The political and personal controversy over our involvement in the Vietnam war still rages. Only those who were there can tell the story.australia. army. topographical survey troop, 1st, military topography - vietnam, nui dat

This is a set of 12 photographs of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop taken from the 25th of May to the 12th of June 1966 during their deployment to Vung Tau, Vietnam. Led by OC CAPT Bob Skitch, the ten personnel from A Section 1st Topo Svy Tp and six personnel from supporting units were the first contingent from the Royal Australian Survey Corps deployed to provide topographic support to the Australian Task Force in Vietnam. They arrived in Saigon, Vietnam on the 10th of June 1966 enroute to the Australian Reinforcement Unit (ARU) “back beach” camp in Vung Tau. The ten RA Svy technical personnel from 1st Topo Svy Tp deployed were: WO2 David Christie, SGT Stan Campbell, SGT Dave King, CPL Jim Roberts, CPL Dennis Duquemin, CPL Des Ceruti, SPR Derek Chambers, SPR Brian Firns, SPR Joe O’Connor and SPR Ron Smith. External personnel deployed were: WO2 Snow Rollston from Northern Command Field Survey Unit, T/CPL Peter Clarke – orderly room corporal, T/CPL Alan Carew – Technical Storeman, SPR Stan Johns – Map Storeman, SPR Boots Campbell – batman/driver and PTE BNF Brunning – cook. The ship featured in photos .1P and .2P was the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney on its 4th voyage to Vietnam. On board were SGT Stan Campbell and SPR Brian Firns, tasked to manage A Section’s stores and equipment. The rest of A Section deployed to Vietnam by air on the chartered Qantas 707B ‘City of Longreach'. A Section’s main tasks were to establish a Theatre Grid, map compilation and map revision; Engineer Survey Support in the camp and to the civil community; give assistance to the Cordon Search Missions by producing large scale plots from aerial photos with every house and fence etc plotted; and then reproduce these by silk screening usually, within a 24-hour period. RA Svy’s support concluded with the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam in 1972. More information on the A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop and the Army Survey Regiment’s supporting role is provided in pages 89 to 94 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a set of 12 photographs of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop (1st Topo Svy Tp), taken from the 25th of May to the 12th of June 1966 during their deployment to Vung Tau, Vietnam. The black and white photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) &.2) - Photo, black & white, 1966. HMAS Sydney departing Woolloomooloo wharf en-route to Vietnam. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp relaxing in a bar before deployment. OC CAPT Bob Skitch in centre of photo. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1966. Unidentified A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel and troops from other units relaxing in a bar before deployment. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel arrival by bus at Saigon (Tan Son Nhut) Airport. OC CAPT Bob Skitch 4th from right. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel boarding the USAF Hercules aircraft enroute from Saigon (Tan Son Nhut) Airport to Vung Tau Airfield. OC CAPT Bob Skitch on left. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel and troops from other units boarding the USAF Hercules aircraft enroute from Saigon (Tan Son Nhut) Airport to Vung Tau Airfield. .8) & .9) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel arrive at the Australian Reinforcement Unit (ARU) “back beach” camp. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1966. A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp personnel in oppressive conditions work on map products. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1966. Group photo of A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp. OC CAPT Bob Skitch on far right. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1966. Group photo of A Section 1 Topo Svy Tp. OC CAPT Bob Skitch 3rd from right.Annotated with the photo set - ‘ DET 1 Topo Svy Tp Vung Tau 25 May to 12 of Jun 66’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, 1st topographical survey troop

This is a set of 25 photograph of Print Troop Equipment in Lithographic Squadron, Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, 1990. Photo .1P features the new Howson Algraphy Autoneg printing plate processor. It improved quality control and efficiency and allowed the conversion of printing plates for positive or negative use. The Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 shown in photos .2P to .4P was a computer-controlled five colour lithographic offset printing press. It provided the Royal Australian Survey Corps a vastly improved printing capability, as the five colours for a standard topographic map was printed in a single pass. The print room housing the Speedmaster printing press was named Wayzgoose Hall after a medieval printing house festival. Wayzgoose Hall and the Speedmaster printing capability was commissioned by the Commander of the 3rd Military District BRIG P. Davies AM, ADC on Wednesday 27th June 1990. This occasion is covered in more detail in page 145 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4. For additional photos, refer to item 6062.4P for more photos of the Heidelberg Speedmaster printing press. The Print Room’s Map Assessment and Colour Evaluation Stations in photos .5P to .12P provided the Printer Technician suitable viewing environments to perform quality assessments of map samples. See item 6151.35P for more information and photos of technicians using the equipment. The Print Room’s Map Handling Station in photo .15P to .20P provided ergonomic benefits to the Printer Technician and improved despatching productivity. See Item 6070.9P for more information and photos. The Wohlenberg MCS-2 guillotine seen in photos .21P & .22P was a heavy-duty guillotine integrated component of the Map Handling Station, to trim bulk printed map stock. See item 6069.6P for more information and photos of earlier types of guillotine equipment. This is a set of 25 photograph of Print Troop Equipment in Lithographic Squadron, Army Survey Regiment at Fortuna, Bendigo, 1990. The photographs are on 35mm colour slides and were scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) - Photo, colour, c1990s, Howson Algraphy Autoneg printing plate processor .2) to .4) - Photo, colour, 1990. Heidelberg Speedmaster 102 computer-controlled five colour lithographic offset printing press .3) to .10) - Photo, colour, c1990s, Heidelberg Speedmaster CPC 1-04 control unit. .11) to .12) - Photo, colour, c1990s, Map Colour Evaluation Work Station. .13) to .14) - Photo, colour, c1990s, Linear printing plate registration punch. .15) to .20) - Photo, colour, c1990s, Print Room’s Map Handling Station. .21) to .22) - Photo, colour, c1990s, Wohlenberg MCS-2 guillotine. .23) - Photo, colour, c1990s, Print Room Power supply equipment. .24) to .25P - Photo, colour, c1990s, Print Room Crown Fork Lift..1P to .25P - There are no annotations stored with the 35mm slides.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, printing, litho

Report written for the "Australian?" Army Journal. This report describes in some detail the Australian 1st Topographical Survey Troop from its initial formation in Oct 1965 through its deployment to South Vietnam in May 1966 and its Operational activities during 1966/67 in support of the 1st Australian Task Force.A4 booklet, stapled in top left corner. "SSgt Learmonth" written on front cover.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, 1st topographical survey troop, south vietnam

These photographs of Royal Australian Survey Corps commissioned officers was taken at the Army Survey Regiment circa 1962-1965, 1972 and circa 1973-1974. Officer appointments to the Army Svy Regt were typically the CO, 2IC, Adjutant; and an OC, 2IC and Troop Officers assigned to the Headquarters, Topographic/Air Survey, Cartographic and Lithographic Squadrons. RAN and RAAF liaison officers were usually appointed to the Regiment; and occasionally exchange officers from other Corps, the USA or UK.This is a set of photographs of RASvy Officers at the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Back row – L to R: Unknown Philippines officer, LT Merv Marks, LT Jorge Gruszka, LT Bill Greer, CAPT Peter Constantine, LT Freddy High, MAJ Brian Dalton.Front row – L to R: CAPT Carol Castor, MAJ NRJ Hillier, MAJ Bill Howarth, CO LTCOL Frank Buckland, DSVY-A COL Don Macdonald, GEN Miller – US Director Mapping, MAJ John Nolan, MAJ Eddy Anderson MBE, unknown UK Exchange Officer. .2) - Photo, black & white, c1972. Back row – L to R: CAPT Jack Gore, LT Royal, FLT Sinclair, LT Fred Brown, LT John Winzar, LT Gary Kenney, LT Reg Smith, 2LT Terry Edwards, LT Bob Roche. Front row – L to R: CAPT McNeale, 2LT William, MAJ Keith Todd, MAJ Don Ridge, LTCOL Bill Howarth, MAJ Brian Dalton, MAJ John Bullen, LT C. Chittleborough, LT Bailey .3) - Photo, black & white c1972. Back row – L to R: 1st 2LT Terry Edwards, 7th LT Gary Kenney, 9th LT Bob Roche. Front row – L to R: 1st CAPT Jack Gore, 3rd LT Bailey, 4th MAJ Keith Todd, 5th MAJ Don Ridge, 6th LTCOL Bill Howarth, 7th MAJ Brian Dalton, 8th MAJ John Bullen, 9th FLT Sinclair, 10th CAPT McNeale. .4) - Photo, black & white, c1972. Personnel named as per .3) .5) - Photo, black & white, c1973-1974. Back row – L to R: 1st LT Graham Baker, 4th MAJ John Sinclair , 7th CAPT Reg Smith, 8th LT Terry Edwards. Front row – L to R: 3rd MAJ Peter Constantine, 4th LTCOL Don Ridge 5th MAJ John Cattell. .6) - Photo, colour print of .5), c1973-1974 Personnel named as per .5).1 no annotation, .2 Personnel (surnames, no rank) annotated on back, .3 to .6 no annotationroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

These five photographs were most likely taken in the 1970s in Lithographic Squadron at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo. Photos .1P to .3P are annotated with the name of the technicians written on the back. Although Photo .4P is not annotated the technician is positively identified. In these five photos the technician is applying a UV-sensitive pigmented dye emulating one of the print colours to a white opaque polyester sheet mounted on a rotating table in a whirler. The coated sheet was dried before placement in a vacuum light frame beneath a stud registered map negative. They were then exposed to a carbon arc lamp. If there was more than one negative – typical for a type impression or 1st proof, the process was repeated for the other negatives of that print colour. There was a single exposure for composite negatives which was typical for the 2nd and final proof - the pre-press proof. The sheet was removed and washed with water and dried leaving the exposed colour impression. The technician repeated this process using process or spot dyes for remaining publication colours. Type impressions were a combination of the map grid and the topographic features in their correct print colours, forming a base for the cartographer to accurately position map names and symbols on a clear film overlay. The pre-press proof was a cost-effective way of producing a one-off visual copy of the map or chart product. It enabled cartographers to perform a quality inspection and correct any faults before publication. The pre-press proof was deemed authoritative before its release to Print Troop for bulk printing and distribution.This is a set of photographs of lithographic technicians preparing map proofs at the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo c1960s c1970s. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, SGT Graham Jeffers, Lithographic Squadron .2) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, SGT Ken Slater Lithographic Squadron .3) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Ian ‘Loft’ Turner, Lithographic Squadron .4) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Gary Kerr, Lithographic Squadron .5) - Photo, black & white, c1960s, unidentified, Lithographic Squadron.1 to .3 – personnel names (less rank) annotated on back. .4 to .5P – no annotationroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, litho

This is a photograph of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop taken at Nui Dat, Vietnam in 1969. A nominal roll of personnel and their trade as of the 30th of September 1969, accompanies this photo. Their trades in this photo were as follows - Surveyors Topographic: WO1 Darby Munro, SGT Paddy Strunks, SGT Graeme Birrell, CPL Brian Knight, CPL Colin Laybutt, SPR Roderick Gilbert and SPR Rodney Offer. Draughtsmen Topographic: SGT Terrance Linz, CPL Robert Kay, SPR Peter Aukstinaitis, SPR Lloyd Patterson and SPR Ian Wark. Photographer Cartographic: CPL George Graham. Clerk Admin: CPL Oreste Biziak. Helioworker: CPL Geoffrey White, SPR Lance Percey. Cook AACC: PTE R. Johnston. The first Royal Australian Survey Corps troops arrived in South Vietnam on the 10th of June 1966. This was a detachment from 1st Topographic Survey Troop, which was to give cartographic support to the Australian Task Force. Their main tasks were to establish a Theatre Grid, map compilation and map revision. Engineer Survey Support in the camp and to the civil community and give assistance to the Cordon Search Missions by producing large scale plots from aerial photos with every house and fence etc plotted and then reproduce these by silk screening usually, within a 24-hour period. This support concluded with the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam in 1972. For more information on the career of A Section’s OC MAJ Peter Constantine AM, refer to item 6159P or 6092P. He was the CO of the Army Survey Regiment from 1975 to 1976 and CO of the School of Military Survey (SMS) from 1976 to his retirement in January 1982. His memoirs of active duty in Vietnam ‘Surveyor - Printer Behind the Lines’ was published in 2022. 2IC CAPT Frank Thorogood SB St J’s career culminated at the rank of LTCOL as the CO Army Survey Regiment from 1980 to 1981. More information on the A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop and the Army Survey Regiment’s supporting role is provided in pages 89 to 94 of Valerie Lovejoy’s book 'Mapmakers of Fortuna – A history of the Army Survey Regiment’ ISBN: 0-646-42120-4.This is a photograph of A Section, 1st Topographic Survey Troop taken at Nui Dat, Vietnam in 1969. The black and white photograph was printed on photographic paper and is part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photograph was scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1969. Back row L to R: SPR Lance Percey, SPR Bruce Grisdale, SPR Rodney Offer, SPR Roderick Gilbert, CPL Geoffrey White, PTE R. Johnston, CPL Colin Laybutt, SPR Lloyd Patterson. Centre row L to R: SPR Peter Aukstinaitis, SPR Ian Hanna, SPR Ian Wark, CPL Robert Kay, CPL George Graham, CPL Oreste Biziak, CPL Brian Knight. Front row L to R: SGT Terrance Linz, SSGT Gordon Haswell, 2IC CAPT Frank Thorogood SB St J, OC MAJ Peter Constantine AM, WO1 Darby Munro, SGT Paddy Strunks, SGT Graeme Birrell.An A4 nominal roll of personnel and their trade accompanies the photo, as of the 30th of September 1969. A torn paper identifies the personnel in the photo. Annotated on back of photo – ‘Unit Photo – 1 Topo Svy Tp 30 Sept 69’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

This document contains detailed photocopies of reports of Army Survey Regiment’s staff manning from December 1975 to August 1976. Each monthly report provided to Directorate of Survey covered the allocation of staff to Regimental Headquarters and its four sub units comprising Headquarters, Air Survey (Topographic), Cartographic and Lithographic Squadrons. Each Squadron’s troop or section structure was represented by a wire diagram with soldiers and/or civilians names assigned to rank based established positions. A detailed table at the end of each report sumarised Army Survey Regiment’s posted strength by employment category and rank.Manilla cardboard folder containing 83 photocopied pages of staff posted to the Army Survey Regiment. Pages are fixed to the folder by a metal fastener. The title of the folder is written in black ink on a green tape background.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr, fortuna

This propaganda printing block was captured during clearing of the Long Hai Tunnels in the Minh Dam Secret Zone in December 1967. Donated by National Serviceman Corporal L C Rotherham who served in the Royal Australian Survey Corps, in Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (Army Component) from 12 Dec 1966 - 03 Feb 1967 and A Section, 1st Topographical Survey Troop from 19 Jul 1967-18 Mar 1968. Particle Board Stamp. Wooden Stamp. Blue laminate showing soldier, lady reading a book; someone taking photo and a person painting. Music notes. Captured Propaganda PrintCaptured Dec 1967 Long Hai's Tunnels - hand written on the back in blue penstamp, propaganda, vietnamese, print, rotherham, survey troop