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 104 Battery Gunners at 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Fire Support Base 'Betty' enjoying a fresh shower supplied by 1st Australian Task Force Mobile Shower Unit. The showers allowed eight diggers at a time to enjoy the fresh water brought in from Nui Dat. (Circa March 1970).photograph, 104 battery, fire base betty, 1st atf base, mobile shower unit, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war, gunners, 4 rar/nz (anzac)

Unframed photo of WO 2 J Cochrane of 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit with 1st Australian Task force receives long service and good conduct medal from Maj Gen R.A. HayAWM COM/69/0546/VNls & gc medal, wo 2 cochrane, maj gen hay

A black and white photograph of Johnny Mack of the Official Sep-Oct 69 Lorrae Desmond Show, at the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat Luscombe Bowl, delighted the Diggers with his rendition of popular country and western songs.photograph, johnny mack, lorrae desmond, entertainer, 1st atf base, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, digger, luscombe bowl

A black and white photograph of 1st Australian Task Force Commander (Oct 68 - Sep 69) Brigadier C.M.I. "Sandy" Pearson MC and his Aide 2Lt Paul Coleman Royal Australian Armoured Corps, watch task force Royal Australian Regiment Infantry depart on a helibourne assault to commence operationsphotograph, 1st atf base, brig sandy pearson, 2lt paul coleman, raac, royal australian regiment, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, raac, royal australian army corps

A black and white photograph North West of the 1st Australian Task Force Base, 05/09/1970, 44 gallon drums of high octane fuel exploded into a fireball as Australian troops clear NVA/VietCong rice paddies and vegetable gardensphotograph, 1 atf, nva/vc, rice paddies, gibbons collection catalogue, fire ball

A black and white photograph of a command Armoured Personnel Carrier of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Australian task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, stands guard as the American 11th Armoured Cavalry moves through the Province,photograph, apc, a sqn, 3rd cavalry regiment, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of - As troop numbers and the Australian role in the conflict increased, the pressure was seen at the Latter Day concert Party's at the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat Luscombe Bowl. The Diggers eventually completely surrounding the stage areaphotograph, entertainment, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

A black and white photograph of Captain Jack (Jack The Quack) Blomley, Officer Commanding the 2 Field Ambulance Hopsital at the 1st Australian Task force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province (note text is missing from the bottom of the photograph)photograph, 2 field ambulance, vung tau, capt jack (the quack) blomley, gibbons collection catalogue, digger, phuoc tuy province

The Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation was conferred by General Cao Van Vien, Chief of the Joint General Staff, Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam on 24 October 1970, and officially presented to the 8th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment by Lieutenant General Do Cao Tri, Commander of II Corps and Military Region 3 Vietnam on 29th October 1970. The citation was awarded for "always displaying high morale while co-operating and assisting the Vietnamese people in their struggle against Communism and to defend peace and freedom .. in Military Region III ... Though fighting under the most difficult conditions, the members of the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force still fought bravely and determinedly and had many glorious victories. Their most remarkable military operations took place in the area of the Long Hai hills... (They also participated ) ... in the civic action programme to assist the local population ( in Military Region 3) to reconstruct their houses, roads, bridges, markets and schools etc. ... thereby bringing great credit to the Royal Australian Armed Forces."2 X paper documents, one in English the other in Vietnamese (mounted with white matt in timber frame). Each has been printed with a decorative blue border, main text in black, official stamp in bottom right corner is red. A blue medal with red and yellow ribbon is printed in centre top of both documents.Republic of Vietnam/ Gallantry Cross/Chief of the General Staff? Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam/ Army Meritorious Commendation/ The 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force/ For the gallantry they displayed under enemy fire./ This Meritorious Commendation ((GALLANTRY CROSS)) is added with (a) palm (leaf)./KBC day 24 month 10 Year 19708rar, koo, arthur koo, citation, gallantry cross, gallantry cross with palm

A black and white photograph - This was possibly the only official United States Government sponsored USO show to visit the Australian troops in Vietnam. Here members of the Fred Thompson Show entertain Diggers at 1st Australian Task Force Base,, Nui Dat, Luscombe Bowlphotograph, entertainers, digger, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

A black and white photograph of an American assault Huey "slick" Helicopters, land at Eagle Farm helipad to collect Infantry Diggers from 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province to commence a heliborn operation in Phuoc Tuy Province.photograph, 1 atf, huey helicopter, eagle farm helipad, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue

A coloured photograph of 1st Australian Task Force Deputy Commander accompanied by the Commanding Officer of 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit salute the South Vietnamese flag as the National Anthem is played during a handing over ceremony at Baria, Phuoc Tuy Province Capitalphotograph, 1st atf base, 1st australian civil affairs unit, baria, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of - Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam,July 1966. A US 105mm towed Howitzer firing on targets in the Nui Thai Vai hills from the 1st Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnamphotograph, 105mm howitzer, phuoc tuy province, nui thai van hills, 1st atf base, gibbons collection catalogue, nui dat

