Introduction:
The other day I had a friend call me and asked if I had heard of, or have a copy of Digby Richards 1967 song "Aussie Bush Hat".
I looked high and low for a copy, even trying to contact CBS the original Label, ~~~Zilch.
I then got on to a web site "Dig Richards" which is a private site operated by a Record Whiz called Hank..
I also contacted a veteran nick-named "The Walrus" who is also a music buff to the extreme with much help to me in my research of the AFR video.
Would you believe it? Within two hours I had two copies on MP3 of that elusive song. Both these men were magnificent!
As a result I had another brain spasm and knocked out a small tribute to the Aussie Entertainers who did such a great job making us laugh, cry, and randy as well as many other emotions a young man has away from home when someone from home appears to entertain for him!!
Any how, enough jibber!
Here is the Youtube link for the piece..If you get teary or misty eyed, it has achieved the desired result.
LETS NEVER FORGET ~ LET OUR CHILDREN NEVER FORGET..KEEP THE THING VETERANS DID FOR THEIR COUNTRY ALIVE!!!
The Story Behind the Hat.
Norm Austin Recalls:
Watching this video was very touching for me. The story in the song reflects an incident that happened but of course there is more to the story.
I was an operations clerk in Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force Tactical Operations Centre (TOC) on 21st June 1966 — we worked in the TOC, which was a sand-bagged marquee, 24hours a day. On the night of 21st June, I was given a report to type up. The report was of the death of one of our mates "Brownie or " Corporal Ian R Brown who was with Detachment 1 Division Provost Unit.
The Provost Unit was then was attached to Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force to undertake provost duties, including security of the TOC, escorts and looking after prisoners of war. I had known Brownie since we arrived in Vietnam, some two moths earlier. At the time the provosts mounted guard on the entrance to the TOC. The Provosts shared our mess, which just a tarpaulin and tents at the time. Often he and I were on duty late at night, and when things were quiet and we talked a lot. I remember once when I was entering the TOC after dark I was challenged "Who goes there?", I answered with the wrong pass word —shit, I heard an owen gun being cocked, but after a pause Brownie chuckled and said "Come in Norm" — he knew it was me! In the space of two months he was the third digger that I personally knew to be killed. Brownie, aged 26, was shot in the ambush in Hoa Long on 21st June 1966 the day before the song "The Aussie Bush Hat" is set.
As you probably have guessed Brownie was the owner of "The Aussie Bush Hat".
The attached extract from the official history outlines what happened on the day prior to the concert. I have also copied the Task Force Operations Log and Brownie′s Nominal Roll entry.
This was just one of many atrocities committed by the Viet Cong in Hoa Long Village.
I suspect that Dig Richards was given Brownie′s hat — probably by Corporal Bill Collins who was the driver of the vehicle and probably in the Task Force Head Quarters other ranks canteen which at the time a tarp slung up in the rubber trees — but you could get a cold beer.
John Eller, who was with D&E Platoon, has identified a number of his D&E mates in the video — at the 58 second mark. Phill Moscatt who was also in D&E was probably in Saigon learning Vietnamese at that time.
FINALLY A BIG THANKS TO ALL THOSE ENTERTAINERS WHO BOUGHT A PIECE OF "AUSSIE" TO SOUTH VIETNAM TO ENTERTAIN US.
NORM (AUSTIN)
