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5RAR Soldiers
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PATRONS
Brigadier Colin Khan DSO AM (Retd)
Major General Justin ('Jake') Ellwood DSC AM CSC
GENERAL
Nominal Roll 1st & 2nd Tours, Republic of South Vietnam
Selected Links
THE COs
LTCOL. Chris Gilmore
LTCOL. Matthew Dirago
LTCOL. Travis Gordon CSM
LTCOL. Paul Shields MBE
LTCOL. Richard Barrett
LTCOL. Andrew Forbes
LTCOL. Darren Huxley DSC
LTCOL. Jake Ellwood DSC
LTCOL. Kevin E. Newman AO
LTCOL. John A. Hooper CBE
LTCOL. Graham O. Thompson
LTCOL. Colin Khan DSO AM
LTCOL. John A. Warr DSO
LTCOL. Peter H. G. Oxley OBE
THE RSMs
WO1 B. Foster OAM CSM
WO1 S. Casey
WO1 R. Munro
WO1 S. Ransome
WO1 R. Rootham
WO1 D. de Kock
WO1 C. Howe OAM
WO1 G. Burns
WO1 J. McFadzean
(Bio Pending)
WO1 R. C. Wormald
(Bio Pending)
WO2 R. G. Armitage BEM
WO1 C. R. Vagg
WO2 R. R. Burns
(Bio Pending)
WO1 L.T. Foale
(Bio Pending)
WO1 F. J. Glynn-Armstrong
(Bio Pending)
FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Middle East
Republic of South Vietnam
TOURS ... AN OVERVIEW
Afghanistan, MTF-2
Vietnam, 2nd Tour
Vietnam, 1st Tour
OPERATIONS CONDUCTED
Vietnam 1969 - 70
Vietnam 1966 - 67
VIET CONG & NVA
The Enemy & His Tactics
5RAR Cordon and Search Operations Phuoc Tuy Province
Were Russian Advisors in Phuoc Tuy Province?
WEAPONRY
Australian Infantry Small Arms ― Vietnam War
VC & NVA Weapons
Booby Traps ― Vietnam War
Mines ― Vietnam War
GLOSSARY
Military Dispositions and Unit Descriptions Vietnam War
POETRY
Verse from our Members
Ode of Remembrance
SPECIAL MENTION
5RAR - Formation and Preparation for War
The Reflections of a Battalion Medical Officer
Enemy Bunker Systems
Operation Camden: 3 Platoon & Assault Pioneer Platoon Encounter 3rd Battalion 274 VC Regiment
When 'Wingy' Read the Riot Act!
When 'Wingy' Read the Riot Act ... A Reprise
Anatomy of a Bunker Contact
Preparation & Logistical Problems Faced By 5RAR up to Dec 1966
Memoirs of an Armourer
To Nui Dat with the 173rd Airborne Brigade
5RAR's Final Battle in Vietnam
The Long Hai Hills Incident
The Village of Dat Do
Close Quarter Ambush
Band of the 5th Battalion
The Recent Death of the Commanding Officer, 274th VC Regiment (14 August 2019.) Comment by Peter Isaacs, Adjutant 1st Tour
National Servicemen in Combat
AUDIO VIDEO
Task Force Vietnam Video
A British Pathé/Cinesound Newsreel of 5RAR's Farewell Parade through the streets of Sydney and C Company members with family and friends prior to boarding HMAS Sydney May 1966. 1:53
Opening screen shot of the short film 'The Fighting Fifth'
A British Pathé/Cinesound Newsreel of 5RAR's 1st Tour Return to Australia. 3:30
video icon Video Tribute - 5RAR Vietnam
(5.8Mb) Producer: Kevin Gaunt

Huey Helicopter
Video tribute to the Chopper Crews of the Vietnam War
video icon High Quality Video (12Mb)
video icon Small Quality Video (4.8Mb)