A black and white photograph of an Engineering Officer supervises Diggers from 17 Construction Squadron based at the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, as they lay large drainage pipes along the roadway into Hoa Long village.photograph, 17 const sqn, engineers, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, hoa long, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of Trooper Normie Rowe meets the trooper he is to replace upon his arrival at 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. Normie was about to commence his year of active service with the cavalry.photograph, trooper normie rowe, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of Gunners of 104 Battery Royal Australian Artillery at Fire Base Betty divide up cigarettes which had just arrived in a resupply from 1st Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnamphotograph, artillery, 104 battery raa, fire base betty, 1st atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue, gunner

A black and white photograph of Erica De Wit one of the lead singers with the Official Apr-May 70 Sydney Concert Party and an Engineer Digger friend trip the light fantastic to the delight of the audience at 1 Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Luscombe Bowlphotograph, entertainers, sydney concert party, erica de wit, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

A black and white photograph of Johhny O'Keefe and his rock and roll band belt out a tune for the Diggers at 1st Australian Task Force Bases", Nui Dat, Luscombe Bowl. The O'Keefe show presented rock and roll that was the top of the pops at the time and was a great hit with the diggers.photograph, entertainers, johnny o'keefe, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

A black and white photograph of a Vietnamese Linguist from 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit stationed at the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, condusts a mixed adult English class for Vietnamese at th Province capital compound at Bariaphotograph, 1st australian civil affairs unit, 1st atf base, nui dat, vietnamese linguist, baria, gibbons collection catalogue, vietnamese people, phuoc tuy province

A coloured photograph of Maj Gen R.A. Hay, The Commander, Australian Force Vietnam, talking with the Officer Commanding, A Battery 2/35th United States Artillery, of 155mm mobile guns, attached to the 1st Australian Task Force, during a visit to a Forward Fire Support Basephotograph, maj gen hay, 1st atf base, nui dat, 2/35th us artillery, gibbons collection catalogue, fire support base, australian force vietnam

A black and white photograph of the 1st Australian Task Force Commander (Dec 1966 - Oct 1967) Brigadier Stuart Graham discusses operatopn matters with Commander, Australian Force Vietnam, Major General Doug Vincent. The discussions were held in Brig. Grahams' office at Headquarters.photograph, maj gen doug vincent, brig graham, 1st atf base, nui dat, australian force vietnam, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of a South Vietnamese Regional Outpost on Vietnams National Route 23 built near a bridge built by Engineers of 1 Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat. The Vietnamese Regional Force soldiers had the responsibility for protecting the bridge against attack.photograph, south vietnamese regional force, national route 23, 1st atf base, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, engineers

A black and white photograph of Engineers working in the saw mill at 1st Australian Task Force, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam stack large beams for bridge construction, cut to the respective plan size for delivery to the construction site within Phuoc Tuy Province.photograph, engineers, 1 atf base, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of Wendy Snushall of "The Prestons" with the Official Apr-May 70 Sydney Concert Party tries her luck at darts in the Diggers Mess at the sponsoring unit, 1st Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat (note text is missing from the bottom of the photograph)photograph, entertainers, wendy snushall, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue

A black and white photograph of a Trio with the Official Mar-Apr 69 West Australian Concert Party play instrumental rock and roll numbers for the Diggers at 1st Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat, Luscombe Bowl. The variety acts exhibited by the concert party's members was magnificant.photograph, entertainers, west australian concert party, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

A black and white photograph of the comedian, comedienne, musicians and back-up singers of the official Mar-Apr 69 West Australian Concert Party, keep the Diggers at 1st Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat, at Luscombe Bowl guessing and smiling as they wait for the next bit of frivolityphotograph, entertainers, west australian concert party, 1 atf, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

A black and white photograph of Phuoc Tuy Province South Vietnam, July 1966, Diggers at 103 Battery, load a 105mm Italian Pack Howitzer during a fire mission from the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam103 battery, artillery, 105mm howitzer, 1st atf base, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, phuoc tuy province, fire support

A black and white photograph of Mortar Platoon members of 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Pte M.P.McAuley, Pte R.A.Penny check the claymore lines and clean the M60 machine gun on the 1st Australian Task Force perimeter defences. Pte Penny was a member of the New Zealand component of 4RARphotograph, 1st atf base, 4rar nz, m60 machine gun, mortars, pte mcauley, pte penny, gibbons collection catalogue, claymore mine

A black and white photograph of Musicians with the Official Mar-Apr 69 West Australian Concert Party warm up the audience of Diggers at 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Luscombe Bowl prior to the lead and three back-up singers arriving on stage to entertain the diggers.photograph, entertainment, 1st atf base, west australian concert party, nui dat, luscombe bowl, gibbons collection catalogue, digger

A black and white photograph of Maj Gen MacDonald discusses with 1st Australian Task Force Commander, Brig Sandy Pearson and the 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Intellegence Officer, a large mine captured in the NVA VietCong K76A Hospital on the Nui May Tao Mountain during Operation Marsdenphotograph, 6 rar/nz, operation marsden, nui may tao mountain, maj gen a.l. maaudio, cdonald, brig sandy pearson, k76a hospital, gibbons collection catalogue, intelligence officers