We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We celebrate the history and contemporary creativity of the world’s oldest living culture and pay respect to Elders — past, present and future.
Please be aware that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain culturally sensitive material — images, voices and information provided by now deceased persons. Content also may include images and film of places that may cause sorrow.
Some material may contain terms that reflect authors’ views, or those of the period in which the item was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. These views are not necessarily the views of Victorian Collections.
Users of this site should be aware that in many areas of Australia, reproduction of the names and photographs of deceased people is restricted during a period of mourning. The length of this time varies and is determined by the community.
Reuse of any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material on this site may require cultural clearances. Users are advised to contact the source organisation to discuss appropriate reuse.
Untitled image
Can you reuse this media without permission? No (with exceptions, see below)
All rights reserved
This media item is licensed under "All rights reserved". You cannot share (i.e. copy, distribute, transmit) or rework (i.e. alter, transform, build upon) this item, or use it for commercial purposes without the permission of the copyright owner. However, an exception can be made if your intended use meets the "fair dealing" criteria. Uses that meet this criteria include research or study; criticism or review; parody or satire; reporting news; enabling a person with a disability to access material; or professional advice by a lawyer, patent attorney, or trademark attorney.
Please acknowledge the item’s source, creator and title (where known)
Have a question? Contact National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
A black and white photograph of Pte Mike Coyle an infantry soldier with the 1st Australian Civil Affairs Unit (1ACA) supervises Ap Sui Nge villagers in the construction of their homes. The village was designed and implimented by 1ACA to house refugees from North Vietnam
The aim of this handbook is to lay down the basic staff duties to be used by officers al all arms and services.
A grey coloured plastic cover with black writing on it. There is the Australian Coat Of Arms in the middle of the cover. Near the top right hand is the code for the item 7610-66-021-5644. Also the date for Notification in ARO's for 31st December, 1966
australia - armed forces - service manuals, staff duties
The aim of this handbook is to lay down the basic staff duties to be used by officers al all arms and services.
A grey coloured plastic cover with black writing on it. There is the Australian Coat Of Arms in the middle of the cover. Near the top right hand is the code for the item 7610-66-021-5644. Also the date for Notification in ARO's for 31st December, 1966 There is an orange label top right hand corner with the name L B Dawson on it.
australia - armed forces - service manuals, staff duties
In 1965, HMAS Sydney sailed on the first of 25 trips to Vũng Tàu, transporting Australian soldiers and equipment to serve in the Vietnam War. This is how the ship became known by the nickname " the Vung Tau Ferry".
Shield-shaped wooden plaque with a bronze attachment displaying a crown, anchor, boomerang, woomera and nulla nulla with the word Sydney. Emblem of he HMAS Sydney
SYDNEY / THOROUGH AND READY
sydney, navy, vungtau ferry, hmas sydney, australian navy
HMAS Perth (II) served on three tours of duty off South Vietnam during the Vietnam War and was awarded a US Navy Unit Commendation and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for her service during the conflict.
Shield-shaped wooden plaque with a circular white ceramic insert in he middle. It features a transfer of a crown, black swan and boomerang with woomera: the symbol of HMAS Perth.
Perth Fight and Flourish
perth, hmas perth, australian navy
161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight was an Australian Army aviation unit of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft. This item was collected because it commemorates the war in Vietnam.
Shield-shaped wooden plaque with metal badge/insignia of crown, eagle, crossed swords and laurel wreath in two shades of blue. The emblem of 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight Vietnam.
VIGILANCE/ 161 (INDEP) RECCE FL.T./ VIETNAM
161 reconnaissance flight, vietnam, army pilots, 161 recce
8th Signals Regiment (8 Sig Regt) is an Army Reserve Signal Regiment of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RA Sigs) and is a direct command unit of the 2nd Division, Randwick Barracks in Sydney, NSW.
Shield-shaped wooden plaque with white rectangular moulded metal attachment, bearing number 8 and a flash shape in green and blue.
8 Signal Regiment
8 signal regiment, plaque, signal
This carved emblem of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery was collected because it commemorates the war in Vietnam.
Small square wooden block carved with a crown/ artillery piece/ and Latin mottos is the shield of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery.