5RAR War Dead
video icon Video Tribute to 5RAR's
War Dead (5.4Mb)

audio icon 5RAR Band Recital Nui Dat

audio icon Audio Interview with Assistant Ops Officer Capt Bob Supple During Operation Queanbeyan
audio icon Audio Interview with 2nd Lieutenant Michael Deak During Operation Queanbeyan
IMAGE GALLERY VIETNAM
Officers of the Battalion
Senior NCOs First Tour
Senior NCOs Second Tour
Men of the Battalion
On Operations
Reconnaissance Platoon
Operation Renmark
Aircraft in Support
Artillery in Support
Armour in Support
Navy in Support
Nui Dat Base
Phuoc Tuy Province
Captured VC Photographs & Art
5RAR Sergeants Mess Honour Board 1st Tour
Training Australia
IMAGE GALLERY AFGHANISTAN
MTF-2 Afghanistan
IMAGE GALLERY IRAQ
Awaiting Contributions
IMAGE GALLERY TIMOR LESTE
Awaiting Contributions
IMAGE GALLERY
PREDECESSOR BATTALIONS
2/5th Infantry Battalion
2/5th Infantry Battalion Sub-Units
5th Battalion 1st AIF
'AUSSIEISMS'
Don Harrod Remembers Vietnam
Glossary of Language used by Australian Soldiers in Vietnam
Nicknames of 5RAR Personnel
5RAR Equipment Scale
TRIBUTES & MEMORIALS
Our Deceased Members
Australian Vietnam Veterans' War Memorial
The Cherry Tree Walk
HISTORY
History of the 5th Battalions
The Fate of the 5th Battalion AIF on the 25th April 1915
5th Battalion 1st AIF Nominal Roll

Also lists the 1st to 14th Reinforcements, giving last name, initials and town or suburb on enlistment. (2.9Mb PDF)
Photographs of Members of the 2/5th Inf Bn at Wondecla, Qld 1944
Members of the 5th Battalion 1923
Formation of the Royal Australian Regiment
Presentation of the Battalion's Colours
The Raising of 5 RAR ... Raising/Disbandment Instruction (Official Document)
Booklet: 5RAR Colour Parade 29 October1967
1st Edition of "Tiger Tales" Published 10 Sept 1966
'Quintus' the Battalion's 1st Mascot
L/Cpl George Wills original handler with Quintus, Garden Island May 1967
The Original Plaque that adorned Quintus' Enclosure
Chronicle of the Vietnam War
5th Battalion's Regimental Marches
Pocket Book: Information for National Servicemen
Booklet Celebrating 5RAR's Inauguration Parade 1965
Cover & 'On Parade' Page of 5RAR's Ceremonial Parade Prior to Embarkation 2nd Tour
Laying Up of the Battalion's Colours
173rd Airborne Brigade Recognises ANZAC KIAs
Origin of the Badge of the Royal Australian Regiment
Origin of the Slouch Hat
Origin of the Rising Sun Badge
Profile of the 5RAR Soldier
As seen by an American journalist
Army Weekly Rates of Pay 1967
1ATF Vietnam - A Quantitative, Spatial & Temporal Analysis
Instructions & Contents Wrappers Aussie 24 Hr Ration Packs
SMOKO
5RAR (Vietnam Era) Crossword Puzzle
Video Library
Murphy's Law on Combat Operations
Parable of the Kit Inspection
WELCOME
Page edited/updated: Tuesday, June 06, 2023

5RAR Welcome LogoMy appreciation goes to the many members who have contributed to the website, and in particular to those men who contributed articles to 'Special Mention', 'Once We Were Soldiers' and 'Tales From The Tiger' sections, who walked over dead ground and relived it again. I thank you.

To fully utilise this website your web browser must be Java Script enabled. Members check the notice board above and also the forum message board located further down the page.

For visitors wanting more information about each page on the left menu bar, hold your mouse pointer over each link. And finally, the views expressed on this website are not necessarily those of the 5RAR Association Committee.

I hope you find your visit informative and interesting.

