A newspaper article dated Wednesday, 23 April 1975 with the heading of "Removal of Thieu just not enough". A second article titled "Mrs Thieu flies out". These deal with the removal of the South Vietnamese President after the Communist takeover of Saigon.A newspaper article from The Age, 23rd April, 1975, explaining that Communist rulers want more than the resignation of President Thieu to end the war.thieu, the age, 1975, vietnam, saigon, president thieu, end vietnam war, communist takeover

Article with Photographs regarding the Vietnam Veterans of Australia and the commemoration of the end of the Vietnam War. Photographs by Rosie Bray.Article with Photographs, 7 pagesvietnam veterans, diamond valley vietnam veterans, vietnam war, war memorial, greensborough war memorial park

Commemorative medallion issued to veterans to mark the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Part of the Cooper Collection. See catalogue No. 9586.2 for details of service for Keith Cooper,1. Gold coloured Circular medallion. Obverse has silhouettes of Army personnel, a helicopter and a ship, all in black. Stamped around the edge 1962-73, 'THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE'. Reverse has Australian Coat of Arms with lettering 'VIETNAM WAR, AUSTRALIA REMEMBERS' STAMPED AROUND EDGE. 2. Four page leaflet with title of item on front and black type inside. 3. Black vinyl covered hinged display box with Australian Coat of Arms printed in silver on front. Box lined with black velvet and white fabric. 4. White colour cardboard protective sleeve to cover box. Title of item printed on front.medallion, vietnam war, 50th anniversary, cooper collection, keith cooper

Certificate presented to 3798359 "Keith Cooper", acknowledging his service in Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. See catalogue No. 9586.2 for details of his service. Part of the Cooper Collection.1. A.4 sized white card certificate. Australian Coat of Arms in colour at top. text in gold and black type, including name and number for the recipient. Replica signatures of the Gov-General and Prime Minister in blue at bottom of certificate, gold coloured border with 50th Anniversary logo at bottom. Medal ribbon colours included above signatures. 2. White coloured card folder. 50th Anniversary logo on front. Back has Australian Coat of Arms in black.cooper collection, keith e cooper, vietnam war, certificate

White book with a picture of two women in green uniforms, one of whom is holding a baby, in front of a building with a corrugated roof. The title 'OPERATION BABYLIFT' is printed above the image in green, followed by the author's name in red text. At the top of the page it reads "The incredible story of the inspiring Australian women who rescued hundreds of orphans at the end of the Vietnam War".non-fictionIn late March 1975, as the Vietnam War raged, an Australian voluntary aid worker named Rosemary Taylor approached the Australian Embassy seeking assistance to fly 600 orphans out of Saigon to safety. Rosemary and Margaret Moses, two former nuns from Adelaide, had spent eight years in Vietnam during the war, building up a complex of nurseries to house war orphans and street waifs as the organisation that built up around them facilitated international adoptions for the children. As the North Vietnamese forces closed in on their nurseries, they needed a plan to evacuate the children, or all their work might count for little . Based on extensive archival and historical research, and interviews of some of those directly involved in the events described, Operation Babylift details the last month of the Vietnam War from the perspective of the most vulnerable victims of that war: the orphans it created.--[From Trove]rosemary taylor, margaret moses, vietnam war, children and war

White book with a picture of two women in green uniforms, one of whom is holding a baby, in front of a building with a corrugated roof. The title 'OPERATION BABYLIFT' is printed above the image in green, followed by the author's name in red text. At the top of the page it reads "The incredible story of the inspiring Australian women who rescued hundreds of orphans at the end of the Vietnam War".non-fictionIn late March 1975, as the Vietnam War raged, an Australian voluntary aid worker named Rosemary Taylor approached the Australian Embassy seeking assistance to fly 600 orphans out of Saigon to safety. Rosemary and Margaret Moses, two former nuns from Adelaide, had spent eight years in Vietnam during the war, building up a complex of nurseries to house war orphans and street waifs as the organisation that built up around them facilitated international adoptions for the children. As the North Vietnamese forces closed in on their nurseries, they needed a plan to evacuate the children, or all their work might count for little . Based on extensive archival and historical research, and interviews of some of those directly involved in the events described, Operation Babylift details the last month of the Vietnam War from the perspective of the most vulnerable victims of that war: the orphans it created.--[From Trove]rosemary taylor, margaret moses, vietnam war, children and war

