A Poster, Information Board on 5 RAR 1st Tour 1966 to 1967. Below a black and white photograph reads: 5 RAR Operation Canberra 6th to 10th October 1966. Lance Corporal Shoebridge and Lance Corporal Bryan supporting Private Riik and Private Birtles securing weapons. Resulting from a booby trap explosion, 7 members of C Company 8 platoon were wounded when ascending the Nui Thi Vai mountain on the 8th Oct 1966. Overcoming difficult terrain, C Company prepared a landing zone (LZ) on the slopes for evacuation of the wounded - (Medevac). Under a coloured photograph of soldiers reads; 5 RAR - Bush Bashing 1966. Members of C Company 9 platoon after days of bush bashing - a soldier's term used to describe days of navigating dense terrain and vegetation while being always at the ready for enemy contact. Under a coloured photograph of APC reads: 5 RAR - Operation Hayman 8th to 12 November. Armoured Personnel carriers supporting 5 RAR during staging/forming mode prior to being air-lifted on to the summit of Nui Nua on Long Son Island. The Battalion's objective was to capture or eliminate the Chau Duc District VC Company that had been restricting movements of the local regional force. Thirteen Viet Cong survived and surrendered days later to mainland police. Under a coloured photograph of soldiers walking on a log over water reads: 5 RAR - Hat Bands. The Viet Cong occasionally wore the same or similar headgear as the Australian forces in an attempt to create confusion when contact was made. In the short term this was remedied by threading a coloured ribbon around the Australian bush hat. The ribbon served as an identification marker so as to quickly identify an Australian soldier from the enemy. Colours were regularly changed.5 rar, c coy, operation canberra, operation hayman, l/cpl ronald peter shoebridge, 216068, royal australian infantry corps, 5th battalion, the royal australian regiment, pte david george riik, 2781458, australian national serviceman, l/cpl david alexander bryan, 3786720, pte robert charles birtles, 3786660, wounded in action, 8 platoon, nui thi vai mountain, armoured personnel carrier, nui nua, long son island, chau duc district vc company, viet cong prisoner

An Poster, Information Board of 5 RAR 1966 to 1967 (tst Tour). The 5th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment ("Battalion") were the leading element of the First Australian Task Force (1 ATF) and stationed in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. The Battalion's task was to break Viet Cong control over the central region of Phuoc Tuy Province - an area that communists had freely operated in since 1945. Commencing of the 24th May 1966, the Battalion conducted its first operation codenamed "Hardihood". Their objective was to sweep and clear areas to the north and east of Nui Dat to a distance of 5000 meters, then create a defensive position to enable 1 ATF to establish an operation base. The Battalion conducted eighteen full-lenght operations as well as numerous day and night cordon and search, search and destroy, ambush and clearing patrols conducted at company, platoon and section levels. the Battalion achieved considerable success during Operations Canberra and Queanbeyan in October 1966 when it swept and cleared the Nui Thi Vai mountain. A Viet Cong base consisting of training facilities, a hospital, booby trap factory and several tonnes of rice was located and destroyed. during phase two (Operation Queanbeyan) the battalion discovered complex cave and tunnel systems along with other fixed installations that were vigorously fought for and destroyed by the battalion. Not only di the caves contain large quantities of weapons, equipment and documents but the 274 VC Regiments deputy commanders radio complex. For bravery and leadership, three Military Crosses, one Military Medal and one Mentioned in Dispatches were awarded. The last was awarded posthumously. However, at the completion of the battalion's first tour, the 274 and 275 Viet Cong Regiments remained functional. While the enemy retained the capacity to inflict serious casualities on smaller allied forces, the Battalion and other elements of the 1 AFt were successful in denying the enemy their previous gains. This enabled the South Vietnamese Government to re-establish control of over 96 per cent of the Phuoc Tuy Province during Australia's involvement. Source O'Neill, RJ Vietnam Task, the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1966/67, Melbourne. Cassell Australia Ltd, 19685 rar, 1st tour 1966 - 1967, operation hardihood, 1st atf base, poster, information board, nui dat, nui thai vai mountains, operation canberra, operation queanbeyan, viet cong, 274 vc regiments, military cross, bravery, military medal, mention in dispatches, capt robert john o'neill, 335113, royal australian infantry corps, 5th battalion, the royal australian regiment