Ubique/Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt
australian army, arillery regiment, australia artillery
This item was collected because it commemorates the war in Vietnam (1962-1972)
Trapezoid-shaped wooden plaque with two engraved metal attachments commemorating the opening by Tim Fischer MP of the Melton Vietnam Veterans Memorial on 19 August 1998
Melton & District/ Vietnam Veterans Memorial/ Opened 15th August 1998/ by/ Tim Fischer MP/ Deputy Minister of Australia.
vietnam veterans association, melton & district, vietnam 1962-1973, tim fishcher
This shield bears the emblem of Australian Army 2nd Recruit Training battalion, raised at Puckapunyal (Vic) to provide basic training for the Second National Service Scheme which was in place during the Vietnam War. It operated from 1965-1973.
Wooden plaque with bronze metal insignia of 2 Recruit Training Battalion. Crown on laurel wreath around number 2 with 2 crossed boomerangs below.
2 RECRUIT TRAINING / NULLI SECUNDUS
2 recruit training battalion, vietnam, training, 2nd recruit, puckapunyal, conscription, national service
A cream coloured cover with gray binding down the left hand side. There is an identification number 7610-010-0284 top right corner. The information on the front cover is in black ink.
australia - armed forces - service manuals, handbook, a510 wireless station
Worn by the United States Army 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The division was known to the Americans as the :Screaming Eagles". However, their bald eagle patch led to the North Vietnamese Army referring to 101st Airborne soldiers as "chicken men".
A black shield-shaped cloth patch embroidered with a white bald eagle which has a yellow beak and red tongue.
us army airborne, 101st airborne, united states army, patch, badge, emblem
Worn by the United States Army 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). The division was known to the Americans as the :Screaming Eagles". However, their bald eagle patch led to the North Vietnamese Army referring to 101st Airborne soldiers as "chicken men".
A narrow curved black cloth patch with yellow embroidery.
AIRBORNE
united states, airborne, patch, vietnam, badge
Shoulder patch of United States Army 173rd Airborne Brigade. Known as the "Sky Soldiers", they served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1971, with 1,533 Killed in Action.
Two-piece cloth United States airborne shoulder patch. Top one is curved, blue and bears the word AIRBORNE in white, the other is a blue squared-shield with a white border and white wing carrying a red bayonet.
united states, airborne, vietnam, patch, 173rd airborne, us army, army airborne, badge, emblem
It is reported that soon after 7 RAR was raised in 1965, the battalion adopted the pig as its mascot after the commanding officer rebuked them for the unsatisfactory state of the soldiers' mess at Puckapunyal saying, "You are nothing but a mob of pigs".
Wooden shield-shaped plaque, walnut stained, with 3 metal embellishments. Top left: Round burgundy disc with white pig in Australian uniform, including rifle. Top right: gold number 7. Centre: Gold Royal Australian Regiment emblem with crossed rifles, kangaroo wattle and crown, on a burgundy background.
DUTY FIRST / ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT
7rar pigs, vietnam, shield, emblem, jeffries, plaque, terry jeffries, 7rar, 7 royal ausralian regiment, vietnam war
Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam.
Khaki army peak officer cap
Royal Australian Engineers badge.
vietnam, army, engineers, officer
Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam.
A white cap with black peak.
RAN?8505 66 075 6956/Bryson
vietnam, petty officer, ran, royal australian navy
Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam
White hat with black peak. Full colour bullion embroidery Petty Officers rank badge.
P 185 sticker/ADI Vic 1989/8405 66 075 6056
navy, petty officer, vietnam
Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam
Australian army bush hat jungle green.
hat, vietnam, army
Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam.
Blue woollen side hat worn by airman on airfield and on barrack also worn with ceremonial dress.
Vic 1977/8405 66 090 0104/A222463 (SVC No ) Falvey/ Size 56
raaf, airman, ceremonial dress, hat
Part of the estate collection of Vietnam veteran Sgt T J Nicholson, Service no: 4410261, who served in 1st Armoured Regiment, Vietnam 1969-70.
Wooden shadow box frame with a maroon matt background containing an emu hat plume, a Hunter River Lancers silver plastic corps badge and yellow wool felt shoulder patch of Royal New South Wales Lancers.
