Photograph of soliders resting at a Bivovac in the jungle. Above the photo typed details. Photo taken in the Long Hai Hills - standing on the left is Trooper Tronc (dec) sitting on ground TPR Murray and CPR Peter Malone who was KIA - 1969photograph, tpr tronc, cpl malone, tpr murray, long hai hills

Ceramic tea cup. grey glaze with blue Asian patterntea cup, ceramics

Framed Collage of C Company 3 RAR raised autographed Australian flag on Hill 323 in the Long Hai Hills during Operation Pinaroo in March 68. A request was received from an American Warship off the Coast to fire upon a newly raised "VC Flag". No clearance was givenc coy 3 rar, operation pinaroo, long hai hills, hill 323

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 an Engineer 'Tunnel Rat' wearing a flack jacket enters a tunnel found leading into the Long Hai Hills during land and mine clearance operations in July 1969. The Engineers were under the protection of D coy 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC), artillery, Mortar and Naval gunfire.photograph, tunnel rats, d coy, long hai hills, gibbons collection catalogue, artillery, mortars, gunfire, engineers, 6 rar/nz (anzac), denis gibbons

Operation Hammersley , 10 February until 9 March 1970, was undertaken by a combined force of: C Company, 8th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR); armoured personnel carriers from 3 Cavalry Regiment; tanks from 1 Armoured Regiment; sappers from the Royal Australian Engineers; a mortar section from 8RAR’s Support Company; air support, and even a Navy destroyer off-shore to provide gunfire support. The operation aimed to protect 17 Construction Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers, at a quarry in the western foothills of the Long Hai hills. The Long Hai hills were a stronghold for the Viet Cong, who used the caves there as a bunker complex and had planted many landmines and booby traps in the area. Over two fierce weeks, 8 RAR carried out patrols and conducted ambushes, engaging VC troops and eventually capturing the bunker system. However, it was a costly campaign. In total, over 70 Australians were killed or wounded during the operation. The worst day for mine casualties in Australia's war in Vietnam occurred on 28 February 1970. It became known as 'Black Saturday". Nine members of 8RAR were killed and 29 wounded. This item is the Order of Service from the memorial service held at Nui Dat on 3 April 1970 to honour those killed at Long Hai. It was issued to the donor, National Serviceman G G Ravenscroft, who was serving in 1 Platoon, A Company 8RAR during Operation Hammersley, and received a minor shrapnel wound on Black Saturday.Two typed A-4 pages that have been folded into booklet, now flattened and framed. Listed are the prayers, Bible readings and sermon given, along with the names of the 8 fallen soldiers, and the chaplains who officiated.8rar, long hai, long hai hills, black saturday, 1970, operation hammersley, ravenscroft, geoff ravenscroft, memorial service

Fifth Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, was the first of our battalions composed of Regular and National Servicemen to be committed to operations in Vietnam and to stablish themselves at Nui Dat.vietnam war, 1961-1975 - regimental histories - australia, 5th battalion, the royal australian regiment, nui dat, binh ba, nui thi vai, long hai hills, phuoc tuy province, 1st australian task force, national service

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 An armoured Engineer D8 bulldozer 'Miss Fit' involved in land and mine clearing operations up to the foothills of the Long Hai Mountains supported by Centurian Tanks and APCs out of Firebase Thrust photograph, centurion tank, armoured personnel carrier, long hai hills, firebase thrust, gibbons collection catalogue, d8 bulldozer, long hai mountains, "miss fit", 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 an armoured Engineer D8 bulldozer 'Miss Fit' involved in land and mine clearing operations up to the foothills of the Long Hai Mountains. The Engineer on the front of the D8 was directed. The driver, who could not see, because of the thicknss of the jungle.photograph, d8 bulldozer, long hai hills, engineers, gibbons collection catalogue, engineer, mine clearing, denis gibbons

Raised relief map of Phuoc Tuy province. Six pieces showing land features from Long Hai hills to coast at Vung Tau baserelief map, phuoc tuy

