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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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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 5th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment early service »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.
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C COMPANY NEWS
SPARE A THOUGHT PLEASE
Sergeant Bernard L. Smith, 29.
Snowtown, South Australia.
Bernie Smith enlisted in 1958 aged 19. He served in Malaya with the First Battalion RAR.
He served with the Fifth Battalion RAR on both tours, 9 Platoon and Recce Platoon in 1966 and then with 10 Platoon, D Company in 1969. On March 9, 1969 Sergeant Bernard Smith was killed by a mine detonation as his platoon were moving through a minefield.
Lieutenant Walker and Corporal Gilbert were also killed.
Official Commemoration: SA - Wallaroo Cemetery
Commemoration Position: Roman Catholic - Grave 834
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2018 5 RAR DARWIN BALL
Two Vietnam era Tigers at the 5 RAR Annual Ball Darwin wearing battalion bow ties, they seemed to be enjoying themselves extremely well.
If any members are interested in obtaining one of these unique items they should contact me, using this Email Contact Form, or on 0412 767 975. I will then collate the requests and forward the list to Brian. The bow ties would be on a once only, 'first in, best dressed' situation and if the enough numbers are requested, Brian would get a price from the maker for 100, which is the minimum number for an order. He would then work out the cost of the tie and postage to individuals and contact all on the list to confirm their order and explain payment details.
If it is produced, the final product will differ from the one shown above, with the Gold stripe being replaced by a Green-Gold-Green stripe to indicate the current 5 RAR Colour Patch. As the ties would have to be produced overseas it would take some time to have them arrive in Australia from the time of ordering.
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OPERATION CANARY
4 to 14 December 1966
Operation Canary was a Corps route-security operation on Route 15 conducted by HQ II Field Force, Vietnam (II FFV) with 5 RAR and B Company 6 RAR to protect troop convoys carrying 199 Light Infantry Brigade (US) through Vung Tau on deployment to South Vietnam. 1 ATF was responsible for route security in an AO from Ba Ria to Phu My, approximately 20 kilometres, Operation Canary was supported by three Fire Support Bases (FSB) and two Mortar Base Plate Positions (MBPP).
This was extremely arduous work for the infantry soldiers as it was carried out in the heat of a dry summer with no shelter or trees along the coastal strip. The terrain was flat, becoming undulating to the north and east of Route 15 and covered in a variety of vegetation from grassland to jungle or clear forest with rice, brushwood and mangrove to the South and East.
The Viet Cong were believed to be using the Nui Thi Vai, Nui Ong Trinh and Nui Dinh Mountains to the north and east of Route 15 as base areas and for observation over Route 15 traffic. Enemy activity was expected to be limited to action by the Chau Duc District Company and local guerrilla platoons.
Excerpts from Fire Support Bases Vietnam: Australian and Allied Fire Support Base
A UH-1B Iroquois helicopter of No 9 squadron RAAF lifts off from a fire support base on route 15, carrying members of C Company, 5th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (5 RAR). The helicopter had just dropped members of 6th Battalion's (6 RAR) B Company at the base. The Battalion was supported by B Company, 6 RAR, on Operation Canary to safeguard the US Army's 9th Infantry Division, which had just arrived in Vietnam.
Courtesy of AWM
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AWM BATTALION COLOURS PARADE
To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the forming of the Royal Australian Regiment the Colours of all the current battalions were present on the parade ground of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, this was a memorable occasion. The photograph just below shows the Colours being marched down the steps to the parade ground.
The Colours were also present at the Last Post Ceremony held later that day to honour CPL Kevin Cooper from 2 RAR, who was killed in Action on 26 July 1953 during the Battle of Samichon in the Korean War. A photograph of this moving ceremony is shown below.
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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 recent photo.
We now have both photos of 116 men, plus 1 that we only have a 'Now' photo of, 42 that we do not have a 'Then' photo of and only 11 men that we do not have any photos of. This is a total of the 170 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 19 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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