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Association Badge Vietnam Campaign Ribands 7Platoon Badge


Welcome to the website of C Coy, 5 RAR,
we hope that you enjoy your visit.


"Our God and soldier, men alike adore,
Just at the brink of ruin, not before.
The danger past, both alike requited,
God is forgotten, and the soldier slighted."

Thomas Jordan 1612-1686

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C Company Members
point 18 August, Canberra - updated [21 Aug '23]
point Presentation to C Coy - updated [19 Jun '23]


Map

I have been able to mark the '1ATF Area' and some of the areas where we conducted Operations in Google Maps, the image is above.

To read the Australian War Memorial's description of the early service of the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment »Click Here«.


LINKS TO ARCHIVED ITEMS

If you are looking for an article that has previously been on this site, please check in the Achives and you should find it there.

Members' Poetry  |   Video & Audio  Photo Albums   |   Articles Archive  Current 5 RAR Archives



C COMPANY NEWS




18 August 2023 - Canberra

Several members of 8 Platoon and C Company met in Canberra on 18 August to attend the National Commemoration for the 50th Anniversary of the End of Australia's Involvement in the Vietnam War.

The following day during a visit to the AWM, a photo of some 8 Platoon members was taken under the Wainwrights Warriors sign on display in the Vietnam gallery:
Frame
L- R: David 'Stretch' Bryan, Roger Wainwright, Doug Bishop, Holger 'Curly' Koblitz, John Searle, Daryl McCombe.

A dinner was held later at a local pub.

Frame Around the table from left: Bob Naumann (9 Pl), Doug Bishop, Curly Koblitz, Daryl McCombe, Kevin Cavanagh (Tpt Pl, C Coy driver), Stretch Bryan, David Riik, Roger Wainwright, John Searle.

There were about 35 5 RAR members at the national ceremony from both tours.

Roger Wainwright

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PRESENTATION TO C COY 5 RAR

On a brief visit to 5 RAR Darwin in late May, Plaque Roger Wainwright presented to C Company a bronze plaque, miniature medals and a framed photo with a description of how John Sweetnam had been killed-in-action on 9 June 1966. John was the first member of Charlie Coy to be KIA.

The plaque and medals were put together by Brian Budden shortly after the refurbishment and re-dedication of the battalion memorial wall in 2015. Brian presented them to Roger at the time. FrameThe plaque is an exact replica of John’s plaque on the memorial wall. Roger has held the box with the medals and plaque since and for a period passed them to Curly Koblitz who was John’s section commander. It was decided for the long term, that this display should be held by Charlie Company in remembrance of John. Consequently, Brian also put together the frame to accompany the plaque and medals. They are now on display in C Coy HQ.


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TRAGEDY AT AN NHUT

If you wish to read the Australian War Memorial article, 'Tragedy at An Nhut', about this incident »Click Here« just close the window or tab that opens to return here.


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THE MEN of C COY 1966/67 - 'THEN and NOW'

Since 2007 I have been endeavouring to collect photos of all the men who served with C Coy, 5 RAR in South Vietnam 1966/67.

The project, called 'Then and Now', lists all men that we know of who served with C Coy and includes name, Known As, their rank and sub-unit where we are aware of them. Where possible there are two photos of each man, one from the Vietnam era and the second is a more recent photo.

We now have both photos of 118 men, plus 1 that we only have a 'Now' photo of, 41 that we do not have a 'Then' photo of and only 11 men that we do not have any photos of. We have a total of 171 men that we know served in C Company in Vietnam 1966-67.

We are still actively looking for the members with whom we have lost contact and if any visitor is able to help by using this Email Contact Form, it would be greatly appreciated.

To see a list of the 17 Members that we have no contact details for »Click Here«.

If anybody can help with any of the photos that are missing it would be greatly appreciated, I can be contacted by using this Email Contact Form.

If you wish to see the current 'Then and Now' Project click below, it is quite a large file so please be patient. When you have finished looking at the Project, just close the window or tab that was opened. »Click Here«.

Gary Townsend  

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CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED

This is a web-site that has been designed to be interesting, informative and, above all else, to preserve the close bonds that were formed between the men of C Company, 5 RAR, those many years ago. It will only survive if it is regularly updated and renewed with items, photos and anecdotes from the men who were part of C Company of 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, during 1966/67 in South Vietnam.

Therefore, if you were one of the select few who were privileged to be a member of 'Chuckles Company', please contribute any of your memories, photos or anecdotes that others would enjoy. It does not matter how small and inconsequental you may think it is, it is part of our history and will be enjoyed by the members. Please use this Email Contact Form if you can add to the content of this site.

