All Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force Photos

D&E Platoon Area and Sign

D & E Platoon lines and "kills" board

1ATF Area looking NE

<strong>Goldie1 - Mar 67<br>
1ATF Area looking NE.<br>
Note Kanga Pad is only four or five pads.<br>
Also note the road that goes past the end of Luscombe Airfield.<br>
The airfield was subsequently extended and<br>
that road was closed to normal traffic.<br><br>

<em>Photos taken by Ross Goldspink, 161 Recce Flt<br>
RW pilot, in country Sep 66 until Sep 67.<br><br>

Sadly, Ross passed away in Feb 2002.<br>
Our thanks go to his wife Lorraine for permission to use the photos.</em></strong>

Long Tan 2001 (Tony Roberts)

<strong>Long Tan Cross - 2001<br>
<em>Pic by Tony (Hush) Roberts</em></strong>

D&E at Courtney Hill

<strong>D & E Platoon on Courtenay Hill</strong>

Cunningham doing "relief" work

<strong>"Bluey" Cunningham Take A Break<br>
<em>Photo supplied by Kerry Seebohm</em></strong>

Azzopardi and Mitchell 1966

Basil Azzopardi and Gil Mitchell at Holsworthy prior to departure to SVN<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Ross Hayden(l), Mike Ball(r) Bill Ledo(front)

<strong>Boys Will Be Boys!!!<br>
Rear: l to r Ross Hayden and Mike Ball<br>
Front: Bill Ledo</strong>

Grand Hotel Vung Tau

Grand Hotel, Vung Tau

Looking over Long Tan to 1ATF

<strong>Goldie2 - Mar 67. Looking over the Long Tan Rubber<br>
Plantation to the 1ATF area and Luscombe Airfield.<br><br>

<em>Photos taken by Ross Goldspink, 161 Recce Flt<br>
RW pilot, in country Sep 66 until Sep 67.<br><br>

Sadly, Ross passed away in Feb 2002.<br>
Our thanks go to his wife Lorraine for permission to use the photos.</em></strong>

Long Tan Plaque - 2001 (Tony Roberts)

<strong>Plaque at Long Tan Cross - 2001<br>
<em>Pic by Tony (Hush) Roberts</em></strong>

View 1 of airstrike on bunkers - 1971

Airstrike on enemy bunker system viewed from Courtenay Hill<br>
<strong><em>Picture supplied by Harry Benson</em></strong>

D&E Platoon Long Son Island Op Hayman 1966

<strong>D & E Platoon Machine Gun Post - Op Hayman 1966</strong>

Centurian looking over Luscombe - 1968

<strong>Centurian Overlooking Luscombe Field 1968<br>
<em>Photo supplied by Kerry Seebohm</em></strong>

Barrie Betts - 1966

Barrie Betts at Holsworthy prior to departure to SVN<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Phill Moscatt & Mike Ball Relaxing

<strong>Phill Moscatt (l) and Mike Ball (r) Chill Out!</strong>

Long Tan Cross

Long Tan Cross

Extra information - Long Tan aerial view

<strong>Long Tan view towards HQ1ATF .. Annotations provided by Norm Austin<br><br>

Norm wrote to us as follows:</strong><br><br>

"Also if you look at the picture Goldie 2 <em>(see previous photo)</em> - which looks over the Long Tan rubber plantation back to the west towards Nui Dat. You can see in the middle left of the Long Tan plantation where the artillery blasted it to bits during the battle. You can also see a track on the right going directly to the top of Little Nui Dat and the bomb craters on the front right.<br><br>

Also of interest is that the VC had 2500 infantry soldiers in that plantation and we did not know that they were there. We had something like 200 infantry and 300-400 others in our rubber plantation - thank god for the artillery."

