AUGUST 2004

a e n D i , h 1 C mB s d i arw n t e st o bat e R e C R Engin er egim nt (1 E )

ies sk t s carr out ta s hat we a Field ng n e ou i aE i eers carri d t n Vietn m.

n a o nHavi g he rd f our Tun el Rats Association and seen our

y kenewsletter the are en for us S e to e g old app rs g t to ether with

r S e o tomode n app rs f day

eWe ar delighted with this n ta d r i vi tion, an plan a eunion of

n a f tTun el R ts and an o ficial visi to E v r 1C R in Darwin o e four days

6 e l13-16 October 200 . W ’ l advise b i p timest arr val and de arture es a da i e. hnd tes in our next ssu T e Of s 1 E aficer and men of C R h ve promi t y sed great hospi alit ,i cl d n an u i g a tour of the base, vi w r e te ing of cur ent quipmen , a of r he e p o d de p in ind cou se a gat ring in th no rofits r a ministration costs mo rn Sap ers the r own OR ss h x g i ge a gerat n am on's me (w ere going to the Vietn Tunnel Rats envir ment.w i s ehile telling war stor e to th y oAssociation or to an b dy.

u p r ey o n g S a p e s w i l l b l n Fu l details will be i the next mco pulsory!). u a - bu l t An official T nnel R ts Polo T issue, t we'd ike to ge an

h lo m yoS irt with our go will be indication of nu bers, so if u're r r nd o e ce r wOu d inks a fo d will b at our produ d for the visit (Darwin is a likely starte let us know no . i th e w t !) M o 9cost n e Mess. W ill seek ou hot, damn hot , and again this Contact Jim arett n 03- 824

oo o w a a a o t om 6 7g d value accomm dation for ill be vail ble at r w c st wi h 4967 (h e) or 03-9 90 888 e e e n p k 0 62 oth v nt and advise on cost and o rofits going to anyone. (wor ) or 0403 41 9 (m bile) w oo u e t an m iho to b k in o r n x edition. or send Jim e a l on:

d m y u w T e” l pt .You'll nee to ake o r o n his is a great “doubl tunne rat@o usnet.com auw n w o u et way to Dar in, a d at your o n pport nity to me up ourselves

a fr a n R ts l a h cocost obviously. Ap rt om getting s Tu nel a and to ming e with D rwin, ere we me!e ltog ther with 1CER, we'l take

o u g ethis pport nity to et tog ther r R ts, ou selves as Tunnel a with a l m o dWe co e Drinks sessi n an an

a chOffici l Dinner or lun in Darwin.

m d ,All acco mo ation official r che n ldinne s, lun s, dri ks etc wi l

w e be at ra cost to attende s with

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE VIETNAM TUNNEL RATS ASSOCIATION INC

HOLDFAST APRIL 2006 NUMBER 6

Tunnel Rats invited to Darwin by 1st Combat Engineer Regiment

The Sappers of 1 CER have their own APCs these days. This Mechanized Combat Engineer Squadron proudly displays its vehicles. Each Combat

Engineer Troop has five M113’s, one TLC and one LET(Light Eng Tractor).

Vietnam trip moved to next yearWe had a good response to the idea of a “Return to Vietnam” trip for Tunnel Rats. However, with so much already happening this year, including the SME reunion and now the exciting news of getting together in Darwin with currently serving Sappers, it was thought best to move the Vietnam trip till next year. We’ll keep you posted on likely dates and provide more details as they come in. There seemed to be a preference (amongst those responding) for a “guys only” tour - but the jury is still out on that one.

Jim Weston 02 4987 7179 Harold Bromley 03 9726 8625 Peter Schreiber 02 6569 3390Ian Cambell 03 9870 0313 Brian Lamb 02 6059 6947More Tunnel Mick Augustus 07 3205 7401 3 Troop (1966-67)Barry Meldrum 03 5427 1162 2 Troop (1969-1970) Ray Forster 07 3409 1907Rats found Garry Sutcliffe 07 4684 3229 Bob Smith 07 5442 9322

Here’s our updated list of former John Pritchard 02 9626 3376 Dennis Wilson 08 8892 2671 3 Troop (1967-68)Eric Banfalvi 07 5543 5230 David Brook 03 9546 2868 Barry Gilbert 03 5023 6657Tunnel Rats from 1 Field Dennis Pegg 03 6229 9294 Colin Redacliff 02 9673 0597 Les Colmer 08 8087 3817Squadron RAE, Vietnam 1965-71.Paul Taylor (NZ) (64)42990915 Peter Scott (219) 02 4341 3782 Bob Embrey 07 3351 1222If you can help with names and Terry Ward 02 6566 6163 Les Shelley 07 3264 4041 Bob Yewen 07 5532 4560numbers, please contact our Garry Shoemark 02 6546 6778 Ian Pitt 03 5349 2018 Mick Woodhams 08 9459 0130

“Master of The List”, Graeme Ron Coman 07 3355 7279 “Jonah” Jones 07 3390 1130

Gartside on 08 8725 2845, or by mail 2 Troop (1966-1967) John Hopman 02 9398 5258 Bruce Breddin 07 5591 3202to Graeme Gartside, 9 Park Street Richard Beck 07 3208 5808 Jim Burrough 03 9885 8285 Bob Coleman 03 5342 0941Mt Gambier SA 5290 or by email: David Buring 02 6254 6689 Stephen Wilson 07 5538 2179 Frank Sweeney 07 3205 4161

Ron Cain 02 6586 1412 Mick Van Poeteren 03 9435 0383 Chuck Bonzas 08 9330 3490Graeme Carey 02 6056 0997 Brad Hannaford 08 8389 2217 Viv Morgan 02 9331 3252

3 Field Troop (1965-66) Stan Shepherd 07 5523 2157 Jim Marett 03 9824 4967 Barrie Morgan 0419 820 290Alan Tugwell 08 8552 5229 Mick Shannon 08 8552 1746 Frank Brady 02 6555 5200 David Clark 08 8388 7728Keith Mills 07 4770 7267 Ken McCann 03 5985 3276 Graeme Gartside 08 8725 2845 Jack Lawson 0429 798 673Les Colmer 08 8087 3817 Bill Harrigan 08 9447 1127 Bob Ottery 03 5199 2516 Murray Walker 08 9332 6410 Ray Forster 07 3409 1907 Bob Sweeney 08 9248 4432 Kevin Connor 07 4032 2208 Tom Simons 03 6344 6058Barry Harford 08 8088 4371 Rod McClennan 07 3267 6907 Marty McGrath 02 6059 1204 Norm Cairns 03 6267 4629Wilfred Eyles 02 4390 0150 Peter Matthews 03 6250 3686 Greg Gough 0417 911 173 Peter MacDonald 08 9448 5418Bill Corby 07 5502 1193 Peter Hegarty 07 4169 0372 Jimmy Shugg 08 9776 1471 Peter Perry 08 9756 7780 Snow Wilson Jnr 02 6649 3998 Bob McKinnon 07 3267 0310 Janis Atrens 02 6292 3071 Kevin Shugg 0411144500

Noel McDuffie (Silent number)Des Evans 07 4128 2390 Doug George 03 9889 2116 Ken Young 02 9602 5204Graeme Leach 07 4777 8627Warren Murray 03 5728 3341 Mick Lee 07 3808 4823

Ian Biddolph 02 4472 9434 Phil “Jonah” Jones 07 3390 1130 Three Troop (1968-69)Bernie Pollard 08 9248 3178 2 Troop (1967-1968) Bevan Percival 07 5537 1577 Bob Pritchard 07 4779 0608

