5RAR Reconnaissance Platoon Operation Renmark 18 - 22 February 1967
War Correspondent and Combat Photographer, Daryl Henry.
Photos from the collection of Daryl Henry taken at Nui Dat and the Long Hai Hills. Daryl was attached to 5RAR's Reconnaissance Platoon for the duration of Operation Renmark 18 - 22 February 1967.
“Daryl Henry, was a free lance journalist, qualified architect, world free fall champion, male model and in today’s terminology classified as an action man, and all round good guy to have a beer with. He had spent most of his time imbedded with the US Marines in Vietnam before accompanying Recon on Op Renmark. He was last seen pen in hand and notebook following a guerrilla war somewhere in Latin America before Recon Platoon re-established contact with him in very interesting circumstances in 2000, to not only say g’day but to seek his permission to publish some of his pictures in Crossfire. He is now a retired Hollywood script writer living in the hills just out of Los Angeles.”
Mike "Deaky" von Berg MC, Platoon Commander Recce Platoon.
(Click on the top left image to follow the intended sequence)
Canadian War Correspondent and Combat Photographer, Daryl Henry.
2nd Lt Deak MC is seen briefing the 5RAR Reconnaissance Platoon prior to the commencement of Operation Renmark in the Long Hai Hills.
Members of Recce Platoon during the briefing. 2nd Lt Deak MC is having a joke with the South Vietnames interpreter who can be seen leaning forward. Corporal Bernie Smith foreground is facing the camera. Bernie was tragically killed in action when the battalion returned for its second tour in February 1969.
Foreground is the platoon sergeant John Lea-Smith with members of recce platoon. (From right to left:) Pte. John 'Scalesy' Scales, Lance-Corporal Robert 'Bob' Searl, Pte. Robert Brandt, Pte. David 'Blue' Wollner and Pte. Ray 'Ferret' Ferrier.
Insertion into the Long Hai Hills: Members of Recce Platoon airborne and onway to the long Hai Hills. Part forested, and rice growing areas of Phuoc Tuy Province can be seen below.
Recce Platoon Machine Gunner: Private David 'Blue' Wollner is seen assisting in securing the LZ (Landing Zone) prior to the arrival by helicopter of soldiers of the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam).
Insertion onto LZ: Recce platoon soldiers watch as the south Vietnamese soldiers clear the landing zone. Note the way the ARVN were inclined to carry their weapons over their shoulders.
Private Dudley 'Jacka' Aitken is scanning the area during a stop in open ground.
Assessing the Target: 2nd Lt Deak MC discussing artillery fire-support with the Battalion FO (Artillery Forward Observer) on possible targets prior to the platoon's ascent of the Long Hai's.
105 Howitzer being set up: Pte Daryl 'Butch' Moroney of Recce Platoon watches as a 105mm Howitzer is being uncoupled from an Australian army land rover which will be in support of the diggers on the ground.
Private Glenn 'Moose' Benham, the platoon's signaler during a break in patrolling the Long Hai's.
On the Radio: 2nd Lt Deak MC updating Battalion HQ with his current 'Locstat' (Location Statement).
Recce Platoon sergeant John Lea-Smith looks on as a soldier checks the body of a recently buried VC for documents. Daryl Henry in his diary wrote " No weapons; only a bad odour."
Contact! Pte. Twaits was photographed by Daryl Henry during an enemy contact at the foot of the Long Hai Hills.
The platoon had three separate contacts with the enemy within a relatively short period of time, and it seemed that the three to five enemy were very keen to protect something on the axis of the platoons advance. The platoon commander pictured here in a photo by Daryl Henry is under fire and calling in artillery. Upon completion of the fire mission and burying a dead Viet Cong killed in one of the contacts, the platoon advanced to find a heavily fortified enemy company position, where fire embers were still warm and leaving behind evidence that it was a heavy weapons company who had vacated the position the night before”.
Adrenaline Surge! Pte. Twaits forground keeps his M60 in the firing position waiting for a possible counter-attack after the VC broke contact.
After the Contact: Platoon. Sergeant John Lea-Smith looks to his front for any movement that may indicate a counter-attack by the VC.
Dead Female VC: After the contact, Recce Platoon swept the area and discovered this dead female VC.
Burying the Enemy Dead: Although depised by the Australians for their murderous treament by some VC on innocent civilian men women and children, The Australian 'Code of Conduct' was, if possible, to bury the enemy dead. Corporal John 'Blue' Mulby (foreground) and another soldier dig a grave for the dead VC.
A Superb Observation Post: Sergeant Lea-Smith at Left and Corporal Greame Leach on top of the rock formation atop the Long Hai Hills. The VC used the hills as an observation post for many years. The Platoon remained on the 'Hills' for two days after the battalion's withdrawal and successfully employed and directed night artillery on enemy positions and movement through campfires and torchlight sightings.
A Bell Sioux helicopter from 161 Recce Flight loaded with water ammunition and rations lands in a rocky clearing on the Long Hai's.
Reconnaissance Platoon Signaller Pte Glenn 'Moose' Benham loaded up with his kit plus the platoon's radio preparing to move to the VC camp found on the Long Hai's.
Pte. Benham 'on the radio' as he and Corporal Leach RAE (Royal Australian Engineers) searches the VC Camp.
2nd Lt Mick Deak MC informing Battalion HQ that soldiers of his platoon have become slightly debilitated from the effects of CS Crystals which were the result of white phosphorous bombardment by US fighter and bomber aircraft where movement or rubbing against rocks or vegetation released remnant crystals and caused considerable irritation, watering and stinging of eyes, difficulty breathing and some burning sensations. This made movement to the top of the feature very difficult.
Atop the Long Hai's: 2nd Lt Deak MC (foreground) with Corporal Greame Leach from 2 Troop 1 Field Squadron Royal Australian Engineers (who was attached to the platoon for the duration of the Operation) stands atop the Long Hai's after a gruelling eleven hundred feet ascent. Reconnaissance Platoon was the first allied troops to scale the Long Hais
Back at the 'Dat' Members of Recce Platoon on the completion of Operation Renmark pose for a group shot after returning to Nui Dat. Not all the members are present.