50th Anniversary of the end of Australia’s
 involvement in the Vietnam War
A national commemorative service will be held on 10:30am Friday 18 August 2023 at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial on Anzac Parade Canberra See links for more details.
Update 24 May 2023 - 50th anniversary of the end of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. Details if you plan to attend. Here
More details and instructions on applying for the Vietnam War commemorative  medallion and certificate Here
FIFTH BATTALION THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT
CO 5RAR LTCOL Chris Gilmore
COMMANDING OFFICER
LTCOL. CHRIS GILMORE.

ON ACTIVE SERVICE
AFGHANISTAN
IRAQ
TIMOR LESTE
VIDEO
LTCOL. Huxley's Mission Statement as CO Mentoring Task Force-2 (MTF-2) October 2010
5RAR COLOURS
Rededication to the Colours in the Field December 2006
Presentation of 5RAR's new Colours in Darwin March 2007
5RAR MASCOT
5RAR's Mascot Quintus Rama Dies
Quintus Rama
New Tiger Adorns 5RAR's Boozer
5RAR MUSEUM
Some of the displays in the Museum

Donate to the 5RAR Museum
RTF (Regimental Trust Fund) have set up an account to accept donations to aid in the preservation of the 5RAR Museum.
Details »Here...
TRAINING AUSTRALIA
CO's Report
Bravo Company Report
Charlie Company Report
Delta Company Report
Logistics Company Report
Support Company Report
ADJUTANT'S CUP
2016 inaugural Adjutant's Cup awarded to LT. Tavis Harling
WARR/KHAN TROPHY
2022 Warr/Khan Trophy awarded to Corporal Conner Jose.
ROBERTSON BARRACKS
5RAR Farewells RSM de Kock
Commanding Officers' Crystal Tiger
Tiger Battalion Flag is Unfurled at the South Pole
5RAR Farewells its Last APC
Photographs of MTF -2's Welcome Home Parade
Timor-Leste Battlegroup Farewell Parade
BATTLE OF BINH BA
PRELUDE
Situated north of the 1st Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat on the western side of Route 2, the village of Binh Ba had a population of around three thousand people – mainly farmers and rubber plantation workers. Tidy and rectangular in shape, and mainly constructed of solid brick and tile, Binh Ba was well known to the Australians. Indeed during 5RAR's first tour in Vietnam a rifle company and a mortar section had been briefly stationed within the village itself. This strategy proved to be a deterrent to the Viet Cong tax collectors and assassination squads taking control of the village. The drain on the finite resources of the small Australian force proved to be too much however, and the village was later left to the protection of South Vietnamese Regional Forces. In an attempt to demonstrate that they could move freely within the province, a combined communist force including the 1st Battalion NVA 33 Regiment, elements of the VC D440 Local Force Battalion, the Binh Ba and Ngai Giao Guerrilla Squad and the Chau Duc District Company had occupied Binh Ba on the evening of 5–6 June 1969. In response, South Vietnamese forces were sent from Duc Thanh the following morning. Initial intelligence suggested that a group of about platoon strength had infiltrated the village. Meanwhile during a separate operation 6RAR had also been engaged in a heavy contact several kilometres north of the task force base and at 0800 on 6 June, an Australian Centurion tank and an armoured recovery vehicle moving through Binh Ba to assist 6RAR were fired upon. A rocket propelled grenade struck the Centurion penetrating the turret, and causing damage to the tank and severe wounds to one of the crewman. The district commander subsequently asked 1 ATF for assistance in clearing Binh Ba.

50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF BINH BA

The ABC video of the commemorative service marking the 50th anniversary of the battle was held at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, Anzac Parade Canberra, on the 6th of June, 2019.
To view the video click here.