Hunter River Lancers Royal New South Wales/ Lancers
hunter river lancers, royal new south wales lancers, nicholson, trevor nicholson
Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam.
M1 Steel helmet. Khaki green metal outer steel shell with leather chinstrap and a green board helmet inner/ liner with headband.
On inner: Buttfell 6101324 On outer: Fullerton 219911
vietnam, uniform, helmet, m1
A typical North Vietnamese army issue helmet.
Khaki green fabric covered pith helmet. Top part has 4 sections, each with a silver metal ventilation eyelet. Band separating top section from brim also has a metal eyelet. A domed metal vent at the top has 4 'arms. Inside strapping is green vinyl held in place by brown cord, and the chinstrap is brown leather with a silver metal buckle.
pith helmet, vietnam, uniform, north vietnamese, helmet
This item commemorates the war in Vietnam
A copy of three pages listing names and dates of performers in alphabetical order.
The Artists
artists, singers, entertainers, vietnam, concerts
This item contributes to an understanding of the impact that involvement in the war in Vietnam had on Australian servicemen.
A male singer holding a guitar in front of a microphone on stage and three males in the background.
abc, singer, brian may, ray gibson, comedian, christmas, vietnam, music
This item commemorates the war in Vietnam. It belonged to M F Hart, Leading Stores Assistant Victualling, Royal Australian Navy, who served on HMAS Vampire in November 1972.
A navy blue cotton baseball cap with with a black peak. Peak embossed with Navy insignia. Embroidered with HMAS Vampire in words and image on front.
H.M.A.S Vampire/ 11 NAVY
navy, h.m.a.s vampire d11, hart, vietnam, chief petty officer, hmas vampire., maxwell hart
This item commemorates the war in Vietnam and was a gift presented to the National Vietnam Veterans Museum by the Victorian chapter of the Vietnamese Community in Australia in 2012.
An olive green wine bottle with black screw cap. The label shows two armed soldiers in full pack with an Australian flag on the top left corner.
Vietnamese Community in Aust - Victorian Chapter 2012/"Lest We Forget/Side By Side: Hanh Quan Phoi Hop. 1962-1975/Vietnam inscription
1961 - 1975 -- veterans -- australia, wine bottle, vietnamese community in australia, vietnamese community
This item was purchased by serviceman Roger Budd as gift he brought back from Vietnam. it was collected as it contributes to an understanding of the experience of the family and friends of those who served in the war in Vietnam.
Blue silk pyjama jacket and long pants set embossed with silk thread in various patterns. Front opening has 4 elaborate black fasteners. Edges are bound in white.
pyjamas, silk, vietnam, souvenir, budd, roger budd
This item was purchased in Vietnam by serviceman Roger Budd as a gift. It contributes to an understanding of the experience of family and friends of those who served in the war in Vietnam.
Patterned mauve silk dressing gown lined with white silk. Has embroidered patterns and dark blue rickrack on cuffs, pocket and front openings.
silk dressing gown, vietnam, souvenir, gown, vietnamese, silk, budd, roger budd
Letter written by 8RAR soldier in Vietnam to "Dear De" outlining events about an incident with the detonation of a mine, number killed and injured. The writer states he was not involved in the incident as he was serving at the fire support base, not the battle front.
Two paged letter on Aust. Forces Vietnam paper dated Sunday 1st March. "Dear De". Blue ink writing on headed paper. Envelope has a red and blue striped border. Air Mail. Vietnam map. Aust. Forces Vietnam underneath.
Australian Force Vietnam Coat of arms header/ Blue ink/ 8RAR/ Air Mail
letter, wayne maschette, aust. force vietnam, sig pl, suppt co, 8rar
Christmas card supplied by 8 RAR for soldiers to send to family and friends.
Christmas card with RAR V111 in gold embossed with Australian emblem on grey textured paper mounted on cream colored card. Inside there is a picture of the RAR emblem on white brick structure in front of a building. Hand written message to family in blue ink. Black ink message for Christmas.
Blue ink "To mum, Dad, Robyn and Rex / Bill Black type " Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year from" / 8th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.
rar issue, maschette, 8rar, private, 5716538, christmas card, 8 rar, correspondence
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