Documents found in a Viet Cong tunnel during Operation Pinnaroo. A sweep of the Long Hai Hills south of Nui Dat by troops of 3RAR are transacted for Pte, Hans Gutjachof B coy by a Vietnamese interpreterAWM CRO/68/0237/VNphotograph, 3 rar, operation pinnaroo

This item is part of a collection donated by Helmut Grzegozewski (Ziggy) who served in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment from December 1967 to November 1968 This flag was raised by signallers of Company Headquarters C Company, 3 RAR, on Hill 323 in the Long Hai Hills, Vietnam, during Operation Pinnaroo on 19 March 1968. The Company had been warned for a move up the hill by foot through suspected minefields to secure a landing zone for the insertion of A company. The flag was carried up the hill by the signallers and raised.A laminated copy on white paper is the Australian Flag from Hill 323, Long Hai, bearing a nominal roll of members of C company, 3 RAR, who took part in Operation Pinnaroo 8 March - 13 April 1968.australian flag, hill 323, long hai, nominal roll, c company, 3 rar, grzegozewski, helmut, ziggy, 39121, royal australian infantry corps, 3rd battalion

The last Australian soldier to be listed as missing in action was Lance Corporal John Francis Gillespie of 8 Field Ambulance. On 17 April 1971 Gillespie was serving as a helicopter medic during a 'dustoff' (helicopter medical evacuation) operation in the Long Hai hills in Phuoc Tuy province. Four South Vietnamese Regional Force soldiers had been injured by a mine explosion and the difficult terrain demanded a helicopter evacuation. But the Long Hai hills were an insecure landing zone. The caves and dense timber of the Long Hais had long harboured a major Viet Cong base area and the dustoff operation required the protection of helicopter gunships. As the first wounded soldier was being winched up, the hovering helicopter was hit by enemy machine-gun fire. It crashed to the ground and burst into flames. Although the crew escaped, Lance Corporal Gillespie and three other soldiers were engulfed in the fireball. A helicopter crewman, Corporal Robert Stephens, repeatedly entered the burning aircraft and tried in vain to rescue Gillespie, until being forced back by the flames. Stephens was later awarded the British Empire Medal for his courage. Gillespie's body could not be recovered from the burning wreckage which was reduced to slag by the fire. Private Gillespie was listed as missing in action, apparently on a technicality because his remains could not be found. The classification was subsequently altered to killed in action.Stainless steel open ended bracelet with missing serviceman's full name and date missing. In a buff square satin lined box.MIA John Francis Gillespie 17/04/71mia, john francis gillespie, l/cpl john francis gillespie, 3170244, royal australian army medical corps, 8th field ambulance, cpl robert stephens, killed in action

The Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation was conferred by General Cao Van Vien, Chief of the Joint General Staff, Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam on 24 October 1970, and officially presented to the 8th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment by Lieutenant General Do Cao Tri, Commander of II Corps and Military Region 3 Vietnam on 29th October 1970. The citation was awarded for "always displaying high morale while co-operating and assisting the Vietnamese people in their struggle against Communism and to defend peace and freedom .. in Military Region III ... Though fighting under the most difficult conditions, the members of the 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force still fought bravely and determinedly and had many glorious victories. Their most remarkable military operations took place in the area of the Long Hai hills... (They also participated ) ... in the civic action programme to assist the local population ( in Military Region 3) to reconstruct their houses, roads, bridges, markets and schools etc. ... thereby bringing great credit to the Royal Australian Armed Forces."2 X paper documents, one in English the other in Vietnamese (mounted with white matt in timber frame). Each has been printed with a decorative blue border, main text in black, official stamp in bottom right corner is red. A blue medal with red and yellow ribbon is printed in centre top of both documents.Republic of Vietnam/ Gallantry Cross/Chief of the General Staff? Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam/ Army Meritorious Commendation/ The 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Task Force/ For the gallantry they displayed under enemy fire./ This Meritorious Commendation ((GALLANTRY CROSS)) is added with (a) palm (leaf)./KBC day 24 month 10 Year 19708rar, koo, arthur koo, citation, gallantry cross, gallantry cross with palm