INTERVIEWS

This documentary, produced by the Department of Veterans' Affairs features some of the men who were involved in the battle. It was played at the 50th anniversary commemorative service in Canberra in June 2019.
To view the video click here.

pointer Battle of Binh Ba
by Brian London OAM, DCM
pointer 'The Battle' by Mr. Raymond Gallacher, Writer and Lecturer
pointer An Account and Photos from a
B Company Digger
pointer The Battle of Binh Ba Revisited —
From the Histories of Both Sides
pointer Photo of 6 Pl B Coy Assaulting the Village of Duc Trung pointer Photo of 6Pl B Coy at the Start Line Prior to the Assault on Duc Trung
pointer B Company at Binh Ba
By Mostyn "Mo" Hancock OAM
pointer Images of the Battle of Binh Ba
pointer Photograph of 5RAR's RMO, Capt Hugh Roberton treating a wounded VC outside the village pointer Photograph of Pte. Ian Hutchison Treating a Captured NVA Soldier During the Battle
pointer Brig Chamberlain's detailed history titled: 'The 33rd Regiment North Vietnamese Army. Their Story, and the battle of Binh Ba »Here
pointer A Captured 33rd NVA News Bulletin, in part, claiming victory at the Battle of Binh Ba. Document supplied and comments by Brig Ern Chamberlian (Retd).
40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF BINH BA (2009)
pointer On 5 June 2009, the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba, the Australian War Memorial hosted a symposium to study various aspects of the battle. The link to the audio is: »Here Dead Link
pointer Photo Album: Battle of Binh Ba Service pointer Photo Album: Battle of Binh Ba Dinner
WHAT'S NEW
PRESS YOUR F5 KEY TO LOAD THE LATEST UPDATES
(Notices will include the relevant link if applicable)
Point Hard copies of 'Vietnam Task'  and 'Vietnam Vanguard' are now available at a discounted price for 5 RAR members. See the NOTICE BOARD Here
(Posted 17 May)
Point June 8 edition of ARMY NEWSPAPER. 5 RAR featured on page 5. Available
Here
(Posted 6 June)
NEWSLETTERS/PAPERS/font>
Newsletter masthead of Tiger Tales
Tiger Tales is the newsletter of the 5RAR Association and is published three times a year in April, August and December. This page contains copies of previous editions. The current edition is forwarded by post to all current financial members of the Association.
Point THIS ISSUE
December 2022 Edition
Point BACK ISSUES
Issues April 1987 ~ December 2022
 
Masthead of Australian Army Magazine
June 8, 2023 edition
2/5th Aust Inf Bn Newsletter

Logo of the 2-5th Australian Infantry Battalion
February 2019 Edition
MUSIC
Thank You So Much
My Dog Nui Dat

Warrant Officer Class 2, Kevin 'Dasher' Wheatley VC ... A Tribute
Hometown Battlefield
By J. P. Cromier
.

A Veteran's Voice
Peter Wells (2nd Tour) has produced the above song in cooperation with singer/songwriter Bernie Steel, looking through the eyes of a returned serviceman.
Dust of Uruzgan
A tribute to Pte. Ben Renuado, KIA Afghanistan 2009.
Pte Evan Jones, who was in the 5RAR Intelligence Section of BHQ during 1969-70, was always a bit of an entertainer and has now placed a couple of his recent songs on You Tube.
Red Dot Your Son in Vietnam
Red Dot  Before That Bloody War

Jim Mavromatis
Jim served with 5RAR 1st Tour and has developed a reputation for song writing and performing. His website is Here.
May Day Boogie
An interesting mix
of music and gun-fire.

Poster Girl
Beccy Cole's tribute to the Australian Soldier.
The man
They Called 'The Anzac'

Can You Hear Australia's Heroes Marching?
VIDEO
Cpl Leslie 'Bull' Allen
Documentary film about  war hero 'Bull' Allen, of the 2/5th Australian Infantry Battalion, which has been released online.
Australian War
Memorial Video Channel

Tribute
To Andy Mattay Soldier and Pictorial Historian
(1941 - 2004).
RETURN
Nui Dat and
Vung Tau Revisited

By Gary Townsend.
Return to Vietnam
This article by our president Roger Wainwright, recounts the highlights of a visit to Vietnam in October 2005.
A Tiger's Return
Mick Henrys' observations on his return to Vietnam.
Hanoi Revisited
Mick Henrys' reflection on Vietnam after five years since he last went back.
GENERAL ARTICLES
Charlestown Rotary Club Bulletin featuring a presentation given by "Doc" White RMO 1st Tour.
The Six Degrees of Separation
The strange appearance of a photograph of Norm Womal at Gallipoli
By Mike von Berg


Inaugural Army
Indigenous Elder

The Army's inaugural indigenous Elder, 5RAR's Roy Mundine was appointed by CA Lt Gen David Morrison at a ceremony in Canberra on April 18 2015

Grafton Examiner
article on Zeke:

Former 5RAR
members provide an
escort at Menin Gate

Warburton Way
Lost in war, Warburton boys live on in a new street... 'Warburton Way'
Hero of the Vietnam War Packs Plenty Into Life
War veterans Jim Campbell and Kerry White meet up almost 38 years after a bloody war incident in Vietnam.
A Story About a Sword
Lieutenant T. N. H. Stretch MC & Bar

Indigenous
Brothers in Arms

A member's reminiscence
of his time serving with Australian indigenous soldiers.

Return To Sender
In a wonderful gesture of goodwill and kindness, a letter written in war-torn Vietnam has found its way back to its original owner
(4 June 2013).

The True Meaning
of Anzac Day

 Canberra Times article about our late, esteemed member, Joe Staweyskyj
(7 May 2013).

5RAR Car Stickers ― A Reason To Have One
By Don Harrod.
SIOUX A1-404
The Sioux helicopter on display at the Australian War Museum and its link with 5RAR.
A 5RAR Member's
Link to WW1

By Bill O'Mara.
A Link To The
2/5th Battalion

By Don Harrod.
In the Shadows
of the Horsemen

By Robert Kearney.
Celebrating the Last 'Huey'
Courtesy Helicopter Association International.
Dog Tag Recovery
38 years on, a dog tag returns.
Our Mate Mick
 We all knew Mick, he was the sort of bloke who sometimes could make the unbelievable ― believable.
Digging for the Meaning
A member's observations on the character of the Aussie soldier.
COMMAND & CONTROL
The Guestbook has been reinstated so please take the time to sign as we are always interested in your comments. You can also post or view messages in the Message Forum. to E-Mail the Webmaster

Meet Us On
An image link to 5RAR Association Facebook page
sign guestbook view guestbook message forum button link
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Webmaster would like to thank the following members for their contributions.