Refurbished Long Tan site

<strong>Refurbished Long Tan Memorial Site</strong>

View 2 of airstrike on bunkers - 1971

Airstrike on enemy bunker system viewed from Courtenay Hill<br>
<strong><em>Picture supplied by Harry Benson</em></strong>

D&E Platoon Long Son Island 1966

<strong>D & E Platoon Section Returns From Patrol - Op Hayman 1966</strong>

Coral 3

<strong>Coral Pic 3</strong>

Hoa Long Dance preparations

<strong>Hoa Long Dance preparations, 1968<br>
<em>Photo supplied by Kerry Seebohm</em></strong>

D&E NCO's Steel, Hobbs and Griffiths

Cpl Steel, Cpl Hobbs and L/Cpl Griffiths (laying down) at Holsworthy 1966<br>
(Not much love lost between Steel and Hobbs)<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

First "hardtop" boozer - 1966

<strong>1ATF Boozer, 1966</strong>

Eddie's Cobra killer

<strong>Eddie Tricker's Mongoose friend</strong>

Nui Dat Estate

Aerial Shot of Nui Dat

Looking back over the Task Force Area towards Long Tan

<strong>Goldie3 - a reverse shot of number 2, looking back over the<br>
Task Force Area towards Long Tan.<br><br>

<em>Photos taken by Ross Goldspink, 161 Recce Flt<br>
RW pilot, in country Sep 66 until Sep 67.<br><br>

Sadly, Ross passed away in Feb 2002.<br>
Our thanks go to his wife Lorraine for permission to use the photos.</em></strong>

Refurbished Long Tan site

<strong>Refurbished Long Tan Memorial Site</strong>

Tent city at Courtenay Hill - 1971

Harry Benson's tent area, Courtenay Hill, 1971<br>
<strong><em>Picture supplied by Harry Benson</em></strong>

D&E Platoon Long Son Island Graveyard 1966

<strong>D & E Platoon Section Returns From Patrol - Op Hayman 1966</strong>

Coral 4

<strong>Coral Pic 4</strong>

Luscombe Field 1968

<strong>Luscombe Field, 1968<br>
<em>Photo supplied by Kerry Seebohm</em></strong>

Mick Darmody 1966

Mick Darmody - Holsworthy 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Early HQ1ATF Toilet Block

<strong>1ATF Toilet, complete with Blowfly, 1966</strong>

Eddie's houseguest again

<strong>Eddie Tricker's Mongoose friend</strong>

Welcome Home Sydney 1987

Welcome Home March - Sydney

Task Force Area

<strong> Goldie4 - Oct 67.<br>
Featuring a large section of the Task<br>
Force Area.<br><br>

<em>Photos taken by Ross Goldspink, 161 Recce Flt<br>
RW pilot, in country Sep 66 until Sep 67.<br><br>

Sadly, Ross passed away in Feb 2002.<br>
Our thanks go to his wife Lorraine for permission to use the photos.</em></strong>

Long Tan 2002 pic from rear

<strong>Long Tan Memorial Site</strong>

Mladen Vitasovic aka "Midnight" Bob Ellis and Donny Hill

<strong>Mladen Vitasovic, Bob Ellis and Donny Hill</strong>

Barry Heap 1966

Barry Heap - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Early Dustoff Pad 1966

<strong>1ATF Dustoff Pad and Hospital, 1966</strong>

Groucho and HardRock

<strong>"EMU BOB</strong><br><br>

For inspection, port arms.<br><br>

That's the word from Hardrock going about his monkey business on the M60 held by Pte Robert "Groucho" Allen of Defence and Employment Platoon, 1ATF.<br><br>

In her letter to <strong><em>Army</em></strong>, she wrote: <em>" When I find an emu you can change the column to Monkey Bob "</em>.<br><br>

Hardrock was given to D&E Platoon as a gift of appreciation by the people of Cam My village, on the Phuoc Tuy Province border.<br><br>

Hardrock is only young and so platoon soldiers have had to put up with many of her frustrating pranks. "<br><br>

----------<br><br>

Some background from Eddie Tricker:

<strong>Hardrock</strong> was the call sign of the Brigadier, (Officer Commanding, 1st ATF).

