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 coloured photograph of Lt Margaret Ahern, Captain Amy Pittendreigh, Lt Colleen Mealey and Lt Terrie Roche, nursing sisters from the 8th Field Ambulance Hospital, Vung Tau, watch of 2 RAR leave on a heliborn assault from Luscombe field at the 1st Australian Task Force, Nui Dat.photograph, lt margaret ahern, capt amy pittendreigh, lt colleen mealey, lt terrie roche, 8th field ambulance hospital, vung tau, 2 rar, luscombe airfield, 1st australian task force, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons

Plaque present to Corporal Sperry BODSWORTH MID who served with the 2/21st Battalion and involved with the Battle of Ambon. On the night of 30-31 January 1942 this small force of 1131 Australian soldiers were stationed at Ambon, an island which formed part of the Netherland East Indies (now Indonesia). An invasion of approximately 20,000 Japanese overwhelmed Gull Force and the majority of the Australian soldiers were taken prisoner. The execution of 229 at Laha, starvation, over work, disease and the absence of medical supplies led to horrific loss. At the cessation of hostilities only 352 of the original 1131 had made it back to Australia. 779 members of Gull Force made the supreme sacrifice and now lie in foreign fields. The Battle of Ambon (30 January – 3 February 1942) occurred on the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia), during World War II. Japan invaded and conquered the island in a few days, facing Dutch, American and Australian forces. The chaotic and sometimes bloody fighting was followed by a series of major Japanese war crimes. Allied casualties in the battle were relatively light. However, at intervals for a fortnight after the surrender, Japanese personnel chose more than 300 Australian and Dutch prisoners of war at random and summarily executed them, at or near Laha airfield. In part, this was revenge for the sinking of the Japanese minesweeper, as some surviving crew of the minesweeper took part.. Three-quarters of the Australians captured on Ambon died before the war's end. Of the 582 who remained on Ambon, 405 died. They died of overwork, malnutrition, disease and one of the most brutal regimes among camps in which bashings were routine. Blood Oath, a 1990 Australian feature film is based on the real-life trial of Japanese soldiers for war crimes committed against Allied prisoners of war on the island of Ambon, in the Netherlands East Indies (Indonesia), such as the Laha massacre of 1942.Brown timber in the shape of a shield mounted with a metal a coat of arms depicting white seagull above black and orange diamond within pale blue oval shape.Gull Force 2/21 Battalion Ambon Laha Plaque - Cpl Sperry Bodsworth VX23435 MIDgull force, 2/21 battalion, ambon, ww2

29 p.; 21 cmnon-fictionExplanations of place names around the township of Berwickberwick (vic.), troups creek, wilson botanic park., buchanan park, casey airfield, charles green reserve, edwin flack reserve, clair robinson, jessie traillreserve, percy trewin reserve, sydney parkinson reserve

61 p.; 22 cmnon-fictionDescriptions and sketches of some landmarks of the City of Berwick, which includes Doveton, Hallam, Narre Warren, Berwick and Harkaway, Victoria. casey airfield, brechin memorial gates

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 Capt Tony Eaton, Kirribilli, NSW, The 1st ATF Artillery Intelligence Officer assisted by Sgt Paul Butcher, Doncaster, Vic. check an impact area of a NVA/VietCong 107mm rocket after an overnight attack by enemy gunners on the 1ATF Base Nui Dat. (29th March 1969)photograph, 1 atf base, capt tony eaton, artillery intelligence officer, sgt paul butcher, nva/vc, 107mm rocket, nui dat, luscombe airfield, gibbons collection catalogue, 1st australian task force, nva/vietcong, denis gibbons

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 Sgt Paul Butcher, Doncaster, Vic. watches as Capt Tony Eaton, Kirribilli, NSW, The 1st ATF Artillery Intelligence Officer makes notes at an impact area of a NVA/VietCong 107mm rocket after an overnight attack by enemy gunners on the 1ATF Base. (29th March 1969)photograph, sgt paul butcher, capt tony eaton, 1st atf base, artillery intelligence officer, nva/vc, luscombe airfield, gibbons collection catalogue, 107mm rocket, 1st australian task force, nva/vietcong, denis gibbons

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 Capt Tony Eaton, Kirribilli, NSW, 1st ATF Artillery Intelligence Officer crouches down to take a compass reading of the incoming direction of a NVA/VietCong 107mm rocket while Sgt Paul Butcher, Doncaster, Vic. checks his compass reading (29th March 1969)1 atf base, artillery intelligence officer, nva/vc, 107mm rocket, sgt paul butcher, capt tony eaton, luscombe airfield, gibbons collection catalogue, nva/vietcong, denis gibbons