The latest newsletter: RARA-SA – News – Week Ending Friday 25th April 2025 – ANZAC Day
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In this edition of Army News
17 April, 2025
Welcome to the latest edition of Army News.
Click HERE to read this edition.
CITATION FOR 1RAR: Recognition for Somalia operation – Page 3
SPECIAL COIN MINTED: Tribute to centenary of RA Sigs – Page 5
NEW AMMO A BLAST: Gunners living the dream on Ex Shot Start – Pages 10-11
To read the latest editions of Navy News and Air Force News click HERE
NEW
ESORT Summary and Budegt Papers_20250326_0001
Older items below:
SA DC Forum Minutes 5 Dec 2024
Peter King CLS MODEL December 2024 Final
ESORT Communique – 3 December 2024 – FINAL
ESORT Communique – 27 August 2024
Click on the link for the August 2023 edition of The INFANTRYMAN
https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/d4744afb3630991b11a6904c5cb4a560bbbeb665FBP28313339.pdf.html
For April 2023
https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/17ef59c2ff279366dd632e24cc749c7e9c1f1604202304.pdf.html#page/1
For August 2022 Infantryman August 2022 – Copy
April 2022 Infantryman 8 April 2022
and, for December 2021
https://flipbookpdf.net/web/site/372aa22cf26e4539e706972f04490333e07abcad202112.pdf.html
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.
On Friday 5 April the RARA was presented with a Essendon guernsey by Kevin Sheedy
L to R: Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell /RARA-SA Vice President (and RARA-SA (Burnside) RSL President) Rod Graham at rear / Burnside Mayor Anne Monceaux /Local member for the State seat of Bragg, Jack Batty MP / AFL Legend and former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens
L to R: Local Member for the Federal seat of Sturt, James Stevens / Honourable Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State, Hon. Senator Don Farrell / Squadron Leader Ash Wright 453 Squadron RAAF / AFL Legend and Former Nasho (21 Construction Squadron RAE 1969/1971) Kevin Sheedy AO / WO2 Scott Cawsey LWC – rear / Local member for the State seat of Bragg, Jack Batty MP / WO2 Jack Marshall AUR / 10/27 RSAR RSM WO1 Scott Hannan
Kevin Sheedy at Rose Park
I have posted a number of videos on Youtube of film that I took on 6RAR’s second tour in 1969-70. Each video is about 5 minutes long. There is no commentary, just appropriate sounds of aircraft/guns/armour and background music. I originally did these for the National Vietnam Veterans Museum so they could be used on a free standing TV operated by the viewer alongside the museum item on display (eg, film of guns firing next to a 105mm howitzer).
One special film is when I went on a flight with Jade 8 (between operations) and witnessed an airstrike by Canberra bombers from the air. Years later after contacting Chris in Texas, he said he had taped the cockpit conversations between the Forward Air Controller (himself) and a flight of Canberra bombers on a similar airstrike. I have included that to add to the authenticity. I believe the film of the bombs dropping from the Canberra is unique in that can only be done from the perspective of a Forward Air Controller.
Vietnam War Aussie Armour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FATinuPC4Aw
Vietnam War Aussie Artillery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mDAMNvPYY
Vietnam War Aussie Airstrike https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au0W75-aTOs
Vietnam War Aussie Infantry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9tpxCqskFE
Vietnam War Aussie Hueys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtoTbN3BHhI
Vietnam War Aussie Navy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdS926B_xVU
Vietnam War Aussie R&C Vung Tau https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdAe0lZhSnM
An interesting read National-Servicemen-in-Combat
Courtesy Dave Wilkins OAM and 5RAR Website
Courtesy of the 5RAR website, here is some historical information which may help revive a number of fading memories
http://www.5rar.asn.au/history/information-book-for-nashos.pdf
Please view the latest news on the RCB campaign here RCB Update
There is an extensive history to this campaign under the Advocacy tab (above).
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