The monkey was gifted to Lieutenant David Ronald Chitty, Platoon Commander, D&E platoon, HQ Coy, 1ATF by the Village Chief, Cam My village, Long Khanh Province, shortly after the Platoon took over control of De Courtenay Hill from 2 RAR. The village would have been only two to three kms from the hill.

Robert Thomas "Groucho" Allen was Machine Gunner, 2 Section at that time and was on his second tour in D&E.

The photograph, taken by an Army public relations photographer would have been taken end of May, very early June 1971.

"Groucho" was last thought to be in South Australia. Eddie Tricker is trying to locate and catch up with him again after all these years.

D&E Platoon ANZAC Day 1993

D & E Platoon - ANZAC Day, Sydney

1ATF Base circa 1971

ATF Base - 1971

Interrogating detainees - Long Son Island

<strong> Long Son detainees from Operation Hayman 1966<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Enjoying a beer after a hard days work

<strong>D & E Diggers Take A break</strong>

Ross Hayden - Holsworthy 1966

Ross Hayden - Holsworthy - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

HQ 1ATF Living Area

<strong>1ATF Living Area, 1966</strong>

D & E Platoon Monkey Hardrock at Courtenay Hill

Platoon monkey "Hardrock" on duty at Courtenay Hill<br>
<strong><em>Picture supplied by Harry Benson</em></strong>

HQ 1ATF Melbourne 2001

1ATF March ANZAC Day - Victoria

1ATF Aerial View - Ian Mckenzie photo

<strong>Photos taken by Ian McKenzie, 161 Recce Flt RW pilot<br><br>

<em>We acknowledge and thank Ian and 161 Recce Flt
for permission to use these photos.</em></strong>

Detainee awaits interrogation

<strong>Long Son detainee awaits interrogation
during Operation Hayman 1966<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Chris Fankhauser - 1966

Chris Fankhauser - Holsworthy - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Original D & E Banner

The original D & E Banner

1ATF Aerial View - Ian Mckenzie photo

<strong>Photos taken by Ian McKenzie, 161 Recce Flt RW pilot<br><br>

<em>We acknowledge and thank Ian and 161 Recce Flt
for permission to use these photos.</em></strong>

Norm Austin brews up - Long Son Island

<strong>Norm Austin brews up on Long Son Island.<br>
Shortly after he was called away,<br>
and his breakfast was subsequently buried.<br>
He returned, and went digging for his breakfast.<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Grant Lawrence 1966

Grant Lawrence - Holsworthy - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Trevor Attwood

Trevor Attwood (KIA)<br>
RIP

Overlooking fuel farm area

<strong>Overlooking fuel farm area with<br>
161 (Indep) Recce Flt area centre top - 1971<br><br>

<em>Photos by Warren Heapy, Instrument Fitter<br>
with 161 (Indep) Recce Flt</em></strong>

Jeff Williams burys Norm's breakfast, Long Son

<strong> Jeff Williams brushes away the evidence<br>
of Norm Austin's missing breakfast<br>
during Operation Hayman 1966<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

WO Ray Harmes 1966

CSM WO Ray Harmes - Nui Dat - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

HQ Company, 1ATF Orderly Room

<strong>1ATF Orderly Room</strong>

The entrance to Nui Dat, Kanga Pad

<strong>Entrance to Nui Dat, Kanga Pad etc - 1971<br><br>

<em>Photos by Warren Heapy, Instrument Fitter
with 161 (Indep) Recce Flt</em></strong>

Returning to ATF base

<strong>Taken sometime 1966 over Baria / Nui Dat area<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Brian Cossar 1966