Peter Fontanini 08 9301 0805Peter Ash 02 6771 4623 “Roo Dog” Scott 07 5576 0232 Geoff Box 08 9731 2757David Matulik 07 4055 1915Alan Christie 07 5494 6628 Bill Lamb 0418 424 208 John Murphy 08 9493 3771Harry Cooling 07 4778 2013Frank Mallard 08 9377 4560 Gerry Wallbridge 03 9803 4223 Brian Glyde 02 4457 2200Peter Perry 08 9756 7780Alan Coleman 07 3204 7401 Bruce Bofinger 02 4861 5715 John Nulty 02 6931 1884Peter Bennett 08 9385 5499 Chris Koulouris 02 4952 6341 Ian Lauder 08 9419 5375Brian Sheehan 03 9336 3137OC's 1 Field Squadron Arthur Davies 07 3408 1556 Geoff Neenan 08 9362 4079Robert Knowles 08 9535 6416John Kemp 02 6288 3428 Brian Scott 07 3204 5691 John Hollis 02 6662 6660Bernard Ladyman 08 9795 7900Rex Rowe 02 4861 6324 Roy Elbourne 02 4868 1493 “Sam” Houston 07 5495 5480Lew Jordan 03 6397 3261 Grumpy Foster 07 4041 2321 Greg Roberts 03 5941 2269 Dennis Burge 08 8281 22701 Troop (1966-67) Jack Power 07 4955 3761 Ted O’Malley 07 4091 3561Murdock Ballantyne 08 8298 2515Ron Rockliffe 02 9789 4302 Frank Denley 02 6571 2056 Eric Banfalvi 07 5543 5230Ron Johnston 07 3351 1609Trevor Shelley 0419784954 “Arab” Avotins 07 4129 8012Ray Kenny 07 3881 3648John Thompson 0732168906 “Pedro” Piromanski 08 9306 8169 Three Troop (1969-70)Andrew Rogers 08 8087 5671Barry Kelly 07 4661 2898 Phil McCann 03 5442 3459Stephen McHenry 08 9344 6939Ken Jolley 02 6624 4066 2 Troop (1970-1971) Ray Fulton 03 6288 1176Warren McBurnie 02 6687 7030Mick George 02 6882 8574 Mick Rasmussen 0428 790 645 Tony Bower-Miles 0412 317 306David Kitley 02 4735 4991Cul Hart 02 4392 0912 Denis Crawford 03 9497 3256 Graham Harvey 07 5445 2636John Kiley 02 4228 4068Kevin Smith 03 9787 1506 “Sam” Collins 08 8262 6107 Chris Brooks 08 9271 2811John Beningfield 07 4778 4473Grahame Cook 02 4390 5159 Bob Hamblyn 08 8672 3930 Bob Done 02 4944 9321Hans Rehorn 03 5623 5572Neil Innes 02 9875 2962 Butch Marsden 08 9921 6183 Norm Martin 0422 508 336Geoff Russell 02 6342 1292Alan Coleman 07 3204 7401 Graham Besford 03 9439 2661 Chris Muller 07 4653 0457Brian Rankin 07 4775 5095Nick Burgerhof 07 3271 1592 Des Evans 07 4128 2390 Hank Veenhuizen 0407 487 167John Goldfinch 02 6674 0855 Jock Coutts 08 9279 1946 Jim Burrough 03 9885 8285Roland Gloss 02 6367 53241 Troop (1967-68) Keith Burley 07 5543 0990 Rod Kirby 07 4973 7726James Smith 0413 669 087Alan Rantall 03 9434 2031 Brian Christian 07 4778 6602 “Jacko” Miller 03 6267 4411Garry Cosgrove 02 4845 5153Clive Pearsall 03 9459 4470 Keith Ramsay 02 6585 6503 Chis MacGregor 02 4472 3250Mick Rowbotham 03 9439 7566Brett Nolen 03 5278 9969 John Brady 02 6888 1192 Phil Devine 0418 830 169Eric McKerrow (Silent number)Bob Coleman 03 5342 0941 Kevin Lappin 07 3273 8614 Phil McCann 03 5442 3459

Peter Sheehan 03 9390 2834 Peter McCole 03 5155 9368 Gerard Rentmeester 03 9735 5236 Peter Koch 04 3822 3100 2 Troop (1968-1969) Gary Sangster 0409 522 099 Richard Day 08 8088 4129

David Pannach Overseas Phil (Jonah) Jones 07 3390 1130 Bob McGlinn 07 5426 1597 Terry Cartlidge 03 5367 1472(Hong Kong 0011 852 9646 4131) Ray Kenny 07 3881 3648 Paddy Healy 02 4930 7541 Darrel Jensen 07 4938 7203Peter Clayton 0418 823 266 John Smith 0400032502 Gordon Temby 08 9757 2016Bill Morris 08 9384 26861 Troop (1968-69) Leon Madeley 07 5497 1038 Vin Neale 03 9786 1549Robert Earl 02 4990 3601Colin Spies 07 4743 4676 Steve Walton 07 3269 3192 Leon Tuttleby 08 8952 6598Stan Golubenko 03 9361 2721Garry Von Stanke 08 8725 5648 Terry Wake 07 4786 2625 Roelof Methorst (Silent number)Don Nicholls 02 9579 4126George Hulse 07 3399 7659 David Gammie 02 4365 2696Peter Laws 02 4942 8131David Wright 03 9435 4131 Bill Marshall 07 5545 0389 Three Troop (1970-71)Rick Martin 02 6928 4253Ken Wheatley 07 4774 0045 Ziggy Gniot 0418 885 830 John Beningfield 07 4778 4473Colin Norris 02 4627 1180Bob Wooley 03 6264 1485 John Crocker 07 3206 7995 Rod Scott 07 4096 5372Ray Vanderheiden 02 4776 1373Peter Carrodus 02 9759 6383 John Cross 02 4757 2273 Ray McKenzie-Clark 08 9729 1162Paul Grills 07 4162 5235Phil Baxter 02 4625 6213 John Tick 04 3898 7262 David Wilson 07 3855 1370John Douglas 08 8376 3788Ken Ford 02 6645 2738 Chris Koolen 03 5237 7368 Robert Reed 07 3351 4440

Max Goiser 02 9792 1765 Mick Weston 07 5444 3307 Jeff Maddock 03 5442 2875 Robert McLeay 03 5386 1122Cliff Truelove 02 6495 7844 Phil Lamb 08 8564 2001 Rod O'Regan 02 6550 6068 Ben Passarelli 02 9610 3949Kerry McCormick 03 6344 5291 Rod Crane 08 9530 3083 Gary McClintock 07 4788 0123 Geoff Ansell 03 5762 1215Brian Lamb 02 6059 6947 Daryl Porteous 07 4973 7663 Des Polden 03 6223 3830 Ted Clarke 03 5682 2584Peter Hollis 02 6581 5401 Geoff Handley 03 5593 1791 Roy Sojan 08 9926 1235 Mal Botfield 02 9872 2594

Ray Jurkiewicz 07 3886 9054 Kevin Hodge Lost contact Bob Clare 03 5439 5532Ross Bachmann 07 5495 14431 Troop (1969-70) Ray Fulton 03 6288 1176 Graeme Clarke 07 4128 4660Ted Podlich 07 3862 9002Terry Gleeson 03 5623 2886 Graeme Pengelly 03 5345 2397 Ian Campbell 03 9870 0313Jim Castles 02 9639 2941Larry Batze 07 4033 2025 Bruce Arrow 02 6288 3872 John Davey 07 3378 4316John Gilmore 08 9795 6847Jon Fuller 02 4774 1674 John Stonehouse Lost contact Les Shelley 07 3264 4041Richard Branch 07 4947 1044Garry Degering 03 9763 0510 Mal Botfield 02 9872 2594 Steve Armbrust 07 5545 1073Don Beale 02 6236 8267Paul Cook 02 4946 5321 Peter Cairns 03 6267 4646 Paul Scott 02 6656 0730Ross Hansen 07 3202 7540Trevor Kelly 08 9538 1184 Ron Cook 03 8787 7377 Garry Lourigan 02 4844 5545Bob Austin 02 6644 9237Les Slater 08 9361 0603 Cec Harris 02 6629 3373 Kevin Hodge Lost contactHarry Claassen 07 3273 6701Des McKenzie 07 5448 3400 Dave Young 02 4283 3439 Kenny Laughton 08 8297 4010Bud Lewis 07 3881 1230Alan Coleman 07 3204 7401 Robin Date 03 9783 3202 Steve Collett 08 9371 0075Darryl Lavis 08 8263 9548P. “Guts” Geisel 07 4092 1735 Bill Craig 08 9530 1008 Darryll Binns 08 8988 5827Wayne Lambley 07 3851 1837 Mike Barnett 02 9869 7132Mick Bergin 03 5974 2175Peter Brunton 03 5156 55311 Troop (1970-71) Bruce Fenwick 02 4977 3530 Gordon Temby 08 9757 2016 Terry O'Donnell 03 5334 3443Peter Krause 02 6723 2835 Paul Jones 02 6231 5963

hawthorn@ansonic.com.au

2

NostalgiaCorner

Pages of great pics from the past to amaze and amuse.