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ARCHIVES


MEMBERS' POETRY
RED ANTS
Terry Tommasi 1966
NUI DAT
Terry Tommasi, Op Hardihood
FIRST TIME SHOOT UP
Terry Tommasi June 1966
AMBUSH
Terry Tommasi 6 June 1966
A TRACK NUI THI VAI
Terry Tommasi October 1966
B52'S
TERRY TOMMASI 1967
XA AN NHUT
Terry Tommasi 14 February 1967
LONG HAI'S
Terry Tommasi 21 February 1967
ECHOES OF REMEMBRANCE
Robert Kearney
A SOLDIER AND HIS DOG
Bill Charlton
WHERE THE RUBBER GROWS
Bill Charlton
WALLY
Bill Charlton
Robert Cavill
NOT A REAL WAR
Robert Cavill
SGT R L ORCHARD
Bill Charlton
MESSAGE FROM THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER
Robert Kearney

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AUDIO-VISUAL ARCHIVE
7 PLATOON - '66/67
Some film taken in the 7 Platoon lines in 1966.
MUSHROOM CLUB
The Mushroom Club, C Coy Lines and Luscombe Field.
HOT EXTRACTION
Infantry sections being extracted by Huey Slicks.
8 PLATOON - '66/67
Footage taken around 8 Platoon lines in 1966.
BACK BEACH 1966
Footage taken at Back Beach Vung Tau, 1966.
CHECKPOINT DUTY
Checkpoint duty and a helicopter flight.
AUDIO RECORDINGS
Interviews with 5 RAR members in 1966, held by the AWM.
THE FIGHTING FIFTH
A newsreel of 5 RAR's Return to Australia in 1967.
 

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PHOTO ALBUMS
VIETNAM - 1966/67
Photos taken by the members of C Coy during their time in SVN, 1966-67.
BACK TO VIETNAM
Photos taken by members who have travelled back to Vietnam in recent years.

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ARTICLE ARCHIVES
The Orderly Room Return to Vietnam 2005 Nui Dat/Vung Tau 2009
'All The King's Enemies' Review Active 8 - Wainwright's Warriors 8 Platoon's Viet Cong Flag
RSL Salute - Fact or Fiction Language Course Info Needed 'Starlight' Book Review
5 RAR Canungra Plaque Warning Letter, Jack Lake Stretch's Story
Nui Dat Street Signs 9 Pl Roll Book 1967 Patrol Reports 1967
MCI Ration Packs Ham and Lima Beans Letter to the Queen
Roger's Portland Address Vietnam, The Aust. Experience War Diaries Mar-May 1966
Doug Bishop's Portland Report Portland Observer articles C Coy Bayonet Charge
Shadow The 'Furphy' VC Tax Collectors
Tragedy at An Nhut Close Leashed Closing the Mushroom Club
Blondes, Bombs & Bunkers Ray Orchard's Funeral The Section Commander
Passing of John Deane-Butcher Welcome Home Parade The Colours
2015 Reunion Placemats JD Allen's Medals Renewal of Memorial Wall
National VV's Museum, Phillip Island Alan McNulty's return to Phouc Tuy Province Rededication of M Tomas Memorial
ANZAC Day Symbols & Traditions C Coy Photo 1967 7, 8 & 9 Pl Photos 1965
SGT Paddy Cahill C Coy Cook Route Security Operations Boots GP - A bit late!
Quintus Rama - RIP Map of Phouc Tuy Province C Coy Portland Reunion-2012
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SELECTED LINKS



To visit the 5 RAR Association Website click on the banner above.

To view the full archives of Tiger Tales click on the banner above.

The August 2023 issue of Tiger Tales can be viewed by »Clicking Here«.



To visit the Vietnam Veterans Social Golf Club Website click on the banner above.

To visit the website of the Virtual War Memorial Australia click on the banner above.


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to acknowledge the assistance, support and contributions that have been provided by Ted Harrison, the 5 RAR Association Web-Master, all former members of C Company, 5 RAR 1966/67, and members of other units/sub-units who have contributed to make this site possible.

My thanks go to the following contributors; John Bilston, Robert Birtles, Doug Bishop, Kevin Borger OAM, Warren Bradd OAM, Russell Briggs, Dave Bryan, Brian Budden, Tom Case, Robert Cavill, Bill Charlton, Tom Davern, Ray Ferrier (film footage), Dave French, Warren Gosney, Don Harrod, John Hellyer, Bill Hunt, Robert Kearney, Paul La Forest, Roger Lambert, Harvey Lear, Matt Lewis, Daryl McCombe, Abe Melki, Harry Neesham, Geoff Pearson, Ron Shambrook AM, Syd Shore (film footage), Terry and Greg Tommasi, Michael Wahl, Roger Wainwright and Dennis Wegener.

I would also like to aknowledge the Australian War Memorial for their courtesy in allowing us the use of their archives.




Website by Gary Townsend

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© 2011 - G M Townsend and The Mushroom Club. All Rights Reserved.