Brian Cossar in Saigon 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

HQ 1ATF Command Post

<strong>1ATF Command Post</strong>

1ATF Aerial view circa 1971

<strong>Aerial View 1ATF Base</strong>

D&E Platoon digging in

<strong>D & E Platoon Dig In</strong>

Cpl Paul Burstall 1966

Paul Burstall - SVN - 1966<br>
<em>© Brian Cossar</em>

Fire Support Base Pamela

Fire Support Base Pamela

HQ 1ATF TOC Capt Steele Duty Officer

<strong>Capt "Rusty" Steele on duty</strong>

Ross Hayden - Vietnam 1966

Ross Hayden - SVN - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

1ATF Transport Yard

<strong>1ATF Transport Yard</strong>

Mirror Editorial 21 April 1966

<strong>"MARCHING TO WAR</strong><br><br>

Men of the 5th battalion of the Royal Australia Rifles marched through Sydney today before embarking for Vietnam.<br><br>

They are going to an ugly and controversial war. But there is no breath of doubt about our feelings for these men.<br><br>

Australia is proud of them, and it was grand to see them marching by - businesslike, confident, cheerful, like other contingents in other days.<br><br>

We wish them godspeed and a safe and happy return.<br><br>

Also on his way to Vietnam today is our earnest Prime Minister, Mr Holt. He plans to be with the Australian troops on Anzac Day, and though it is a tricky moment for a national leader to visit Saigon we can only applaud his courage and good intentions.<br><br>

The emotions that are stirred by the pre-embarkation parade and by Anzac Day are natural and genuine. They assail not only those who are for Australia's Vietnam committment, but also those who are against it or suspect it.<br><br>

As the men go marching by, volunteers and conscripts side by side and indistinguishable, protest and controversy yield to something else - perhaps our essential oneness as people. The mood will not last. The arguments about Vietnam and conscription will intensify. And, paradoxically, it is our oneness that will embitter them.<br><br>

The men of the 5th Battalion should know that nothing can affect Australia's pride in them one iota."<br><br>

<em>Newspaper editorial - April 1966<br>
Prophetic, or pathetic??</em>

D & E Platoon rounding up timber cutters

<strong>D & E Platoon "on the job, 1970"</strong>

Peter "Killer" Kramer 1966

Peter "Killer" Kramer<br>
Holsworthy Barracks - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

First wounded Nasho article

<strong>" Viet "Rough" Says Wounded NS Man.</strong><br><br>

Ballarat - Pte Leslie Keith Hyatt, 21 the first National Serviceman to be returned , wounded, to Australia, doesn't want to go back to Vietnam. Pte. Leslie Hyatt returned to his parents' home in Grant St. West yesterday. Pte. Hyatt, who lost 2½ stone in weight after he was wounded in both legs by mortar shrapnel on June 10, said it was unlikely the Army would require him to return to Vietnam.<br><br>

"I don't want to go back", he said. It's pretty rough there."<br><br>

He was operated on in Vietnam. After three weeks he had recovered sufficiently to be flown to Sydney, where he was a patient for a week at the Ingleburn Military Hospital.<br><br>

A member of D company, 5th Battalion, RAR, he was in Vietnam for only a month and had been in operations for 12 days when he was wounded.<br><br>

He was hit by shrapnel from 12 mortar bombs which exploded in a paddy field where several Australians were eating a meal. Two servicemen were killed and two others wounded.<br><br>

Pte. Hyatt was flown from Sydney yesterday morning and his parents brought him to Ballarat by car. He will stay at home for a fortnight before being admitted to Heidelberg Hospital. He is still being troubled by the wounds to his left leg.<br><br>

"It's just terrific to be back in Ballarat," he said. "Yet I suppose any place is better than Vietnam." "<br><br>

<hr>

Back on Thursday, July 14, 1966, you could buy a copy of the Melbourne newspaper, "The Sun - News Pictorial" for 4 cents, (now one dollar) and, if delivered by air to the Victorian country side you paid 5 cents a copy.<br><br>

The Head lines of the day were, "Holt Sees LBJ Today - Has U.K. Pledge".<br><br>

Prices for goods in advertisements were still being printed in Pounds, Shillings and Pence with their new Dollars and Cents prices next to them.<br><br>

