Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Diggers of 11 Platoon, D Company. 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) on Operation Lavarack, North East of the Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat. The wounded VietCong is lifted aboard an American Dustoff helicopter by L/Cpl Grygierczyk. Pte J Korn and Maj J Lakeyphotograph, 11 platoon, d coy, 6 rar/nz, operation lavarack, nva/vc, dustoff, l/cpl grycierczyk, pte j korn, maj j lakey, gibbons collection catalogue, diggers, 6 rar/nz (anzac), viet cong, denis gibbons

From the 30th to the 1st day of Tet (Lunar New Year), the VC have shamelessly violated the truce that they themselves proposed. The have attacked a number of town in Central Vietnam and in the Highlands. On the nights of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of Tet, they have taken advantage to infiltrate into the capital, Saigon - and into Gia Dinh and Cho Lon. They have also attacked in the provinces of the 3rd and the 4th Tactical Zones to destroy infrastructure and public utilities. However, thanks to the rapid reaction of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces, they have been completely and humiliatingly defeated. (1968) On the reverse side reads: Herewith are the casualty rates of us and the enemy: Period: 30-01-68 - Our causalities 282 killed and wounded. Enemy 2,338 killed on the spot, 182 captured. Period 1-02-68 - Our soldiers: 203 killed and wounded. Enemy 2,617 killed, 198 captured. Period 2-02-68 to 12 midday: Our soldiers 211 killed and wounded. enemy 2,112 killed, 119 captured. Summary: Our casualties: 706, Enemy casualties 7,561. Enemy weapons captured: 144 crew-served weapon; 2,253 individual weapons.TONG KET TINH HINH CHIEN SU TRON 3 NGAY - VUA QUA TREN TOAN QUOC - A Summary of the war situation in the country over the past days: On one side there is information in Vietnamese and on the reverse side the information is in a table format.pamphlet, psycological warfare, propaganda, nva/vc, viet cong, 7th battalion, 1st battalion, the royal australian regiment, terry michael collie, 2790361, lunar new year, central vietnam, saigon, gia dinh, cho lon

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Engineers with mine detectors watch a group of Diggers load a stretcher into an RAAF "Slick" helicopter, from 9 Squadron, bearing one of their mates wounded wounded when APC 13A was destroyed by a 40lb VietCong chicom mine during operation Massey Harris. The whole area had been peppered with mines.photograph, raaf, 9 sqn, huey helicopter, apc, chicom mine, operation massey harris, gibbons collection catalogue, royal australian air force, 9 squadron, 9 squadron raaf, diggers, wounded soldier, viet cong

The last Australian soldier to be listed as missing in action was Lance Corporal John Francis Gillespie of 8 Field Ambulance. On 17 April 1971 Gillespie was serving as a helicopter medic during a 'dustoff' (helicopter medical evacuation) operation in the Long Hai hills in Phuoc Tuy province. Four South Vietnamese Regional Force soldiers had been injured by a mine explosion and the difficult terrain demanded a helicopter evacuation. But the Long Hai hills were an insecure landing zone. The caves and dense timber of the Long Hais had long harboured a major Viet Cong base area and the dustoff operation required the protection of helicopter gunships. As the first wounded soldier was being winched up, the hovering helicopter was hit by enemy machine-gun fire. It crashed to the ground and burst into flames. Although the crew escaped, Lance Corporal Gillespie and three other soldiers were engulfed in the fireball. A helicopter crewman, Corporal Robert Stephens, repeatedly entered the burning aircraft and tried in vain to rescue Gillespie, until being forced back by the flames. Stephens was later awarded the British Empire Medal for his courage. Gillespie's body could not be recovered from the burning wreckage which was reduced to slag by the fire. Private Gillespie was listed as missing in action, apparently on a technicality because his remains could not be found. The classification was subsequently altered to killed in action.Stainless steel open ended bracelet with missing serviceman's full name and date missing. In a buff square satin lined box.MIA John Francis Gillespie 17/04/71mia, john francis gillespie, l/cpl john francis gillespie, 3170244, royal australian army medical corps, 8th field ambulance, cpl robert stephens, killed in action