An Poster, Information Board on 5 RAR. The 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR) was raised at Holsworthy Barracks NSW on the 1st March 1965 It was the first of nine rotating battalions composed of half regular army and half national servicemen (draftees) that were committed to active service in South Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. 5 RAR was the initial infantry element of the first Australian Task Force (1 ATF) Vietnam. The Battalion conducted two tours of dutyAn Poster, Information Board on 5 RAR. The 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR) was raised at Holsworthy Barracks NSW on the 1st March 1965 It was the first of nine rotating battalions composed of half regular army and half national servicemen (draftees) that were committed to active service in South Vietnam from 1966 to 1967. 5 RAR was the initial infantry element of the first Australian Task Force (1 ATF) Vietnam. The Battalion conducted two tours of duty5 rar, poster, information board, 1 atf, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, viet cong, battle of binh ba, lt col warr, lt col colin khan, military awards, wounded serviceman, r j o'neill, guerrilla warfare, 1st australian task force, australian national serviceman, killed in action, lt col john arnold warr, 3487, companion of the distinguished service order, lt col colin nicholas khan, 235030, commanding officers, capt robert john o'neill, 335113, mention in dispatches

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 - Trapong, Quang Ngai Province April 1967, 2 Corps. An Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) advisor WO2 Keith "Windy" Windbank talks to a village girl, Hanh, who had lost her right eye and part of her nose by artilleryphotograph, trapong, quang ngai province, aattv, 2 corps, wo2 windbank, gibbons collection catalogue, vietnamese children, wo2 kieth "windy" windbank, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), wounded children, 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 coloured photograph of Maj John Donohue Officer Commanding The W.H.A.M. program (1966-1967) a civil affairs program to assist the local Vietnamese population in the Australian area of influence, talking with the Phuoc Tuy Province Chief's wife during the opening of a dispensaryphotograph, maj john donohue, wham program, 1st australian civil affairs unit, gibbons collection catalogue, vietnamese people, phuoc tuy province, phuoc tuy province chief's wife, denis gibbons, dispensary

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 colour caricature of Denis Gibbons, by William E Green (Weg) of the Melbourne Herald newspaper during his visit to the 1st Australian Task Force Base in Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam in April 1967.WEG.'67/MELBOURNE/HERALD. Noi Dat!/South Vietnamweg (william e green), 1 atf base, press centre, nui dat, phuoc tuy province, herald, melbourne, 1967, drawing, caricature, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

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 Gunnery Officer on "a" deck above the bridge on board HMAS Hobart (1967), on the "gunline" during Operation Sea Dragon in the Tonkin Gulf, observes the fall of shot as the ship engages shore batteries and supply columns heading for South Vietnam.photograph, hmas hobart, operation sea dragon, tonkin gulf, gunnery officer, 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 coloured photograph of Jackie De Paul a specialty dancer with the March - April 1967 Sydney ABC Show entertains diggers of 1st ATF Nui Datphotograph, entertainment, sydney abc show, gibbons collection catalogue, 1st atf base, nui dat, jackie de paul, diggers, 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 the Commander, Australian Force Vietnam, (Jan 1967 - Feb 1968) Maj Gen Doug Vincent peers purposely ahead as he flies, in his personal helicopter from Saigon to the 1st Australian Task Force Base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnamphotograph, maj gen doug vincent, australian force vietnam, 1st atf base, nui dat, gibbons collection catalogue, saigon, 1st australian task force, helicopter, denis gibbons, phuoc tuy province

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 the 1st Australian Task Force Commander (Dec 1966 - Oct 1967) Brigadier Stuart Graham discusses operation 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, 1st australian task force, commander, 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 lead singer Shirley Simmons, of her own Shirley Simmons Concert Party, entertains on the lawn of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, on Anzac Day 25 April 1967, at their Northern Headquarters in down town Danang.photograph, aattv, shirley simmons, danang, gibbons collection catalogue, entertainers, shirley simmons concert party, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), anzac day 1967, 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 - Following morning services, Anzac Day 25 April 1967, at the Northern Headquarters of Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, in Danang, those members able to get in to Danang from the field were entertained by dancers from the Shirley Simmons Concert partyphotograph, aattv, danang, entertainers, shirley simmons concert party, gibbons collection catalogue, australian army training team vietnam (aattv), anzac day 1967, northern headquarters, dancers, denis gibbons