While "Drive - In" theatres were showing The Paul Newman movie, "The Moving Target".<br><br>

Into this environment The Sun, (now The Herald - Sun) reported the wounding of the first National Serviceman in South Vietnam on Page 11; columns "C" and "D":<br><br>

The Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans contains the following entry on this soldier:<br><br>

Leslie Keith Hyatt, ex 3786985, born 1945.<br>
<strong>SVN Service history:</strong><br>
06 May 1966 to 06 Jul 1966 - 5 RAR.<br><br>

<hr>

<em>Sun Newspaper article - 1966</em>

D&E on ops in a bamboo forest - Pic 1

<strong>D & E Platoon personnel in the bamboo</strong>

Gerald O'Donovan 1966

Gerald O'Donovan - 1966<br>
Best remembered for his greeting of "Hello, Boze, how's your mother's legs" ....<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Newspaper article on Medals

Newspaper item on awarding of medals

D&E on ops in a bamboo forest - Pic 2

<strong>D & E Platoon personnel in the bamboo</strong>

John Pascoe & Frank Zerafa 1966

John Pascoe and Frank Zerafa - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Transport Building - 1969

<strong>Transport Lines 1969</strong>

Roy Kyte-Powell article

<strong>Roy Kyte-Powell</strong><br><br>

Roy Kyte-Powell, ex 311627, an Englishman, was born in 1945 and posted to South Vietnam on 16 December 1970 where he was an Instructor at 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit until 21 May 1971.<br><br>

On the 22 May 1971, he was posted to <strong><em>Defence and Employment Platoon</em></strong>, Headquarters Company, 1st Australian Task Force.<br><br>

When the above photograph was taken in about June 1971, by Army photographer Peter John Errington, Roy Kyte-Powell was Section Commander, 2 Section, D&E platoon, HQ Coy, 1 ATF. During this period of time, the platoon was located on Courtenay Hill, up near the Phuoc Tuy - Long Khanh province's border near route 2.<br><br>

The photo shows Corporal Kyte Powell inspecting an Australian Army 7.62mm calibre L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR).<br><br>

Roy Kyte-Powell relocated with the rest of Headquarters Company, 1st Australian Task Force from Nui Dat to Vung Tau in about October 1971, and remained with Headquarters, 1st Australian Task Force until 29 February 1972 with the final withdrawal of the Task Force from South Vietnam.<br><br>

With the end of his service in the Australian Army, Roy returned to his native country but was filled with the spirit of wanderlust and adventure.<br><br>

Roy died in suspicious circumstances in the Central American country of Belize on or about 3 April 1981. He was a soldier and adventurer to the very end.<br><br>

Main Source: <em>Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans</em>, August 1997 edition.

Lt McCarthy, Cpl Burstall, Lt Kamenek, WO Harmes

D & E Platoon - Nui Dat 1966<br>
Front Row: (left to right) D & E Platoon Commander Lt Michael McCarthy,<br>
Cpl Paul Burstall,Lt John Kamenek, CSM WO Ray Harmes<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

HQ 1ATF Living Area

<strong>1ATF Living Area</strong>

Nui Dat produced Punch A Postie

<strong>Punch a Postie</strong><br><br>

You will recall and remember how important the mail from home was. How after many days of "Jungle Bashing", on return to Nui Dat, the mail parade was eagerly looked forward to.<br><br>

Or if you had been out scrub for a while, and you were lucky enough, the mail came out on a Huey with the normal rations re-supply.<br><br>

In the latter 1960's all sorts of strikes and embargoes were forced upon the Australian troops serving in South Vietnam on the pretext of "helping the Aussie digger in South Vietnam".<br><br>

All too often these strikes and embargoes were to the detriment of the average Australian soldier in South Vietnam. The mail was delayed and didn't turn up.<br><br>

