Lance Corporal Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillson were killed in battle in the Vietnam War on November 8, 1965. Their bodies were never recovered. I’ve posted on this before and am now happy to pass on a progress report. There is now hope that the families and army comrades of two Australian soldiers might
Comments Off 
Howard visits Long Tan
The Prime Minister visited the battle scene at Long Tan yesterday and according to some veterans it wasn’t before time. I must admit I never felt anguished over the fact that a politician hadn’t visited the area but some obviously have and if that makes them happy then good. I note an old aquaintence gets
Vietnam Veteran’s Day washup
It’s now Sunday and I’ve recovered sufficiently to feel confident enough to write in complete sentences. I spent the day with Percy Meredith, a digger in Recce Pl 7RAR with me in Vietnam. The previous evening I found a photo of Percy and printed it out for him. As he showed everyone he met I
Vietnam, Long Tan and all that
LABOR backbencher Graham Edwards has stepped up calls for an inquiry into medals issued to veterans of the battle of Long Tan. Mr Edwards, who lost his legs to a mine in Vietnam, maintains the men who did the real fighting on the day have not been properly recognised, and it was officers who were
Tragedy begets tragedy
History of my Battalion in Vietnam records a bad day. Tragedy struck when [a Lance Corporal] was accidently shot and killed by a member of the platoon while he was checking the section’s claymores. The soldiers on gun picquet changed over while he was out and information was not correctly passed on. The corporal was
Possible closure on Hill 82, Vietnam
In 1964 I joined 1 section, 1 Platoon, A Coy, 1RAR as a very raw recruit fresh out of Infantry Centre, Ingleburn. The Section 2ic was Lance Corporal ‘Tiny’ Parker and one of the other diggers in the platoon was Peter Gilson. ‘Tiny’ Parker brought me up to speed in Infantry Section work and was
Get it right, Dennis!
The Courier Mail/Sunday Mail are running a Rock ‘N’ Roll magazine series (no link) celebrating Rock n Roll over the years 1955 -2005 and I was happily remembering the old tunes when I came across the section dealing with protest songs relating to the Vietnam War penned by Dennis Atkins. Included was a picture of
Saigon and the Rex Hotel
After my lucky escape in Vung Tau we rode the hydrofoil to Saigon and booked at the Oscar Hotel for the night before going on to Nha Trang the next day. That night I figured we should go and have a beer at the Rex Hotel. Famous during the war as a residence for Generals
Vung Tau
After the emotion of visiting the old battle sights we settled in Vung Tau for a couple of days RinC (Rest in Country). We visited the Ettamogah Pub for breakfast each morning and planned our day. Sometimes the planning took the form of a one-liner – ‘taking it easy today’. On other days we explored
Nui Dat and Long Tan
While aspiring film producer Martin Walsh tries to get a movie of the Battle of Long Tan underway I am walking through the rubber where it all happened nearly forty years ago. The rubber is being tapped now and workers walk through the plantation where years before just over 100 men of Delta Company, 6RAR
Facebook
Twitter
