Join Us
Over the many years since the end of the Vietnam war, there has been continued frustration expressed by many former members of Head Quarters Company, in connection with matters as simple as not being able to march behind a Head Quarters Company banner in the Anzac Day march.
It is indeed quite common for former members of the Company to march with any number of the Battalions. In fact those diggers that came from one of the battalions, after only a short period, to spend the bulk of their tours with D&E platoon, HQ Company, 1 ATF, have had no other option available to them than to march with a battalion, where they do not really have any mates.
Their mateship was formed in D&E platoon and HQ Company.
From a historical point of view, the notion of an association, similar to those that exist for other units who also served in Vietnam, has been in the minds of a number of people for a good many years.
The Welcome Home parade in Sydney was one of the many triggers where people became organised. Banners were made and reunions held in Sydney and Melbourne. In New South Wales, a particular group of diggers has made it their business to travel each Anzac day to the home town of those mates, that died as a result of their service in South Vietnam, so that D&E platoon was represented on that particular Anzac day.
So the development has been gaining impetus over many years. It culminated in a large reunion in August 2000, organised by a couple of former D&E platoon diggers brought together some 55 to 60 diggers and their wives at Sawtell Beach Caravan Park over four days, including Vietnam Veteran's Remembrance Day. The attendance of so many diggers with partners and friends was tremendous.
This gathering was a first for many of those present and there were a number who had not seen one another since they returned to Australia from their respective tours of Vietnam. It was therefore a very emotional time for most if not all present.
Subsequent to that initial reunion, there have since been reunions held again in Sawtell, Perth WA, and the objective is to have a reunion every 3 years. At each reunion a committee is voted in whose responsibility is to arrange the next reunion.
All former personnel who served in D&E platoon and Head Quarters Company, 1st Australian Task Force, who are interested in joining are invited to make contact by completing the online registration details below.
Alternatively, you can download the Membership form, complete it and "snail mail" it to:
John Verhelst
PO Box 328, Gladesville, NSW 1675.
Email:
Existing members, please do not use this form.