The <strong><em>Jeparit</em></strong> wasn't loaded by the wharfies, was delayed and in the end the army loaded the Jeparit.<br><br>

The various campaigns and strikes against the war in South Vietnam was unfortunately aimed at the individual soldiers and was to have a great impact upon the average Australian soldier serving in South Vietnam.<br><br>

It is of no wonder then that they were to feel aggrieved by these strikes and other actions which took away their few basic essentials, comforts and enjoyment's in the otherwise harsh lifestyle of war in South Vietnam.<br><br>

Clarrie Hair reports: <em>"The flier above was produced in Nui Dat when the Postal "workers" in Australia refused to handle our mail, so we were in the bush in Vietnam wondering why our mail wasn't coming through"</em>.<br><br>

It was also during this period that the wharfies went on strike in Melbourne and refused to load the HMAS Jeparit with our supplies, resulting in the Army having to do the job. But you would know that anyway.

D & E On Parade

D & E Platoon On Parade - Holsworthy - 1966<br>
Front Row: (left to right) Jeff Foster, obscured, Ross Hayden, Mick Darmody, John LeCussan, Peter Kramer.<br>
Middle Row: (Left to right) unknown, Barrie Betts, Phill Moscatt, unknown, Cpl Hobbs (saluting)<br>
Back Row: (Left to right) unknown, Noel Wiedermanski(?), others obscured, Gerald O'Donovan.<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Is that a broom .. or are you happy to see me???

<strong>They Are Either Holding A Broom<br>
Or The Weather Is Cold.</strong>

Safe Conduct pass

<strong>Hoi Chanh "Safe Conduct" Pass</strong><br><br>

Vietnam was the "funny war", no doubt about it. Part and parcel of the war and psychological warfare program of "winning the hearts and the minds of the people" was the "Safe Conduct" pass.<br><br>

Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army regular soldiers were freely given the opportunity to change sides. With a pass similar to the one depictured, an enemy soldier could surrender to soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam or its Allies without jeopardy to his person in any form or manner. Though one hates to think what would have happened to the person about to change sides if he was caught by his fellow soldiers or officers with one of these passes on his person.<br><br>

The Pass depictured, is from the era April 1968 to April 1969 and Clarrie Hair says; "....... the following is a copy of the "Safe Conduct" passes we used to throw out of Huey's over known VC locations. As you will see the two copies relate to the one pass showing back and front of this pass."<br><br>

A literal translation of the "Safe Conduct Pass" in our vernacular would read:<br>
"Bring this leaflet ( passport ) and co-operate with the office of the chief of the country / nation. Your friends will receive you with kindness, your safety will be guaranteed and you will be treated as an equal. This leaflet ( passport ) is valid with all agencies of the VN military administration and it's allies".<br><br>

We were fortunate enough to be able to have the Vietnamese on this pass translated into English by one of our members, Ernest Christopher Michael "Bud" BRANDON-CRAMER, ex 2793136. So we have the following:<br><br>

<strong><em>GIAY THONG-HANH</em></strong><br>
passport.. (literally, not the same as a traveller's passport)<br>
<strong><em>MANG TAM GIAY THONG-HANH</em></strong><br>
mang = bring<br>
tam = a classifier for things like this, tickets, photos etc.<br>
<strong><em>NAY VE CONG TAC VOI CHANH PHU</em></strong><br>
nay = this<br>
ve = to<br>
cong tac = co-operate<br>
voi = with<br>
chanh = the head or chief<br>
phu = office<br>
<strong><em>QUOC GIA CAC BAN SE DUOC:</em></strong><br>
quoc gia = state, nation, country.<br>
cac = each<br>
ban = friend<br>
se = will<br>
duoc = OK<br>
<strong><em>DON TIEP TU TE</em></strong><br>
don tiep = receive<br>
tu te = kind, honest.<br>
<strong><em>BAO DAM AN NINH</em></strong><br>
bao dam = guarantee<br>
an ninh = security<br>
<strong><em>DAI NGO TUONG XUNG</em></strong><br>
dai ngo = to treat<br>
tuong xung = (difficult because it means to match each other or be symmetrical) equally would be the best translation.<br>
<strong><em>TAM GIAY THONG HANH NAY CO GIA TRI VOI TAT CA CO-QUAN.</em></strong><br>
this " passport" has validity with all agency.<br>
<strong><em>QUAN CHINH VIET-NAM CONG HOA VA LUC-LUONG DONG MINH.</em></strong><br>
military administration VN republic and mighty (or powerful) allies.<br><br>