Was given to commemorate the homecoming of the Vietnam War Vets, as there was no formal welcome home at the actual end of the Vietnam War. This group of veterans were the first group to be not given a formal welcome parade at the end of their service. This parade occurred 25 years after the Vietnam War, and signified the changed attitudes around the services performed by these men. This plaque commemorates the welcome home parade for all Vietnam Veterans 25 years after the war finished. It was intended to show the appreciation and good will of the Australian people in stark contrast to the bad feelings demonstrated to Servicemen an d women on their initial returns.Plaque commemorating the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Parade in Sydney 1987. Image shows a map of Australia, with the Australian Flag visible. Text reads ' Vietnam Veterans Parade Sydney 1987. Australian Vietnam Forces.'VIETNAM VETERANS PARADE/ SYDNEY 1987/ AUSTRALIAN VIETNAM FORCESvietnam, vietnam war, sydney, australian vietnam forces, vietnam veterans parade sydney 1987

Captain John E D White, Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam (AATTV) took over command of 11 Mobile Strike Force (Mike Force) Company in Da Nang, Vietnam, in February 1968. He was 26 years old. The 2 NVA Division was moving from Laos into South Vietnam and his mission was to establish contact with the division and trace its movements south. In mid-March the company was air lifted to the Special Forces camp of Kham Duc, near the Laotian border. They used an old French Foreign Legion fort as a temporary base from which patrols could be sent out. White called it Ngok Tavak after a nearby mountain. Initially, patrols failed to find the enemy, but in late April a patrol clashed with the enemy. At the same time, White received intelligence that the NVA division was closing in. At night they could hear explosions in the distance heading toward them. White decided their best chance was to leave the fort and take to the jungle to adopt guerrilla tactics. However, in the meantime a platoon of United States Marine Corps artillery arrived bringing with them two howitzers and a stockpile of ammunition. To abandon the fort was to abandon the guns. White contacted Da Nang, explaining the predicament, and was ordered to remain where he was. A Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) platoon was sent to reinforce his numbers. This was a para military force comprised mainly of indigenous highlanders, trained by United States Special Forces. They also brought with them two mortars and their crews. At 3.15am on 10 May 1968 some members of the CIDG chose to assist the NVA to attack the fort instead of supporting Mike Force, and close hand to hand fighting followed, along with grenade attacks and heavy machine gun fire. Air support offered a brief respite from the NVA attack, and some NVA forces were pushed back outside the perimeter by counter attacks, but at 9am White contacted Da Nang to advise that his position was untenable. A second attack was imminent and they could not withstand it, so they would have to withdraw. The wounded were evacuated by helicopter (under orders from Major Mai, the NVA had not attacked the previous medical helicopters that collected the wounded under the cover of air strikes) and at 1pm the rest of the force evacuated east, into the jungle. The NVA did not notice their withdrawal, and continued mortar attacks on the fort for another ninety minutes. Seven kilometres from the fort White called for a helicopter withdrawal of his forces. The force was successfully lifted to Kham Duc and then Da Nang. (Credit AWM)Black framed glass covered flag. Red material with gold fringe, gold writing with Blackbird in the centre with parachute holding 2 white swords standing on a gold star. 11Co. in gold underneath. Gold plaque mounted under the flag.GUIDON OF 11 COY (NUNG) MOBILE STRIKE FORCE (MIKE FORCE) /5th SF GROUP, 1 CORPS, SVN/ A Significant number of AATTV personnel served with this Nung Company based in Da Nang./ At the end of the Vietnam War, this flag was taken by a former US SF officer and held until/ when it was given to former Captain John "Jed" White (AATTV), CO 11 Coy (Nung), who led/ the MIKE Forces at the Battle of Ngok Tavak on 10 May 1968.battle of ngok tavak, mobile strike force, nung, john white

"Vietnam Fragments/ An oral history of Australians at War"Soft cover book Soft cover - cardboard, white, yellow and black print on front, spine and back. Background - blue, red and light blue colours. Illustrated with campaign ribbon and black and white photograph of two soldiers in a jungle setting - on front. 307 pages - paper, cut, plain white, illustrated black and white maps. front and back end papers - illustrated black and white photographs.books, history, vietnam war

