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 Sergeant Fred J Roberts 22, Nowra, NSW, of 3rd Special Air Service (SAS) Squadron 1st Australian Task Force Base. At the time he was advised of his receipt of the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). Sergeant Roberts, was married with one daughter.photograph, sgt fred roberts, 3rd special air service squadron, 1st atf base, distinguished conduct medal, gibbons collection catalogue, denis gibbons, photographer, vietnam war

In 1969 Private David Fisher, a national serviceman serving with 3 Squadron SAS, became the next soldier declared missing in action. In September 1969 Fisher was second-in-command of a five-man, long range SAS patrol searching for signs of enemy activity near the Nui May Tao massif in south-eastern Long Khanh province. After patrolling for seven days in persistent rain, on 27 September the Australians had a series of sharp contacts with strong groups of Viet Cong. Outnumbered and pursued through the jungle, they called for a helicopter extraction. The helicopters arrived within half an hour, just as the enemy were closing in on the SAS soldiers. During the hectic moments of the "hot" extraction, while under fire and surrounded by the enemy, the members of the patrol clipped on their karabiners and attached themselves to ropes dangling from a helicopter and were lifted clear of the jungle. As the helicopter gathered speed and helicopter gunships moved in to fire on the enemy on the ground, the patrol members suddenly noticed that Private Fisher was missing. He had fallen from his rope from a height of about 30 metres above the tree canopy. It was later suggested that, under pressure, Fisher may have attached his karabiner to the wrong loop on the rope. An air search began within ten minutes of the incident and a ground search began within five hours. A ten-man SAS patrol searched the jungle around the site, joined the following day by rifle companies who searched for the next six days. Fisher's body was never found, and he was declared missing in action, presumed dead. He had only two months remaining of his tour of duty.Stainless steel open-ended bracelet engraved with missing serviceman's full name and date missing. In a buff square velvet satin-lined box.David John Elkington Fisher 27/09/69mia, david john elkington fisher, trooper david john fisher, 2787344, australian national serviceman, royal australian infantry corps, 2nd special air service squadon, 3rd special air service squadron, sas

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

This item was donatedby Squadron Leader Brian Leslie John Dirou (03141740 who was a pilot with the Royal Australian Airforce who performed general duties. Suadron Leader Dirou served in Vitnam with No 9 Squadron from March 1968 to June 1969 and June 1971 to Oct 1971. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) by the United States of America Armed Forces A Photocopy of the recommendations for honours and awards for Squadron Leader Brian Leslie John Dirou. See medial files for full story.royal australian air force, squadron leader brian leslie john dirou, 0314174, air pilots, raaf, 9 squadron, distinguished flying cross, united states of america armed forces, 104 signal squadron, sas trooper david fisher, 2787344, trooper, royal australian infantry corps, 2nd special air service squadon, 3rd special air service squadron, sas, nui chua chan (hill 837), us army 53 sig bn radio site, 152 sig det comcen, nui dat, 1961-1975 -- missing in action - australia, cpl richard "rick" talbot male, 43806, royal australian corps of signals, signalman david "murf" joseph murphy, 1733914, australian national serviceman, signalman john "dinga" william bell, 39415, us army 53rd signal battalion, operation aussies home

A copy of Vietnam: Australia's Longest War: Rrecalling Vietnam - A Calendar Of Events. This has an added date for 20 Jul 64 which is handwritten in pencil. See medai files for more information.reginald townley (minister for defecne), australian army training team vietnam (aattv), hon. shane paitridge (miniter for defence), wo2 (temporary) kevin george conway, 13097, royal australian infantry corps, svn, 1st battalion, royal australian regiment, 1 rar, us 173rd airborne brigade, hmas sydney, vung tau, australian national serviceman, apc, wo2 (temporary) kevin arthur wheatley, 29890, killed in action, vc, victoria cross, prime minister harold holt, 1st australian task force, 1atf, raaf, raaf iroquois helicopter, special air service squadron, 9 squadron, first australian logistic support group, 1 alsg, 5 rar, pte errol wayne noack, 4717546, battle of long tan, d company, 6 battalion, north vietnam army, vna, viet cong, 3 troop, 1 apc sqn, wounded in action, us presidental unit citation, maj peter john badcoe, 41400, 103 field battery, farelf, v company, royal new zealand regiment, 2 bn rar, 2rar/nz/anzac, 3 bn rar, tet offensive, baria, phuoc tuy province, a company, fire support base coral, 1 bn rar, mortar platoon, 102 field battery, fire support base balmoral, cneturion tanks, wo2 rayene steward simpson, 217622, distinguished conduct medal, wo keith payne, batle of binh bah, prime minister sir william mcmahon, prime minister sir john gorton

A copy of Vietnam: Australia's Longest War: Rrecalling Vietnam - A Calendar Of Events. See medai files for more information.reginald townley (minister for defecne), australian army training team vietnam (aattv), hon. shane paitridge (miniter for defence), wo2 (temporary) kevin george conway, 13097, royal australian infantry corps, svn, 1st battalion, royal australian regiment, 1 rar, us 173rd airborne brigade, hmas sydney, vung tau, australian national serviceman, apc, wo2 (temporary) kevin arthur wheatley, 29890, killed in action, vc, victoria cross, prime minister harold holt, 1st australian task force, 1atf, raaf, raaf iroquois helicopter, special air service squadron, 9 squadron, first australian logistic support group, 1 alsg, 5 rar, pte errol wayne noack, 4717546, battle of long tan, d company, 6 battalion, north vietnam army, vna, viet cong, 3 troop, 1 apc sqn, wounded in action, us presidental unit citation, maj peter john badcoe, 41400, 103 field battery, farelf, v company, royal new zealand regiment, 2 bn rar, 2rar/nz/anzac, 3 bn rar, tet offensive, baria, phuoc tuy province, a company, fire support base coral, 1 bn rar, mortar platoon, 102 field battery, fire support base balmoral, cneturion tanks, wo2 rayene steward simpson, 217622, distinguished conduct medal, wo keith payne, batle of binh bah, prime minister sir william mcmahon, prime minister sir john gorton

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 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