/newnewsletters.php

We welcome the first edition of NSCnews Online   (published by the same people who published the Northern Services Courier in Townsville for the last 10 years – it will take a short time to load).

It’s a great resource for anyone connected to the military in Townsville and those who may have left and remain interested in what’s happening there.

Please share it with as many of your network as possible. And don’t forget to use the form on Page Two to let them know what you liked… and, perhaps what you did not like.

Note the ADSO United we Stand video promotion on the last page.

Enjoy the read.

You can view the August 2016 edition here Infantryman August

and the  April edition here Infantryman+April+2016

There are numerous excellent articles and a list of activities at HQ for the foreseeable future.

Here is the final copy of  A DUTY DONE Addendum   The Addendum describes a number of new operations, including;  three by 1RAR in 1965 (Iron Triangle, New Life and Smash), two by 9RAR in 1969 (Matthew and Hat Dich), one by 5RAR in 1969 (Kings Cross) and the one by 6RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion on 17/18 August 1969 when the original Long Tan Cross was erected. It is necessary to have a copy of A Duty Done to read the Addendum.

And here is a name index to be used in conjunction with the original A Duty Done A Duty Done Index of Names

Here is the Price List for A Duty Done and Addendum

To order this excellent book, please view this  A Duty Done Order_Form_Sep

If paying by EFT, please ensure you place your initials and surname as the reference.  If you have a specific book number, also please insert that ,e.g.  VX Smith 591

You can also read the original A Duty Done here.

Please note the erratum for A Duty Done A Duty Done Erratum

If you have not visited this site yet, it is very interesting and has some current members of the RARA SA on it, including the President, Mike von Berg MC OAM and Robert “Dogs”Kearney.

https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/

Watch “My Dog Nui Dat – Dale Duncan” on YouTube   https://youtu.be/I5RlzMhwlVk

And watch “Thunderstruck” here  https://youtu.be/yeALQfS7PGo

Chamberlain, Ernest: The Viet Cong D445 Battalion: Their Story (and the Battle of Long Tan). Vietnam Veteran and linguist Ernie Chamberlain has recently written and privately-published a book that would certainly interest all who served in Phuoc Tuy province during the Vietnam War. The core of the work is a translation of D445 Battalion’s history - as written by Vietnamese historians in 2004. In order to provide context – and to analyse and comment upon the Vietnamese writings, the book is comprehensively referenced. The comments cite a large number of captured NVA/VC documents – many not previously translated or available to researchers. Additionally, signals intelligence (SIGINT) material related to the Battle of Long Tan – that was only declassified and released to the author in February 2016, is also included. The work also has 18 annexes covering aspects such as VC personalities, an analysis of casualties at Long Tan, SIGINT, the 275 VC Regiment etc.  While the book is not available commercially, the text of the book has been placed on the Internet as  –

https://www.scribd.com/doc/306536690/The-Viet-Cong-D445-Battalion-Their-Story-and-the-Battle-of-Long-Tan

Perhaps the sections of most interest to veterans include the Viet Cong’s version of the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966 – including the first available VC sketch map of the Battle, and SIGINT aspects.

See attached photo of C Coy 7RAR with RARA SA Patron Laurie Lewis and A Duty Done Author, Fred Fairhead   C Coy 7RAR (002)

A very informative website with an interactive Roll of Honour Image Gallery that provides background information on the serviceman.

http://vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au/honour-roll/profiles.php#listing

Please take the time to read this article which is primarily about Michael McKernan’s book, “When This Thing Happened”. The title defers to Michael Stawyskyj’s constant reference to the moment in Vietnam in 1969 – “When this thing happened”.  Michael Stawyskyj is the father of Joe Stawyskyj. a 5RAR digger serously wounded in 1969.

Here is the link http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/postcolonial-blog/2015/nov/25/tell-me-more-michael-mckernan-youve-got-a-few-books-left-in-you-yet

A picture and a link to show what we have been up to at Emu Park.

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/photos/emu-park-anzac-memorial/30824/#/8 The image on the Digi-glass panel is taken from a painting of Australian diggers landing at Gallipoli. By matching up the horizons you can visualize the troops coming ashore.This shot is taken at sunrise and silhouettes the figures in the glass. The morning bulletin link has a series of pictures of the memorial precinct. regards Jack Parr.

Behind the Wire is an exhibition about Vietnam veterans, their jobs and their experiences, in their words.  You can view the website here http://www.behindthewire.com.au/