From the Title page - "THE TEAM/ AUSTRALIAN ARMY ADVISERS/ IN VIETNAM 1962-1972" Part of the "William (Bill) THOMASON" Collection. Refer Cat No. 4136P for more items.Hardcover book with dust cover. Cover - cardboard, green colour buckram, gold colour print on spine. Dustcover - paper, green and black colour print on front and spine on cream colour background. Front illustration - black and white photograph of three soldiers. Flaps with black print information. 534 pages - cut, plain, white colour paper. Illustrated black and white photographs and maps. End papers - front and back - brown beige colour map.publications, books, vietnam, army, william (bill) thomason collection

Vietnam War era ammunition box which originally contained 7.63mm SLR rounds.Brown painted wooden box for 7.62mm SLR ammunition. Hinged lid with fastener. Khaki webbing strap and handles. Base secured with screws.On lid in white paint: '7.62 BALL, L2A2 LNK'. On side in yellow paint: '500 rounds MF, 15-3-63, 7.62mm BAL L2A2, LINKED IN BANDOLIERS'. On end with fastener: 'MF 15.5.63 8343'. On the opposite end: '43 LBS'. Stamped on the base: 'H26 Mk2 (M), AUST'. Stamped on fastener: 'MO 1962, SV130, SA'. ammunition, vietnam war, 7.62mm ammunition, slr

Used for wrapping up items of kit that need protection from water.1. Dark green bag, open ended. Colour dark jungle green. 2. Green colour bag, open ended. 3. Dark green bag, open ended.1. 3795952, W.D. Patterson, written in large letters. 2. & 3. No marks.vietnam war, aust army, uniform accessory

1. String pull through - it is made of a 3 part cord. One cord has a metal tube, the other end has a loop. 35cm from the loop end is another loop (it still retains a bit of oily cleaning cloth when last used.) One of the three cords has snapped. 2. Same sort of pull through as above. - still rolled up tightly. 3. Wire bristle brush for barrel cleaning. It has a brass end for screwing to a rod. The bristles are two diameters. A lot of fluff is caught up in the small bristles.rifle cleaning equipment, vietnam war

Ref to Cat 5825 Patterson.This is made of jungle green cotton drill. It has one end pointed with two small cords. Inside are two pockets. One pocket is open, one pocket is held shut with the aid of a brown button. Inside the pockets are various loos items such as cottons, wool and needles.Written in ink on the outside is "1734719 Steele"vietnam war, soldiers kit, steele

Item issued to individual units in the Australian Military Forces for Outstanding Service by the South Vietnamese Govt during the Vietnam War.Badge, South Vietnamese Unit Citation with Palm. Rectangular shape, gold edging, centre has fabric coloured red each end, yellow centre & centre is of a brass palm leaf. Rear has pin & clasp.On rear: "GRACO GI"citation, palm unit, south vietnam

Major M.B. TINKLER see CAT NO. 5480.2Four items are the same. A strip of jungle green drill cotton, Sewn onto the strip is the surname “TINKLER” in black cotton thread The top and bottom edges are folded back, the left and right ends are open. vietnam war, army uniform

ALICE is an acronym for 'All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment' as issued during the Vietnam War. Part of the Reverend Chaplain Major Thomas Bruce Williams, No 556101.Eight dark grey coloured metal clips with a slide for attachment to a webbing belt. The end of each slide has a loop handle for ease of opening. When closed, the slide is secured in a slot in the fixed end of the clip.alice clip, major thomas b. williams

Book chronicles the experiences of the author, Gary McKay as a National Serviceman in Vietnam.Brown buckram hard cover, title in gold lettering. White dust cover with title in black & brown lettering. Black & white illustration on front. 197 pages with cut edges. Illustrated with black & white photos & diagrams. Brown end paper paper front & back.books - military, military history - army, vietnam

Rectangular yellow flag with three hrizontal red stripes across the middle. On one side a sleeve has been sewn to house a staff. The opposite end has been hemmed.south vietnam, vietnam war, flags