The setting out of the words is not correct but probably done because of the small leaflet space<br>
The words <strong><em>QUOC GIA</em></strong> should be on the end of <strong><em>CHANH PHU</em></strong> and have a full stop<br>
<strong><em>CAC BAN SE DUOC</em></strong> is a separate sentence.<br><br>

It was written by a Southerner who went to school in the south and he used an incorrect diacritical mark on the word <strong><em>DAI</em></strong> (dai ngo). This is common in the south because the tones are almost identical in speech. The mark used is ? (remove the dot under the question mark) and should be ~ .

Nui Dat early 1966

Nui Dat - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

HQ 1ATF Sergeant's Lines 1ATF

<strong>Sergeant's Lines at 1ATF</strong>

Entertainer Lyn Dutton clipping

<strong>Lyn Dutton</strong>

This photograph of Lyn Dutton was taken between the period 15 July to 28 July 1971. As the caption indicates Lyn was a member of the Victorian Concert party number 5/71.

The concert party, consisted of a group of eight entertainers In addition to Lyn, the other seven members were Julie Arthur, Trevor Courtney, Raymond Gilson, Michael Hamilton, Verity Milhuisen, Geoffrey Skewes and Phillip Spurdle.

It is possible that this photograph was published in a Army magazine newspaper of August - September 1971.

Main Source: <em>Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans</em>, personnel supporting the Australian Defence forces, August 1997 edition.

HQ1ATF RAP 1966

RAP - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

HQ 1ATF Sgt's Urinal with Transport in background

<strong>Sergeant's Urinal - 1ATF<br>
Note Transport Area in background.<br>
Who had the better view I wonder????</strong>

D & E Platoon Move Out

D & E Platoon with their APC in a state of readiness

Sgt's Mess Under Construction 1966

Sergeant's Mess under construction - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

HQ 1ATF Base area 1967. Exact area not known.

<strong>ATF Base - 1971<br>
Not sure of which area this is, but possibly 103 Sig Sqn</strong>

Saigon Bar District 1966

Saigon Bar district - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

One of the first Nui Dat concerts - 1966

<strong>One of the first concert stages at Nui Dat<br>
My vague recollection is that this was for the Dig Richards show<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Dustoff Pad 1966

Dust Off Pad - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Dinah Lee entertaining the troops

<strong> Dinah Lee (onstage) headlined this great show in 1966.<br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Nui Dat Concert 1966

Very Early Concert - Nui Dat - 1966<br>
Artists unknown<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

The Big Pretzel struts her stuff Woo Hoo!!!

<strong> The Big Pretzel on the Dinah Lee concert show, 1966<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

First Orderly Room 1966

Original Orderly Room - Nui Dat - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Graham Dorsett seeks refuge for a snooze

<strong>Graham "Nose" Dorsett called in for a few drinks and decided to<br>
stay for the night. Never seen him looking so peaceful!!<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Updated Orderly Room 1966

New Orderly Room - Nui Dat - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Outside view of Mike Balls' tent

<strong>Outside Mike Ball's tent in HQ1ATF lines.<br>
Artillery is across the road past the wire.<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Leaving Vung Tau 1967

Vung Tau Departure Point - 1967<br>
Mick Darmody, centre, completing paperwork, others unknown.<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Aaron Holloway IV sings the blues

<strong>Aaron Holloway IV was a New Yorker with 173 Airborne,<br>
and on ops with elements of HQ1ATF.<br>
He was sitting having a quiet one in the 1ATF OR's boozer,<br>
was befriended, and ended up in John Eller's tent<br>
singing blues along with tapes of the Spencer Davis group.<br>
A great night!<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Departure Lounge Vung Tau 1967

Vung Tau Departure Lounge - 1967<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

WO Doug Dakin hard at work

<strong>Doug Dakin, senior NCO at work in the registry.<br>
A loveable rogue who once saved Pte John Eller from having<br>
his wrists opened up by a female Vietnamese palm reader<br>
carrying a small sharp knife.<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Back Home in Sydney 1967

Back In Sydney at North Head - 1966<br>
Left to Right: Mick Darmondy, not known, not known, Phill Moscatt, not known, David (Tim) Holt<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Ron Papps, shortly after arrival in 'Nam

<strong>Ron Papps shortly after arriving at Nui Dat.<br>
A national serviceman, Ron had previously been a<br>
race caller on Tasmanian radio, and frequently kept<br>
us entertained of an evening with his "phantom" race calls!!!<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Holsworthy Hut 1966

Holsworthy Barracks - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

Sergeant Darryl Palmer

<strong>Sgt Darryl Palmer, who at this time was the<br>
Australian Army's youngest sergeant.<br>
I still owe him a 7/7 .. Canadian 7 whisky and 7-Up.<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller</em></strong>

Chinook 1967

Chinook Helicopter - SVN - 1966<br>
<em>Image © Brian Cossar</em>

1ATF lines, 1967. Mike Ball,?, Andy Tame

<strong>Mike Ball (left) and unidentified neighbours<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Mike Ball getting away from the greens

<strong>Mike Ball grew tired of jungle greens after some months.<br>
Did these shorts come in a Red Cross parcel???<br>
Pic taken by the side of his tent looking down towards<br>
the Command Post and HQ1ATF Registry area.<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Mike Ball (left) and unknown driver

<strong>Mike Ball (left) and unknown Driver<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Ross Hayden atop sandbags. One down, two million to go!!

<strong>Ross "Roscoe" Hayden of D&E Platoon doing what<br>
D & E platoon did MOST during the early days of Nui Dat ...<br>
filled bloody sandbags for everyone else !!!<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

John Eller enjoys the "fruits" of a Red Cross food pack

<strong>John Eller getting into some "ration supplements"<br>
courtesy of the Red Cross. And yes .. the photo was<br>
processed the wrong way around!!!<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Inside John Eller's home bound Herc

<strong>Recollection is that this was taken on board the Hercules<br>
en route to Australia in April 1967. The pic is blurred by the<br>
vibration of the aircraft .. or perhaps the night before!<br><br>

<em>Photo by John Eller - 1967</em></strong>

Eddie Tricker's yellow submarine.. er.. tent

<strong>Eddie Tricker standing at the front of his tent<br>
Could this be an entrant in the House and Garden Home of the Year??</strong>

Peter Bale at the D&E Kills board

<strong>Peter Bale standing by the D&E Kills Board</strong>

Eddie Tricker arrives in SVN

<strong>Eddie Tricker arrives at Tan Son Nhut wondering what the future holds</strong>

Eddie Tricker and Terry Wolff, Market St Vung Tau

<strong>Eddie Tricker and Terry Wolff in Market St, Vung Tau</strong>

Rice paddy at Phuoc Le (Ba Ria)

<strong>Water buffalo and farmer work a rice paddy near Ba Ria</strong>

Give me a home among the bananas

<strong>Allan Scott proudly displays his crop</strong>

Various types of hand grenades

<strong>Various grenades - more things that make you go "BOOM"</strong>

Claymore Mine

<strong>Claymore mine - things that make you go "BOOM"</strong>

HQ 1ATF circa 1970

<strong>Nui Dat Headquarters, 1ATF, circa 1970<br>
© Paul Desmond Asbury Collection</strong>