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 a Group photo of the placed runners in the 5000 metre footrace from the market place at Long Dien. The race was run on the Vietnamese National DayTHE GREAT HUNG VUONG DAY ROAD RACE - 15th APRIL 1970: Hung Vuong Day, 15th April 1970, the Vietnamese National Day commemorating the events of the birth of the Vietnamese Race, is on of the most important festivals of the Vietnamese Memorabilia. The placed contestant athletics in the 5000 metre foot race from the market place at Long Dien, south east of Nui Dat, the 1st Australian Task force Base, along national Route 23 to the town square at Baria (Phuoc Le), the Phuoc Tuy Province Capital. The multi coloured shirts of the various contestants, from the numerous military and civilian units in the province and the Australian Task Force looked out of place in the war zone. It took 17 minutes, 5 seconds for the outright winner to get to the finish, a strapping young SAS soldier, Trooper John Thurgar, from Scone, N.S.W. of the 1st Special Air Service Squadron, one of the Australian contestants. The first prize, silver cup, was presented to Trooper Thrugar by Colonel Tu, The Province Chief, Colonel Peter Falkland, the 1st Australian Task Force Deputy Commander presented the first Vietnamese contestant across the finish line with a silver cup. In all there were trophies for the first siz places by the Vietnamese and the "visitors", SAS took the first three Australian/New Zealand places whilst the last three came from other 1st Australian Task Force Units, the first prize for each of the individual winners was a large silver cup, for the next five runners up, by the Australians there was a smaller silver cup, for the Vietnamese first place there was a silver cup the same size as for the Australian, outright, winner, while the next five Vietnamese runners up received a parcel of clothing and towels.photograph, 1st sas sqn, baria, phuoc tuy province, vietnamese national day, gibbons collection catalogue, great hung vuong day road race, trooper john thurgar, national route 23, nui dat, long dien village, col tu, col peter falkland, 1st special air squandron, the province chief, 1st australian task force, 3390, royal regiment of australian artillery, 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 taken at Baria, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, Trooper Jack Thurgar 1st Special Air Squandron is congratulated by Col Tu after being presented with the winners trophy following his first place win in the Great Hung Vuong Day Road Race - 15 April1970photograph, 1st sas sqn, baria, phuoc tuy province, trooper jack thurgar, col tu, gibbons collection catalogue, great hung vuong day road race, 1st special air squandron, 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 National Route 23, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, Trooper Jack Thurgar 1st Special Air Service Sqnuadron, in 1st place leads Capt Craig Leggett the second runner up, also from 1st Special Air Service Squadron, to the finish line in the Great Hung Vuong Day Roadrace, 15 April1970. The third runner up, also from SAS, can just be seen behind the Army Land Rover. No Vietnamese runner is evident in the photophotograph, national route 23, phuoc tuy province, trooper jack thurgar, 1st sas sqn, capt craig leggett, gibbons collection catalogue, great hung vuong day road race, 1st special air service sqnuadron, land rover, 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 SAS patrol onboard a 9 Sqn Iroquois helicopter prior to being flown out to a landing pad in the jungle. The relationship developed between No. 9 Squadron and the SAS had a very close, both organisations having a deep respect and admiration for the other. Note the grenade launcher mounted beneath the barrel of the M-16 rifle of the soldier in the foregroundphotograph, sas, 9 squadron, iroquois helicopter, raaf, m16 assult rifle, gibbons collection catalogue, grenade launcher, m-16 rifle, 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 Sgt Fred J. Roberts, 22, Nowra, NSW, 3rd SAS Squadron, 1st Australian Task Force Base Nui Dat makes the first telephone call home to Australia from 1ATF Base to tell his wife of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).Sgt Roberts was married with one daughter.photograph, 3rd sas sqn, 1st atf base, dcm, sgt fred roberts, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, distinguished conduct medal, 215875, royal australian infantry corps, 3rd special air service squadron