The Vietnam War - 50 Years On. This project began with a meeting between Cliff Richards President BDRSL, Ward Buckeridge, Trish Di Donato from Bendigo South East Secondary College re 50 years on from the Vietnam War in May 2016. The President promised Veterans and the Trish promised a a team of students. Seven Vietnam Veterans put their hand up and sixteen students met at the end of May and from there it progressed to a publication and DVD with their oral stories. There would be a launch at the BDRSL on November 2nd with Veterans Students,Teachers and Parents. The project also involved a trip to the Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk. Students and Veterans also attended the Vietnam Veterans Day Service in Pall Mall in front of the Soldiers Memorial Institute and photos taken. The Veterans were; Geoff Leach, Peter Ball, Bill Clark, Cliff Richards, Richard Penna, Michael Paine, Brian Timberlake. Production, gloss colour covers with 10 gloss colour pages double sided with all print and photos in colour. Inside the rear cover is a CD with the interviews with 7 Vietnam Veterans in 2016. Held together by 2 staples on the spine.On the front cover, “The Vietnam War - 50 Years on”.brsl, smirsl, vietnam, 50 years

"The Battle of Coral" is the exciting and dramatic story of the biggest unit level battle involving Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War. Donated by Andrew John BALSILLIE MBE. Refer Cat No 118.5 for his service details, RSL, Council history.Hard cover, red colour buckram. white colour print on spine. Dust cover with plastic cover, black and red colour print on front, back and spine. Illustrated yellow colour background, silhouette of helicopter/jungle on front. 361 pages cut plain. Illustrated black and white photographs and maps. End paper - illustrated maps.Title page - hand written in black ink "Donated by / 2-1-2000" - owners stamp in black ink "Major A.J. BALSILLE, .M.B.E.,J.P.books, military

Vietnam Veterans parade 1987. Australia gives the Vietnam Veterans:soldiers, navy and airman finally receive the "welcome home" they deserved. Vietnam Veterans parade 1987. Australia gives the Vietnam Veterans:soldiers, navy and airman finally receive the "welcome home" they deserved. Stained pine board with three Vietnam plaques mounted on - plaques - 1. Australian force Vietnam, 2.National memorial to Vietnam forces 3 Vietnam vetrans parade sydney 1987. 1. Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial and 2. National Memorial to Vietnam forces The Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial is dedicated to all those Australians who served, suffered and died in that conflict. It was built largely through contributions from the Australian people, raised by the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial Committee. 3. Vietnam Vetrans Parade Sydney 1987 On October 3, 1987, around 22, 000 Vietnam veterans marched in a ‘Welcome Home’ parade through the streets of Sydney It was estimated that the parade was watched by a crowd of up to 100,000, including Prime Minister Hawke, and that it stood up to ten deep along the parade route in some places. he marchers carried more than 500 Australian flags, each flag representing a serviceman who had lost their life during the Vietnam War. These simple acts represented the reconciliatory nature of the event – the flags, standing for the nation-state, were accepted as a proper symbol for the fallen by the veterans and symbolised their reconciliation with the body politic that they felt had rejected their rightful place in the Anzac narrative after the end of the Vietnam conflict. Plaques:- 1. Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, Wooden Shield with metal shield with black outer ringed by service corps insignia, inner with a white band of the shield shape. the interior of the metal shield is light blue circle, with a white vertical sword, the top of the sword is a banner of red and orange strips. Below the metal shield is a Australian Army rising sun badge. Followed by a banner inscribed with " Australian Force Vietnam" 2. National Memorial to the Australian Vietnam Forces :- Small wooden shield, with a metal rectangle inscribed - vietnam veterans, welcome home parade 1987, plaques

HMAS Sydney was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier operated by the Royal Australian Navy. She was built for the Royal Navy and was launched as HMS Terrible in 1944, but was not completed before the end of World War II. The carrier was sold to Australia in 1947, completed, and commissioned into the RAN as Sydney in 1948. She completed two tours of duty in Korean waters. She was relieved in January 1952, after taking the Australian contingent to the U.K. for the Coronation, returning home on 16 N0vember 1952. she finished in Korean waters on 4 May 1953.HMAS Sydney was paid off into reserve in January 1958 and was recommissioned in 1962 as a troop transport. She completed more than 20 trips to Vietnam and was known by the nickname of 'Vung Tau Ferry'. HMAS Sydneys last trip to Vietnam was completed on 12 March 1972 and was paid off for disposal on 12 November 1973. She was sold for breaking up in Korea on 30 October 1975 and left Sydney in tow on 23 December 1975. Rectangular shaped booklet with blue plastic spine and clear cover.hmas ships, aircraft carrier, troop transport ships, lara r.s.l.