Contributions welcome. Send your favourite Vietnam photographs by mail to: Jim Marett 43 Heyington Place Toorak Vic 3142

Or by email to: tunnelrat@optusnet.com.au

The B-52 of bat’sForget those freaky little bats that clung to the roof of VC bunkers. They gave you the creeps but at least you knew you were about to blow them to bits. However, if you came across a monster with a wingspan like this one you’d be leaping out of that bunker real fast.

It looks drinkable to me!In March 1966 one of the original Tunnel Rats with 3 Field Troop finds himself afloat with the 1 RAR on Operation Silver City. Taking the opportunity to fill their water bottles while crossing the Song Be River are, Sapper Peter Cachia (far right in the boat), with Private Vic Jackson in front of him and Lance Corporal Les Idiens in the foreground. Hope they added their water purification pills!

3

“Don’t worry Sir, it’s perfectly safe”To show us Sappers what we had to deal with out on the job Brett Nolen and Jonah Jones were instrumental in establishing the Mines Room at 1 Fld Sqn. It was so good even the Big Brass often came for a look. Here, in 1968 Major General Charles M. Duke, Chief Engineer US Army, inspects an RPG 7 rocket. Left to right: Lieutenant Colonel D. Engel, Major General M. Duke, Warrant Officer J. Turner (SSM of 1 Fld Sqn), and Major J. H. Kemp, Officer Commanding 1st Field Squadron.

I saw it firstWith a sawn-off shotgun he’d just found underground, Sapper Mick Glover emerges from an enemy tunnel to be greeted by Corporal Harry Hickson. Both were Tunnel Rats with 1 Field Squadron, attached to 2RAR/NZ (The ANZAC Battalion) on Operation Duntroon in January 1968.

Sapper NapAfter a tiring night-long march across country to surround Binh Ba village in August 1966, the troops made the most of rest breaks. Perfecting the “Power Nap” against the tree is Sapper Brian Hay, a Tunnel Rat with 1 Fld Sqn, and ready to move on is Private Tom Griffiths of 5 RAR.

Ready for more actionThe converted Armoured Personnel Carrier “HMAPC George” sits at The Horseshoe base camp awaiting its next move into the minefield on mine clearing duties. Aching eardrums were the order of the day for the Sappers who had the unenviable task of driving this beast through the minefield.

Rifles GaloreSearching the Long Phuoc tunnels on 25 June 1966 Tunnel Rats Ross Thorburn (left) and Ron Rockliffe of 1 Fld Sqn emerge with captured rifles. Attached to 6 RAR they were on Operation Enogerra and tasked with searching then blowing up the extensive tunnel system.

Fesh air at last!On 17 July 1968 Sapper Dennis Clarke, a Tunnel Rat with 1 Fld Sqn emerges from one of several tunnels found during a one day sweep near the village of Hoa Long, just south of the Task Force Base at Nui Dat. Several freshly dug pits and tunnels were found during the operation.

4NOSTALGIA CORNER

It’s in the bag Sapper Phillip Baxter, A Tunnel Rat with 1 Fld Sqn examines a sack of enemy clothing he’d found in a large Viet Cong cache while attached to Infantry on Operation Stirrup Cup in October 1968. In the twelve hour surprise raid, large amounts of rice, salt, and clothing were uncovered.

What have we here?In September 1971 Corporal Don Stringer (left), and Sapper John Darrington, Tunnel Rats with 1 Fld Sqn carefully search a hiding place which was previously occupied by enemy soldiers. Don and John were both attached to Infantry for the Operation and were engaged here in demolition work in a village north of the 1st Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat.

Leading by example Major Ray Johnson, the officer commanding 1 Field Squadron prepares to be lowered down a 60 foot deep well in Hoa Long village in July 1970. On the way down the well, he used a spiked stick to probe and scrape at the well walls, looking for hidden tunnels and air holes. The Viet Cong often dug offshoots from wells as concealed hiding places. Maj Johnson was testing the efficiency of a crane mounted on an armoured personnel carrier for lowering Tunnel Rats into these wells that were found in most villages.

Mates ForeverSappers Ted Podlich (left) and Terry O'Donnel - Two Tunnel Rats from 2 Troop enjoy a chilled “Ba-Mi-Ba” (33) beer while taking a break from searching a village in Phouc Tuy Province. Only the brave drank this brew. It had a distinct aroma of formaldehyde and left the drinker's brain as cloudy as the beer itself.

5 NOSTALGIA CORNER

Jonah as a No2For all those who thought Phil “Jonah” Jones was born a Sergeant, here’s proof to the contrary. On his first tour in 1968 with 1 Troop, Jonah is seen here (nearest the hut) as a Corporal and a No2 working with his No1 (left) Sapper I. R. Kelk. They were attached to Victor Company 2 RAR helping clear a village near Xa Bang prior to a move to Ap Suoi Nghe, just north of Nui Dat.

Double TroubleIdentical twins Paul (left) and Keith Scott, were serving together as Tunnel Rats with 1 Field Squadron in 1970. They were called up for National Service in April 1969 and managed to stick together, although on operations they usually ended up out bush with different Task Force units.

Ed treds carefully In November 1968 Lance Corporal Ed O'Malley, a Tunnel Rat with 3 Troop makes his way through a fast flowing river in Phuoc Tuy Province. He was attached to Infantry on Operation Windsor in the Hat Dich Area, fifteen miles north-west of the Task Force Base at Nui Dat. Ed now lives in Atherton, Queensland.

Where is she now?It’s 1969 and she danced up a storm on the Badcoe Club bandstand, setting many a heart to flutter. Today she may well be that old dear serving you soup noodles at the local Vietnamese restaurant. Ahhh Memories!

6NOSTALGIA CORNER

You want me to go where?Dennis Wilson, a Tunnel Rat with 2 Troop has that confident look of someone who’s “short” (not long to go on his tour). At this stage you started to get a bit “fussy” about going outside the wire on operations, wanting to know where you were going, for how long, and who with. It was all about survival instincts.

Beer blessingPadre Paul was the 1 Field Squadron Padre during 1969-70 and thus responsible for our pastoral care. When Field Troops were in off Operations and celebrating with a boozy BBQ, Padre Paul would always be there to share a beer and a few jokes with the boys.

3 Troop and damn proud of it!Left to right: “Pickles” Jordon, “Curly” Tuttleby, Col Heley, “Jacko” Miller and Greg Cullen. These Tunnel Rats are back in Nui Dat base camp taking a well-earned rest shortly after the end of Operation Hammersley in which 3 Troop took seven casualties in one day (February 28th 1970 - ”Black Saturday”).