Bob Alexander, Wayne Arnold, Graeme Ashton, Frank Baker, Michael ('Deaky') Baron von Berg MC OAM, Alex Bernotas,  Robert Birtles,  Ray Bolitho,  David Bowman,  Brig Ron Boxall (Rtd), Jack Bradd OAM, Russell Briggs, Colin Bruce, David 'Stretch' Byran John Burridge MG,  Jeff Cappler,  Trevor Carter, Neville Case,  Robert Cavill, Bill Charlton, Trevor Cheeseman, Geoff Conners, Jerry Coret, Peter Craig, Peter Craib, Ryan Cripps, Ray Curran, Tom Davern, Ken Davis, Paul 'Smoky' Dawson, Phillip deCook (US), Mick Dench MM, Jeff Dennis, Haydyn Dorrough, Claude Ducker MC, Bernie Duggan (US), Ron Dunbar, Greg 'Spike' Dwyer, Allan English, John Ettridge, David French, Jim Fitzgerald, Kevin Gaunt, Darrel George, Bill Grassick, Paul Greenhalgh, Ian Gowlett, Ron Hamlyn, Bob Harbourd, Don Harrod, John Hellyer, Mick Henrys, Wayne Herbert, John Heyhoe, Russell 'Kiwi' Hill, Bob Hobbs, Bill Hunt,  John Hunter, Darren Huxley DSC, Colin Illman, Peter Isaacs, John James, Thomas Jane, Bill Jarrett, Robert Kearney OAM, Chris Kuchenmeister, Ivan Kustreba, Paul La Forest, Roger Lambert, Ian Leis,  John Lloyd, Arnold Lockrey, Mal Lyons, Brian London OAM DCM, Darryl Lovell, Ian McDougall, Alan McNulty DCM, Stan Maizey, Jim Marett, Jim Mavromatis, Bob Meredith, Paul McQueen, James Metcalf (US), Alan Miles, John Miller CVO, AM, MBE, Lloyd 'Dusty' Miller, Michael Nettleton,  Dennis Nevins,  John O'Callaghan,  Bill O'Mara,  Professor Robert O'Neill AO, Anthony Pahl, Dave Partridge, Geoff Pearson, Mike Radwell, Dennis Rainer MC, Matthew Richards, Alan Riley,  Colin Roach, Hugh Roberton, Alec Robinson, J.P. Rolston, Des Schickert, Graham Sherrington, John Smee, Bob Sperring, Peter Stone, Robert Swiggett (US),  Ron Shambrook AM, Peter Taylor, Barrie Taylor, Tony Templeton, Dave Thompson, Neville Thompson OAM, Bill Titley OAM, Terry Tommasi,  Garry Towner, Gary Townsend, Peter Turner, Tony Twaits, Roger Wainwright, James Walker, Ian Ward,  John Warr DSO, Ron 'Spider' Webb, Kerry White, Tony "Doc" White AM, RFD, David Wilkins OAM, Bob Williams, Father John Williams, George Wills, Ross Wood and Peter Woods.

Helicopter audio files courtesy of
FOURAYS
The Australian Army Aviation Association



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2015 REUNION
Dead Link
Photographs
Photographs of the Reunion can be viewed »Here
Password is: photo
At the Reunion
History of the Colours
Reunion Placemats
SUB-UNIT WEBSITES
The Mushroom Club Logo
C Company 1st Tour Website.
Webmaster: Gary Townsend (Current Editor of Tiger Tales)
SUB-UNIT NEWSLETTERS
Half Circle Logo
Issue No 182, February 2022
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Life membership Badge
2020.....Brig Colin Khan DSO
AM (Retd)
2018..........Gary Townsend
2017..COL Roger Wainwright OAM (Retd)
2015.......Alan McNulty DCM
2015......Bruce Schmidtchen
2013...............Ted Harrison
2011.................Ron Hamlyn
2010...............Brian Budden
2010..............Geoff Pearson

Criteria for Life Membership
SUB-UNIT REUNIONS
D COMPANY 2ND TOUR
REUNION
Details Here
C COMPANY 2ND TOUR REUNION
Photographs Here
VIETNAM VETERANS' MUSEUM
5RAR Association's display at the National Vietnam Veterans' Museum.
HEALTH & WELFARE
Dot Red OPEN ARMS
A service founded by Vietnam Veterans, now for all veterans and families.
Dot Red DVA Home Front
Dot Red DVA Remedial Exercise Program
Dot Red Strongyloides
Dot Red Australian Defence Force Assistant Trust
DVD SALES
Eye of the Tiger DVD
Eyes of the Tiger...
Diary of a Dirty War.
DVD based on Reconnaissance Platoon during the battalion's first tour. Percentage of sales will go to the 5RAR Association. More...
BOOK REVIEWS

MORRIE!
(Click on image)
Book: Titled Morrie Dwyer
A List of Military Books. »Here
VETERANS' RETREATS
pointer Update to The Tasmanian Vietnam Veterans State Memorial Bush Retreat

Floor Plan & Site Plan

pointer Meentheena Retreat
pointer Ramon Deed Veterans' Retreat
pointer Dead Link
A Comprehensive List of Veterans' Retreats
(Requires updating)
pointer Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat Inc Website
pointer Cockatoo Rise War Veterans Retreat Inc February Newsletter

Membership Form
pointer Murraguldrie Veterans' Retreat


 

© 2003 ― 5RAR Association Inc. All Rights Reserved