Military payment certificates, or MPC, was a form of currency used to pay U.S. military personnel in certain foreign countries. It was used in one area or another from a few months after the end of World War II until a few months after the end of U.S. participation in the Vietnam War – from 1946 until 1973. MPC utilized layers of line lithography to create colorful banknotes that could be produced cheaply. Fifteen series of MPCs were created. However, only 13 series were issued. The remaining two were largely destroyed, although some examples remain. Among the 13 released series a total of 94 notes are recognized.The 5 cent note is purple, The 10 cent note is green, the 25 cent note is red and the dollar note is mauve. Each contain a picture of a female with series 641.Both front and back of the notes is the wording "For use only in United States military establishments, by United States authorized personal in accordance with applicable rules and regulations."money, united states, usa, vietnam, military payment certificates, 1 dollar, 10 cents, 5 cents, 25 cents, currency, 1964

HMAS Melbourne (R21) was a Majestic-class light aircraft carrier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Operating from 1955 until 1982, she was the third and final conventional aircraft carrier to serve in the RAN. Melbourne was the only British Commonwealth naval vessel to sink two friendly warships in peacetime collisions. The ship was laid down for the British Royal Navy as the lead ship of the Majestic class in April 1943, and was launched as HMS Majestic (R77) in February 1945. At the end of World War II, work on the ship was suspended until she was purchased by the RAN in 1947. At the time of purchase, it was decided to incorporate new aircraft carrier technologies into the design, making Melbourne the third ship to be constructed with an angled flight deck. Delays in construction and integrating the enhancements meant that the carrier was not commissioned until 1955. Melbourne never fired a shot in anger during her career, having only peripheral, non-combat roles in relation to the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. However, she was involved in two major collisions with allied vessels. On the evening of 10 February 1964, Melbourne collided with and sank HMAS Voyager when the Daring class destroyer altered course across her bow. Eighty-two of Voyager's crew were killed, and two Royal Commissions were held to investigate the incident. The second collision occurred in the early morning of 3 June 1969, when Melbourne collided with and sank the Allen M. Sumner class destroyer USS Frank E. Evans in similar circumstances. Seventy-four United States Navy (USN) personnel died, and a joint USN–RAN Board of Inquiry was held. These incidents, along with several minor collisions, shipboard accidents, and aircraft losses, led to the reputation that Melbourne was jinxed. Melbourne was paid off from RAN service in 1982. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so Melbourne could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations. HMAS Melbourne was decommissioned on 30 June 1982, having spent 62,036 hours underway and having steamed 868,893 nautical miles. A proposal to convert her for use as a floating casino failed, and a 1984 sale was cancelled, before she was sold for scrap in 1985 and towed to China for breaking. The scrapping was delayed so Melbourne could be studied by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as part of a secret project to develop a Chinese aircraft carrier and used to train PLAN aviators in carrier flight operations.The pictorial history of HMAS Melbourne with rare photos. Now a scarce title and highly desirable title that is now long out of print. Has provenance history of all ships movements from 1955 till decommissioned.HMAS Melbourne 25 YearsOn the front page is a picture of HMAS Melbourne with the words at top "H.M.A.S. Melbourne. At bottom are the words in orange, '25 Years'. In white, are the words 'by Ross Gillett' then 'Forward by Rear Admiral G.G.O. Gatacre C.B.E. DSO. DSC & Bar, RAN'. On the rear page is a list of all the Captains that served on the HMAS Melbourne between 1955-1980.hmas melbourne, aircraft carrier, royal australian navy, australian navy, westland whirlwind, sea venom, fairy gannet, bristol sycamore, westland wessex, douglas skyhawk, grumman tracker, westland sea king, fleet air arm, hmas albatross, nowra

This can opener was from the Vietnam War era. Utensils like this were issued with every ration pack to all servicemen and women.Utensils like this have social significance due to the ubiquity of their use in the field, therefore many Vietnam era veterans may have memories of their use. This item is in good condition and as such, is a representative example of a tool that was widely used. Spoon and blade opener, attached via a turned over piece of metal fashioned into a hinge below which there is a curved cut out with a point which attaches to the side of the can. Handle has two ridges presumably to aid handling of utensil. Punched hole (3 mm across) at end of handle possibly to attach via a string. Inscription on top of handle.Inscribed on top of handle "1966 CARR D[broad arrow]D/7330/66/010/0931"vietnam war, 1960s, utensil, ration, food