Careful Twiggy! After a spectacular explosion at the ammo dump on SAS Hill, Nui Dat, Twiggy Branch, a Tunnel Rat with 2 Troop was sent to sort out the mess. There was boom-boom stuff everywhere, all presenting various levels of danger, but nothing that Twiggy and a slab or two of C4 couldn’t fix.

Is “Dego” on a charge?Sapper Gary Derering, a 1 Troop legend from the 69/70 era is seen here emerging from the Troop office at Nui Dat. He looks neat and tidy and may even be marching. This indicates he’s either just been charged or just been given a 2-day leave pass to Vungers. We’d bet on the charge!

7 NOSTALGIA CORNER

If you've ever thought that the Platoon, and to their credit they 1ATF and the Americans Vietnam War was basically all were able to hold their ground decided to conduct an operation over by 1971, despite the fact until support from the other aimed at destroying the enemy that our Troops were still there, platoons of B company arrived. and their installations in that think again. region. The plan was for the 2/8

For Operation Overlord special battalion US to block the north-This intense battle proved permission was obtained from east and east along the Suoi Luc otherwise, and it yet again the then Prime Minister Mr John River, 4RAR was to block in the showed that at the platoon level, Gordon to allow Australian south and A Sqn 3Cav Regiment well-trained and disciplined troops to operate outside Phuoc to block along the Suoi Ran troops could overcome huge Tuy province. River. 3RAR, with Tunnel Rats odds. This was the biggest from 2 Troop attached was to operation 3RAR had been The Operation, conducted on the provide the searching troops and involved in so far on their second Long Khanh and Phuoc Tuy they were tasked with destroying tour, and it pitched B Company, province border, was initiated any enemy and any enemy (with Tunnel Rats from 1 Fld Sqn because the enemy were using bunker systems found in the attached) against tough and the buffer zone between the two area of search.experienced North Vietnamese provinces to train and equip troops with long years of combat troops before moving them into 3RARs plan was to search its AO experience behind them. At the Phuoc Tuy province to attack with three rifle companies (A,B, centre of the action was 5 and harass the local villages. and C) with D coy being held in

The Battle of Long Khanh

8

There were acts of extreme heroism and courage at 3 RAR’s Battle of Long Khanh during Operation Overlord in June 1971. As usual, the Tunnel Rats, the Sappers of 1

Field Squadron's Field Troops were there in the thick of it.

Tunnel Rats from 2 Troop1 Field Squadron search

the enemy camp for mines and booby traps

reserve. Two-man Splinter Teams of Tunnel Rats from 2 Troop were attached to each of the rifle companies, as well as to HQ in the Fire Support Base (FSB). Two-man Mini-Teams of Tunnel Rats (the difference being the carrying of a mine detector) were also attached to the tanks and APCs supporting 3 RAR on the Operation.

The enemy that 5 platoon met on 7June 1971 were battle hardened and were suspected to have linked up with D445 battalion for sapper training in preparation for attacks on military installations in Phuoc Tuy province.

As the troops landed into their designated LZs, B Coy was no doubt seen by the VC as they began their search. Captured documents later indicated that the LZ was just 500 metres away from the enemy position.

The heavy weapons company of 3/33NVA was able to stall 5 platoon B Coy for almost eight hours as the enemy moved away rapidly along pre-designated escape routes. Colonel Peter Scott, the CO of 3 RAR on their second tour of Vietnam recorded his perspective on the Operation for the “South Australians at War Oral History Project 2002”:

“Once again we were operating as a result of enemy wireless intercept, and we were advised that the 3rd Battalion of the 33rd North Vietnamese army regiment was in this location. So this was the first

wasn't running on this occasion. He plus another thirty adjacent to it time that we were up against the

was sitting in his bunker system, which had been occupied by D445 North Vietnamese. And we found

which we found and then advanced battalion. They were obviously them on the first night (6th June

against the next morning, and he assembling there for a major 1971), when 5 Platoon of B

fought very tenaciously. I had to operation against the Task Force in Company sighted the bunker

bring in the tanks on one flank, the Phouc Tuy Province. system. It was about five o'clock at

artillery, helicopter gunships, night and there was no way I was

everything that I could produce to “We had a number of early going to get involved in a night

try and overcome this enemy casualties. One of our officers from operation so they were pulled back

opposition. the field regiment was killed while until the next morning.

he was directing artillery fire. A helicopter was shot down that was “And I think really what happened

“It turned out to be the most trying to drop ammunition. It burst was that he left a small force there intensive operational day that we into flames, and a few of my soldiers which allowed the rest of the had during the whole period that we went into the flaming helicopter and regiment to bug out. We found were there. The enemy certainly rescued the crew, for which they about thirty bunkers in that area,

9

TOP: With the Infantry and Tunnel Rats mounted on APCs, the move into the bunker system begins. ABOVE: Once into the enemy camp environs, the tanks poured everything they had against the well-entrenched enemy

who were firing at them from bunkers with extensive overhead protection.

THE BATTLE OF LONG KHANH

under fire from the flanks as well as everything, sending a rain of high from their front. explosive (HE) and canister rounds

into the jungle and into many of the 5 Platoon engaged the bunkers bunkers.aggressively with their M60 machine-guns but fire from the RAAF and US gunships were now enemy continued virtually all day, also flying and firing in support, pinning the platoon down. Any often dropping rockets and gunfire withdrawal would have caused within 15 metres of the troops on the even higher casualties, so they had ground. to hold their position while an Infantry and Armoured assault By 0900 CHQ and 6 Platoon had using tanks and APCs was reached 5 Platoon but Pte Manioloff assembled. Mounted on those was wounded in the move and Pte APCs were to be men from D Bob Drinnan and Pte Trevor Company plus the Tunnel Rats from Sharland were wounded shortly 2 Troop attached to D Company and after. At this point a chopper to the tanks and the APCs. d r o p p e d m u c h - n e e d e d

ammunition, but while distributing Meantime 5 Platoon was now this to the men, Pte Peter Fyfe was receiving fire from rocket propelled wounded.grenades (RPGs) which the enemy were skillfully firing into the trees The artillery support was critical to above the men, causing the the survival of the men in contact, shrapnel to burst down on them and they had lobbed in a total of from above.w e r e a w a r d e d g a l l a n t r y 1,388 rounds during the day from

decorations.” FSB Pamela, plus further support The tanks were edging their way from FSB Trish and FSB Cherie.

It turned out that the enemy was towards 5 Platoon, and were The artillery forward observer (FO) waiting in prepared positions for 5 themselves coming under RPG fire. Lt. Ian Mathers was moving to a Platoon that morning. At 0600 the On reaching the contact point they better position to direct his fire, Platoon moved off towards the soon realized the bunker system when he was killed by enemy fire, bunker system and had only gone was so large the tanks were leaving Lance Bombardier Peter 90 metres when all hell broke loose. outflanked and that they were Maher to direct the fire.In the initial burst Pte Hack was taking RPG fire from all directions. wounded and Pte Mitchell was shot In response, the tanks let fly with At 1100 another vital ammunition through the throat. The Platoon was

10

OPERATION OVERLORDInitial 2 Tp 1 Fd Sqn attachments to:A Coy - Young and SkowronskiB Coy - Gnoit and BurleyC Coy - Besford and RobertsD Coy - Fulton and BelcherTango HQ - Collins and KeltonT1 - Briggs and CouttsT2 - Date and BangT5 - Cross and HamblynCombat Engineer Team:Sojan, Heriot, O'Brien,Skilton and RasmussenBn HQ & Ready Reaction:Tick, Brady, Ryan and Davis TOP LEFT: List of 2 Troop Tunnel Rats on Operation Overlord, and the

units they were attached to. BOTTOM LEFT: Captain John Tick, Troop Commander of 2 Troop displays US food aid found in the enemy bunkers

searched by the Tunnel Rats. ABOVE: Fire Support Base Pamela.

THE BATTLE OF LONG KHANH

re-supply by helicopter was taking place when the chopper was hit by enemy ground fire as it hovered over the contact area. The helicopter fell to the ground behind 5 Platoon and burst into flames, igniting the ammunition on-board. Men from B Company rushed to pull the crew from the burning chopper, getting them all out, but two of them were kil led and three were wounded.

Many of the M60 machine-guns were now jamming because of the over-heating caused by continuous fire. The mortars back at FSB Pamela were also jamming and misfiring due to over-heating. By mid-afternoon D Company with the tanks and APCs and the attached Tunnel Rats from 2 Troop finally moved into the bunker system in a two up formation in support of B Company. The tanks had only been able to move as fast as the Infanteers and Sappers walking beside and behind them.

Each bunker had to be searched as they moved through the massive system, with the Tunnel Rats checking for mines and booby traps. Eventually the system was cleared of enemy and 5 Platoon could be relieved and sent back to a safer area for a well-earned rest. They had been in contact for over eight hours.

In the following days, the Tunnel Rats thoroughly searched all the bunkers and the entire camp area before setting charges to blow up the whole system. It was an extensive and well-established enemy camp, with lecture areas, an assault training course, a mine warfare training area, a fresh-water well and a grave yard. The camp covered an area 1km by 1.5km and comprised over 100 bunkers, many of them with unusually deep overhead protection.

This was one of the last major O p e r a t i o n s o f A u s t r a l i a ' s involvement in Vietnam, and fittingly, the Sappers of 1 Field Squadron were right amongst it, as they were throughout the war.

11

TOP: The RAAF “Huey” helicopter that crashed and burned after taking

enemy fire while dropping vital ammunition to 5 Platoon. ABOVE: 2 Troop Tunnel Rat, Sapper Roy Sojan

begins the long and dangerous process of checking out the enemy

base camp for mines and booby traps. LEFT: 2 Troop Tunnel Rat,

Sapper Ziggy Gnoit takes a rest beside a tank - Ziggy was attached

to B Company 3RAR during Operation Overlord and for the

Battle of Long Khanh.

THE BATTLE OF LONG KHANH

Sapper Snippets

12

It was a nice thought - but as often happens, it didn’t quite work out as planned.

The men of 1 Troop 1 Fld Sqn had been through some rough times. They were tasked with laying the barrier minefield and after the most recent casualty (Sapper Terry Renshaw was killed during mine laying on 30 May 1967) the boys were sent for a swim “to get over it”.

APCs were even provided to drive the boys down to the beach. Unfortunately when they arrived there, so did a chopper loaded with mines destined for the nearby minefield. Ironically, when sent for a refreshing swim to help forget a mine incident, these lads were instead asked to unload the mines from the chopper and lug them to the storage point.

Dress for the day was bare bums, and the lads eventually got their swim, but it wasn’t quite the same! The photos were sent to us by former 1 Troop Tunnel Rats, Kevin Smith and Graeme Boyd.

It’s a little know fact that while based in Malaysia, elements of 2 Field Troop were sent to Thailand to help build an airfield on Operation Ramasoon. The Sappers deployed to Crown Airfield near Ubon in early 1968. This photo was taken by Trevor Constable and shows some of the guys that were there. One of the participants, Ian McLean is keen to establish a record of those on the Operation. Ian can be contacted on: Mobile: 0412 431 297 or on Email: jaim@homemail.com.au

2 Field Troop in Thailand

“You’ve had a rough time boys - take a break”

SAPPER SNIPPETS13

Sappers get top status in US Army

SHAMEFILESTOPTHIS MAN

Here’s another former Tunnel Rat thoughtlessly helping to destroy the image of Vietnam Veterans as fat slobs. Merv Dodd, 63 of Townsville recently won the titles “Mr Natural Universe” and Mr Natural Olympia in the United States. A father of eight children and grandfather of two, Merv weighs in at 69.5kg with only 2 percent body fat. Shame on you Merv. The photo above shows Merv as a Sapper in Vietnam with 1 Fld Sqn demolishing enemy weapons. The photo on the right shows Merv shamelessly demolishing the good reputation of Vets! Where will this end?

Acknowledging the unique role of Sappers, a new Sapper tab for combat engineers (seen above) has just been authorized for wear in the US Army. Before this, only the Special Forces tab and the Ranger tab were authorized for wear above the unit patch on the left shoulder. The Sapper tab is approved for wear by engineer Soldiers who complete the Sapper Leader Course, conducted at the U.S. Army Engineer School at Fort Leonard Wood. Sappers in the US are described as “combat engineers who advance with the front-line infantry”. Combat Engineers have fought in every war in American history.

Remember the Indian tailors in Vung Tau who were so expert at ripping you off each time you went in to (illegally) change money? It seems they’d been at it for a long time before we got there. This postcard shows a French soldier visiting an Indian tailor in “Cap St Jacques” (Vung Tau) back in the French colonial days, decades before we got there. The Frenchman looks worried, and no doubt he’ll be counting his Francs when he gets back to camp. It’s nice to know we weren’t the first to fall victim.

Have I got a deal for you!

breathed. But she experienced stark terror when she faced a crazed gunman, had a close call in a minefield and was caught in the Working as a journalist at the midst of a Vietnamese skirmish. Adelaide Advertiser in 1966, Jean

Debelle yearned to be involved in the Jean also offers an unvarnished look biggest story of the decade - the from her perspective of the Battle of Vietnam War. But only male Long Tan, and one of the worst journalists in Australia were being landmine incidents for Australians in sent to cover the escalating Vietnam. The book has been written conflict.Instead, she volunteered to from a variety of sources, including work in Vietnam for the Red Cross to diaries, letters and Red Cross tend to the non-medical welfare of reports. Jean Debelle Lamensdorf the sick and wounded ANZAC (she married an American and now forces.lives in the United States) has researched and written a story not This intimate personal account is only of tragedy but also of hope and t o l d f r o m t h e r a r e a n d humour. It is a story of adventure and compassionate perspective of a love, giving insights into a side of young woman living close to the Vietnam few witnessed. battlefront. Jean tells of the resilience

of the soldiers in the face of daily The book is published by Random atrocities and of the international

With infectious humour, Jean tells of House and is available in bookstores medical personnel fighting to save striving to be like a sister to the men at $32.85.lives and to rebuild shattered bodies when sex was in the very air they and minds.

BOOK REVIEW 14

New Aussie book on Vietnam“Write Home For Me”

By Jean Debelle

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY FUJI XEROX

This newsletter is printed by Fuji Xerox Printers on a Fuji Xerox 7750 digital office printer. With the 7750 printer, highquality text and graphics can be printedat the push of a button, direct from yourcomputer files. Simply create the artworkfor your newsletters or brochures then send the file to the printer. It’s that easy.

HOLDFASTOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE VIETNAM TUNNEL RATS ASSOCIATION INC

Call now for more information or for the address of a retailer near you

11 MINE INCIDENT

This year on ANZAC Day, Tunnel Rats will be marching under our own banner in Melbourne, Perth and NSW Central Coast. In Melbourne our march will be led by two Tunnel Rat legends - former members of 1 Troop, John “Jethro” Thompson and Brett Nolen (both seen in the photo at right) “Jethro” was badly wounded in a mine incident in May 1967. Brett, his Troop Sergeant was first on the scene to help the wounded “Jethro” and they’ve been mates ever since. Brett played a key role in establishing the Mines Room at 1 Fld Sqn, and later in his career was posted as an instructor at the prestigious international bomb disposal school at Rochester in the UK. “Jethro” is State Secretary of the Queensland Limbless Soldiers Association, and his positive attitude has made him a role model for many wounded Veterans.

Our own Tunnel Rats reunionFor the first time we’ll be holding our own reunion for Tunnel Rats after the march in Melbourne. The reunion will be held at the the College Lawn Hotel, 36 Greville Street Prahran., commencing around 1pm. We have our own private room with bar and courtyard out the back of the hotel.

Free bus pick-up at The Shrine A free bus will pick us up at The Shrine after the march and take us to the reunion. Look for the bus on Birdwood Avenue to the left of The Shrine (as you face it from the city) and near the small “Simpson and his donkey” statue. Hopefully we’ll Free “finger food” will be provided - have a sign on the bus. Just stick till it runs out (you can order more at with the crowd after the march and very reasonable costs). All drinks you won’t be left behind! are at bar rates to your own cost.

If you have any questions contact There will be no raffles or spinning Jim Marett: wheels. However, there’ll be lots of Phone: 03-9824 4967 (home)comradeship, plenty of tall tales, Phone: 03-9690 7888 (work) and the chance to have a beer or Phone: 0403 041 962 (mobile)two (or three) with your mates. Email: tunnelrat@optusnet.com.au

15

Join us on ANZAC Day in MelbourneLEFT: Second time around for “Jethro” Thompson (seated) and Brett Nolen (Right) seen here leading the 1 Fld Sqn Group at the Sydney Welcome Home Parade in 1987. “Jethro” and Brett will also lead the Tunnel Rats on ANZAC Day in Melbourne 2006.

BELOW: The Tunnel Rats will form up on ANZAC Day in Collins Street near the Town Hall from about 9:30am onwards, with the march-off expected at around 11:30am.

The College Lawn Hotel, Prahran

MEET FREE BUS TO REUNION HERE

AFTER MARCH

SHRINE

CITY

WE FORM UP IN COLLINS ST. BETWEEN SWANSTON ST. AND

RUSSELL ST. FROM 9:30 AM ON.MARCH-OFF AT APPROX 11:30 AM

FORM UP EREH

CLLI S ST.

ON

SA

NS

TO

N S

T.

W

RU

SS

EL

L S

T.

We will eventually be able to the Field Troops, (and thus answer that quest ion by Tunnel Rats). This harsh reality combing through the records is perhaps the most compelling and further building our contacts. reason why these men alone The end figure will be a total of deserve that special title. the men who served in the Engineer Field Troops in Some have said that this is all a Vietnam - 3 Field Troop and 1, 2 bit elitist, but the Vietnam Tunnel and 3 Troop of 1 Field Squadron Rats Association is simply an RAE. We think that number is association of men who served somewhere around 700. At the in the Field Troops. These men peak of the war there were three had a unique job and they Troops, each of around 40 men, formed unique bonds through a total of 120 per year, for performing that job. And now around five years, making 600, they have formed an association plus the first year when 3 Field to continue to enjoy the Troop alone was there, with fellowship, foster the memories about 70 men. and honour our dead.

we all had our job to do and all This of course is based on the jobs were important. The lines defining this group premise that if any group of men were very clear in Vietnam and deserve the title “Tunnel Rats” it The former members of the they only became blurred back in is the men who served in those Engineer Field Troops happen to Australia by some groups trying Field Troops. These are the men be really proud of what they did to label themselves “Tunnel who went bush with the Cav and and have no doubt at all that of Rats” on the spurious basis that Infantry, staying out bush for four the Engineers who served in some of their members were to six weeks, operating as Vietnam, it is them alone who from those Field Troops. Infanteers plus carrying out their deserve the accolade “Tunnel Engineer duties of mines, booby Rat”. Our newsletter has generated an traps, tunnel and bunker exceptional amount of positive searching and demolition. Apart We are protective of the proud response and has reminded from those “lucky enough” to title “Tunnel Rat” also because of many of the blokes of exactly come across extensive tunnel the men who served with us who what we did in Vietnam and how complexes, every member of were killed or wounded in action. extraordinary that was. This has those Troops would have The casualty rate among us was restored a lot of pride, and we personally gone underground to exceptionally high (well over believe the Tunnel Rats justly search, clear and destroy many 30% in some years) and it is our deserve to bathe in as much enemy bunker systems (often duty to ensure that the men who pride as they can muster. with bunkers inter-connected by carry that title today, did actually small tunnels). It was not work beside those men who We simply recognise that we did unusual to blow over 100 make up that long casualty list. have a special role in Vietnam bunkers in a single operation. and we are enjoying finding each

Over the following pages we other again and getting together Whether you were in the Army, publish a list of all the casualties after all these years. Navy or Air Force in Vietnam, from 1 Field Squadron RAE and and whether you were a cook or 3 Field Troop RAE in Vietnam. Two-page Casualty List follows:a combatant out on operations, Over 95% of these men were in

“How many Tunnel Rats were there anyway?”This question was recently asked in a newsletter published by a group of fellow Engineers, and it's a good question because the answer helps to define exactly who we were and what we did.

16

17 HOW MANY TUNNEL RATS WERE THERE ANYWAY?

Surname Rank Unit DOC Age Corp CAT Circumstance Interment Gooding D.W. Spr 3FDTP 65.10.17 21 RAE Illness Mallard F.C. Spr 3FDTP 65.11.00 20 RAE WIA Gallagher W.R. Cpl 3FDTP 66.01.10 22 RAE BCAS Aphyxiation in tunnel in HoBo Woods. Bradbury T.M. Spr 3FDTP 66.01.10 20 RAE BCAS Panji stake wd to foot in Hobo Woods. Harford B.J. Spr 3FDTP 66.01.11 22 RAE BCAS Aphyxiation in tunnel in HoBo Woods. Coolburra C.W. Spr 3FDTP 66.01.11 21 RAE BCAS Aphyxiation in tunnel at HoBo Woods. Cachia P.M. Spr 3FDTP 66.01.11 26 RAE BCAS Aphyxiation in tunnel in HoBo Woods. Bowtell R.W. Cpl 3FDTP 66.01.11 33 RAE F/BCAS Aphyxiation in tunnel in Hobo Woods. Terendak War Cemetery. MALAYSIA. Seddon R.J. Cpl 3FDTP 66.03.17 35 RAE WIA Shrap wds from DH10 mine. Livingston M.R. Spr 3FDTP 66.03.17 26 RAE WIA Shrap wds from DH10 mine. Peters D.L. Spr 3FDTP 66.03.17 24 RAE WIA Shrap wds from DH10 mine. Unmeopa K.W. Spr 3FDTP 66.03.18 22 RAE WIA Booby trap in rice cache. Coolburra C.W. Spr 3FDTP 66.03.18 21 RAE WIA Booby trap in rice cache. Holst E. Spr 1FDSQN RAE WIA Att. to 2RAR. Borinelli R.J. Spr 1FDSQN 66.07.25 RAE WIA GSW in contact Att 6RAR. Prowse L. Spr 1FDSQN 66.07.25 21 RAE DOW At 36EVACHOSP from GSW. Mt. Thompson Crematorium. QLD Cook D. LCpl 1FDSQN 66.08.00 21 RAE NBCAS Wd to foot. Sant B.W. Sgt 1FDSQN 66.08.17 29 RAE WIA Mortar attack on Nui Dat Donnelly B.R. Spr 1FDSQN 66.10.00 RAE WIA Mine Ganley B.J. 1FDSQN 67.02.00 RAE NBCAS Acc. burned.McDuffie N.R. Spr 1FDSQN 67.02.00 32 RAE WIA Comben R.E. Spr 1FDSQN 67.03.00 25 RAE WIA Shrap wds. Att. to 2RAR. Bevan B.N. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.00 RAE WIA Mine.Evans A.G. Cpl 1FDSQN 67.05.00 RAE WIA Mine. Att. to 2RAR Thompson J.C. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.09 22 RAE WIA Mine laying. Lost left leg and right hand. Culkin A.J. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.09 RAE WIA Mine laying ops. Brooks D.L. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.09 22 RAE WIA Mine laying ops.Deed R.J.P. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.09 21 RAE DOW At 34EVACHOSP from wds previous day. Garden of Remembrance. VIC O'Hara J.L. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.20 22 RAE KIA Mine laying. Wollongong Crematorium. NSW Brady G.V. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.20 22 RAE KIA Mine laying ops. Goondiwindi Cemetery. QLD Roberts B.G. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.20 RAE WIA Mine laying. Frag wds from mine. Rendells L.C. Cpl 1FDSQN 67.05.20 24 RAE WIA Mine laying. Frag wds from mine. Brooks D.L. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.22 22 RAE DOW At 24EVACHOSP from wds on 09.05.67. Garden of Remembrance. VICRenshaw T.J. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.30 22 RAE KIA Mine laying Wangaratta Cemetery Sempel L.S. Spr 1FDSQN 67.05.31 21 RAE WIA Mine Att. to 2RARHellyer G.L. Capt 1FDSQN 67.06.00 27 RAE WIA Chopper crash. Wride D.S. Spr 1FDSQN 67.07.10 23 RAE F/BCAS Tree fell on dozer during ops. Nth. Suburbs Crematorium. NSW Moore B.J. T/WO2 1FDSQN 67.11.16 30 RAE KIA Mine clearing near Long Hai. Urunga Cemetery. NSW Hutchinson M Cpl 1FDSQN 67.11.16 28 RAE KIA Mine. Att. to 2RAR. Garden of Remembrance. QLD Drummond T.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.01.00 RAE WIA Att. to 2RAR. Creek R.N. Spr 1FDSQN 68.02.00 RAE WIA Stutley L.R. Spr 1FDSQN 68.02.00 RAE WIA Lawson D.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.02.00 19 RAE WIA McLachlan C. T/SSgt 1FDSQN 68.02.18 38 RAE KIA GSW in Bien Hoa Prov. Canungra Cemetery. QLD Pattison A.G. Spr 1FDSQN 68.02.18 19 RAE KIA Mortar attack at FSB ANDERSON Kadina Cemetery. SA Steen D.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.02.18 21 RAE KIA Mortar attack at FSB ANDERSON. Penola Cemetery. SA Garrett J.E. LCpl 1FDSQN 68.02.18 20 RAE KIA During VC attack in Bien Hoa. East Ballina Cemetery. NSW Spear M.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.03.00 RAE WIA McDonald P.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.03.00 20 RAE WIA GSW. Powe J.H. Spr 1FDSQN 68.03.00 RAE WIA Mine. Att. to 2RAR. Paine M.L. Spr 1FDSQN 68.03.00 RAE WIA Mine. Chenoweth P. Spr 1FDSQN 68.03.00 RAE WIA Att. to 2RARCoombs Spr 1FDSQN 68.03.22 22 RAE KIA Mine in Long Hai’s. Smithton Cemetery Tasmania Tobin V.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.03.22 24 RAE KIA Mine in Long Hai's. Karrakatta Cemetery. WA Leach I.C. Spr 1FDSQN 68.04.00 RAE WIA Mine. McGregor D.M. Cpl 1FDSQN 68.04.00 RAE WIA Mine. Gollagher P.J. SSgt 1FDSQN 68.04.05 32 RAE KIA GSW while tunnel clearing in Long Hai's. Garden of Remembrance. QLD Nicholson K.R Spr 1FDSQN 68.04.12 23 RAE KIA Mine clearing. Rookwood Military Cemetery. NSW Poulton D.J. Sgt 1FDSQN 68.05.00 RAE WIA Shrap wounds to right leg and hands Underwood V.G. Spr 1FDSQN 68.05.00 RAE WIAMoon K.J. Cpl 1FDSQN 68.05.00 22 RAE WIA Le Bherz N.W. Spr 1FDSQN 68.09.14 22 RAE DOI At 24 Evac after falling from moving truck. Brisbane General Cemetery. QLD Gilmore J.R. Spr 1FDSQN 68.12.19 21 RAE WIA Shrap wounds Att. to 1RARVon Stanke G Spr 1FDSQN 68.12.00 21 RAE WIA Mine. Cox T.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.12.00 21 RAE WIA Frag wds. Carroll C.D. Spr 1FDSQN 68.12.00 20 RAE WIA Frag wds. Hooper G.J. Spr 1FDSQN 68.12.00 RAE WIA Frag wds. Hooke A.G. Spr 1FDSQN 68.12.19 23 RAE WIA Shrap wds. Att. to 1RAR.

Casualty List of 1 Fld Sqn & 3 Fld Troop in VietnamThis list may be incomplete. If you have information to help update any of it, send us the details and we’ll pass them on to Bob Coker who is compiling the list of Australian casualties. Where possible we include the place of burial of those KIA in case any of you wish to visit the last resting place of a mate or comrade.

18

Surname Rank Unit DOC Age Corp CAT Circumstance Interment Rossiter A.G. Spr 1FDSQN 69.01.15 RAE WIA Frag wds. Ryan R.F. Spr 1FDSQN 69.03.10 24 RAE WIA Mine in Hoa Long. Toussaint A.A. Spr 1FDSQN 69.04.12 RAE WIA Mine Shields D.I. Spr 1FDSQN 69.04.00 RAE WIA Nulty J.W. Spr 1FDSQN 69.04.19 26 RAE WIABrady F.W. Cpl 1FDSQN 69.04.20 31 RAE WIA Mine. Mercuri V. Spr 1FDSQN 69.04.24 RAE WBA Cox C.J. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.00 20 RAE WIA Preston A.T. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.00 RAE WIA Ricardo J.V. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.00 RAE WIA Targett R. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.00 27 RAE WIA Mine.Bramble P.J. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.22 21 RAE KIA ARVN tripped mine at Dat Do. Forster Cemetery. NSW Smith A. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.22 23 RAE WIA ARVN tripped mine at Dat Do Hewer R.A. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.27 RAE WIA MineTickle J.M. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.27 RAE WIA Mine. Davies R.E. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.28 24 RAE KIA GSW from ambush while att. to 9RAR Springvale Crematorium. VIC Day R.J. Spr 1FDSQN 69.05.28 RAE WIA GSW from ambush while att. to 9RAR Earl R.J. Spr 1FDSQN 69.07.04 RAE WIA Mine near Long Hai's. Att.5RAR Fleming J.G. Spr 1FDSQN 69.07.21 RAE WIA MineWilcox W.R. Spr 1FDSQN 69.07.21 RAE WIA Mine Baxter P.T. Cpl 1FDSQN 69.07.21 RAE WIA MineLuttrell K. Spr 1FDSQN 69.07.23 RAE WIA Mine Smith J. Spr 1FDSQN 69.07.23 21 RAE KIA Mine clearing in Long Hai's. Att. to 6RAR Springvale Crematorium. VIC Smillie R.G. Spr 1FDSQN 69.07.23 19 RAE KIA Mine clearing in Long Hai's. Att. to 6RAR Albury Cemetery. NSW Warne K.L. LCpl 1FDSQN 69.08.00 37 RAE WIA Mine Budd E.A. Spr 1FDSQN 69.08.11 21 RAE WIA Frag WoundsTheodore S.W. Spr 1FDSQN 69.08.12 19 RAE WIA Shrap wds. Kelly T.R. Spr 1FDSQN 69.10.21 RAE WIA Booby trap. Hansen B.V. LCpl 1FDSQN 69.10.21 20 RAE KIA Clearing booby trapped mine on Rt 326. Garden of Remembrance. NSW Miskin W.F. Spr 1FDSQN 69.10.22 21 RAE WIA APC hit by RPG’s George D.J. Lt 1FDSQN 69.11.06 23 RAE WIA Mine. Lisle A. Spr 1FDSQN 69.11.12 22 RAE DOW APC hit by RPG’s on 22.10.69. Rockhampton Cemetery. QLD Duncuff A.L. Spr 1FDSQN 69.10.25 21 RAE KIA Clearing booby trap Att. to 6RAR Allambie Park Cemetery WABox G.D. Spr 1FDSQN 69.11.18 RAE WIA Mine. Phillips P.M. Spr 1FDSQN 69.11.18 RAE WIA Mine.Miller G.W. Spr 1FDSQN 69.12.07 RAE WIA Booby trap. Sturmer D.L. Spr 1FDSQN 69.12.08 RAE WIA APC hit mines. Att. to 6RAR. Green J.G. Spr 1FDSQN 69.12.08 21 RAE KIA APC hit mines. Att. to 6RAR. Canberra Cemetery. ACT Brooks C.L. Spr 1FDSQN 69.12.14 21 RAE WIA Mine Kearney E.J. Spr 1FDSQN 69.12.21 RAE WIA Hollis A.E. Spr 1FDSQN 70.01.30 23 RAE KIA Mine. Att. to 6RAR Woronora Cemetery. NSW Engstrom R.J. Cpl 1FDSQN 70.01.30 22 RAE KIA Mine. Att. to 6RAR Garden of Remembrance. QLD Miller J.A. Spr 1FDSQN 70.02.28 24 RAE WIA Mines/booby traps in Long Hai's. Hubble R.N. Spr 1FDSQN 70.02.28 19 RAE KIA Mines/booby traps in Long Hai's. Perth War Cemetery. WA Nevins M.T. Spr 1FDSQN 70.02.28 20 RAE WIA Mines/booby traps in Long Hai's. Harrison J.M. Spr 1FDSQN 70.02.28 25 RAE WIA Mines/booby traps in Long Hai's. Binney T.R. Spr 1FDSQN 70.02.28 20 RAE WIA Mines/booby traps in Long Hai's. Jensen D.J. Spr 1FDSQN 70.02.28 22 RAE WIA Mines/booby traps in Long Hai's. Baker E.T. 1FDSQN 70.02.28 29 RAE WIA Mines/booby traps in Long Hai’sWoods I. Spr 1FDSQN 70.03.15 22 RAE WIA Mine. Cosgrove D.G. Spr 1FDSQN 70.03.15 23 RAE WIA Mine. Milne K.C. Spr 1FDSQN 70.03.17 21 RAE WIA Foster M.E. Spr 1FDSQN 70.03.23 26 RAE WIA APC hit cmd detonated mine Long Hai's Connor K.J. Spr 1FDSQN 70.04.10 22 RAE WIA APC hit cmd detonated mine Long Hai’s Moon M.J. Cpl 1FDSQN 70.04.10 36 RAE WIA MineCrawford B.M. Spr 1FDSQN 70.04.20 22 RAE WIA APC hit mine SW of Xuyen Moc. Hurst H.W. Spr 1FDSQN 70.04.29 21 RAE KIA Landrover hit mine while Att to MAT Team Garden of Remembrance. NSW Quinn P.D. Spr 1FDSQN 70.05.04 30 RAE WIA Mine McLeay R.M. Spr 1FDSQN 70.05.11 RAE WIA MineBrock C.D. Spr 1FDSQN 70.05.11 22 RAE WIA MineBartholomew G.T. Spr 1FDSQN 70.05.18 22 RAE KIA Garden of Remembrance NSWPitt I.S. Spr 1FDSQN 70.06.07 RAE WIAFFF Att to 7RAR patrols clashed Nav. error. Scott I.N. Spr 1FDSQN 70.06.14 21 RAE KIA APC c/s 21A hit mine at Phuoc Hai. Garden of Remembrance. QLD Jackson P.G. Capt 1FDSQN 70.07.20 39 WIA Mine. Shrap wds. Hunt A.T. Spr 1FDSQN 70.07.21 20 RAE WIA Mine. Penneystone P Spr 1FDSQN 70.08.02 22 RAE KIA Mine Mersey Vale Cemetery. TAS Peters B.L. Spr 1FDSQN 70.08.10 RAE WIA Frag wds. Piromanski P. Spr 1FDSQN 70.10.27 21 RAE WIAFFF Patrols from 2 Pl and 3 Pl clashed. Fenwick B.A. Spr 1FDSQN 70.12.02 RAE WIA Mine. Riedlinger L. LCpl 1FDSQN 70.12.02 27 RAE WIA Mine. Clark R.T. Spr 1FDSQN 71.01.25 24 RAE At RGH Heidelberg. VIC Fawkner Cemetery. VIC Gniot Z.J. Spr 1FDSQN 71.05.03 23 RAE BCAS APC Weston J.N. Spr 1FDSQN 71.05.24 21 RAE WIA APC hit mine 9km W of Courtnay Rubber. Wilson R.B. Spr 1FDSQN 71.07.16 21 RAE F/NBCAS Truck rolled on him. Ravenshoe Cemetery. QLD

HOW MANY TUNNEL RATS WERE THERE ANYWAY?

19

Our specialist equipmentThe unique things we carried to perform our Tunnel Rat tasks: On top of this we lugged the normal rations, water bottles, ammunition, rifle, clothing, cooking gear and personal gear that every soldier carried while on operations.

DEMOLITIONS BAG

FLACK JACKET

TORCHPLIERS

SAFETY FUSE

9MM PISTOLMINE DETECTOR

BAYONET

DET CORD

C4 PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES

DETONATORS

TEAMLEADER’SBOOK

MINES MAP

AO MAP &NOTEBOOK

The pliers were used to “crimp” detonators onto safety fuse. The bayonet was used for detecting mines by prodding into the ground. The pistol and torch were carried into bunkers and tunnels. The detonators were padded with cloth and always kept separate from the C4 explosives, usually in an empty water purification tablets tin.

If you want to help fund the newsletter, here’s the Form

join, we’ll continue to send the newsletter - we realise some are not interested in joining anything, and some may not be able to afford it right now.

Why we formed the Tunnel Rats AssociationOur status seemed to be getting a bit blurred. It had reached the point where any Engineer who served in

Look for full details next issue on the Many thanks again to those who Vietnam was calling himself a big reunion of all Engineer units forked out the $38 to support the Tunnel Rat. The members of the planned at SME to commemorate newsletter. A superb personalised Field Troops fought alongside the the 40th Anniversary of the “Tunnel Rats” membership card is Infantry plus they performed their Deployment of Major RAE Units to provided for all those who join. Let additional tasks of mine and booby Vietnam . To be held over the 16th -us know if you have joined but not trap detection and clearing, plus 18th August 2006, it will be the last received your membership card. bunker and tunnel searching and opportunity for us to visit SME Who can join? demolition. before it moves to Victoria. The Association was formed for all By wrongly claiming Tunnel Rat who served with one of the Field status, some men from non-field

Troops. Membership is exclusively Troops have begun to blur the line for men who served in Vietnam with defining the unique role of the either 3 Field Troop or 1 Troop, 2 Tunnel Rats. If it became generally Troop or 3 Troop of 1 Field accepted that all Engineer units in Squadron. This is not an attempt to Vietnam were Tunnel Rats, then our exclude, but to bring together the status would be reduced. Nobody Field Engineers. Other units are has a right to do that. We should not free to form their own Associations. a l low anybody to d imin ish

something we are so proud of. The If you haven’t joined and you’d like forming of the Association is not an to, simply fill in the form below and elitist thing, and it is simply intense post it with your cheque. pride in what we did and a move to But don’t worry, even if you don’t protect our status.

Holdfast Newsletter is edited by Jim Marett and published quarterly by the

Vietnam Tunnel Rats Association Inc.

43 Heyington PlaceToorak Vic 3142

Ph: 03-9824 4967(H)Ph; 03-9690 7888 (W)Mobile 0403041962

tunnelrat@optusnet.com.au

20

Jim MarettVietnam Tunnel Rats Assoc.

43 Heyington PlaceToorak Vic 3142

BIG SME REUNION