According to the Australian War Memorial, these types of water bottles were used by the Australian Army during the Korean War, Malayan Confrontation and during the early to mid period of the Vietnam War. The metal lids were often replaced with a much quieter rubber lid, as combat experience proved that the metal ones were too loud when opening or closing. This bottle is recorded as being a United States-issued item so may have been collected during the interactions between Australian and American troops in Vietnam. It is also noted as being of Second World War era, which predates the AWM suggestion of Korea.Thin stainless steel water bottle, oval in shape with flat base. Around neck of bottle there is a brown cotton string and khaki woven cord with the press stud at end which would insert into the top of the lid. Bottle has twist-on lid with a hole in the top. Bottle dinted throughout. Canvas carry case is cylindrical in shape with oval-shaped flat base. Pieces topstitched with khaki thread. Back of case is woven khaki with a long pin threaded through the top, bent into inward facing hook shapes at end. Bottle is fastened into case via press studs. There is a subtle pocket in the interior of the case.Press studs read "LIFT/THE DOT"water bottle, equipment, united states, korea, malayan confrontation, vietnam war, 1960s

Andrew John BALSILLIE MBE, JP. (Born Bendigo) Jack as he was known enlisted in the Australian Army near the end of WWII No 31224 age 16 years. He then served in Malaya 1959 - 1961then Vietnam with the rank of Captain with 1st Aust Task Force HQ Light Aid Detachment (LAD) 7.5.1969 - 7.11.1969, HQ Aust Force Vietnam Army component 8.11.1969 - 7.5.1970. He retired with the rank of Major in 1985 after 40 years plus. He was awarded an MBE in 1969 for his services to the Australian War Memorial. Elected to Committee Bendigo RSL 1988 - 1993 with Snr Vice President 1989 - 1993, re-elected 1999 - 2000. Re-elected again in 2002 as Snr Vice President. He was elected to Bendigo City Council 1990 - 1993 serving as Mayor in 1993. .1) Bush hat, floppy, khaki canvas, belonged to Major J BALSILLIE. .2) - .4) Gauze wound dressing in brown cotton pack, 2 rolls per pack. .5) Neck cloth, green cotton..1) Inside hat: Maj J Balsillie. .2) - .4) Labelled: First Field Dressings.headwear, medical dressings

Vietnam veteran Bill Telfer will be among those paying their respects at the Greensborough War Memorial Park this Sunday to mark the centenary of the end of World War 1. News article 2 pages, black text and colour image .greensborough war memorial park, bill telfer, remembrance day 2018, vietnam war

Index, notes, ill, p.601.non-fictionTake a journey back to the front line with two Australian veterans as they retrace the footsteps of soldiers and politicians, villagers and the enemy in a meticulously researched new history of the Vietnam War. Thirty years after the end of the Vietnam war comes an objective analysis of Australia's involvement. The book shows the extent of Australia's engagement in the Vietnam war and its contribution compared to its allies. "For Australians, Vietnam remains one of the most difficult-and controversial-wars we have fought. On the fiftieth anniversary of Australia's first involvement comes Vietnam: the complete story of the Australian war, for anyone who wishes to understand why Australia went to war, and who wants to make sense of the intensely unrelenting warfare. For Bruce Davies and Gary McKay, the history of Vietnam-its wars, colonial domination, its search for freedom and its subsequent loss-speaks to an Australian anxiety of a very small population far away from the centre of an empire to which it was firmly committed. The rise of Japan, the war in the Pacific and the postcolonial independence of the peoples of southeast Asia, coupled with the mercurial influence of Ho Chi Minh and the rise of communism, form the background to the commitment of Australian forces. Vietnam takes the reader to the front line, describing the experiences of soldier, politician, villager, enemy; and into the war room to unpick the military and political strategies. We see the challenges the Australians faced against not only a dogged enemy, but also those by the allies in the quest to defeat a powerful counterinsurgency. ... Meticulously researched and marked with acute critical analysis and a deep understanding of the place and the war, Vietnam shows the experience of Australian soldiers as never before.vietnam war 1961-1975 – history, vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement