2. Collie Boys in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War – Collie Boys in Vietnam 1962-75
Saluting their Service – Grahame Old
Vietnam War Overview
By the time the last Australian combat personnel were withdrawn from Vietnam, the war had become the longest twentieth century conflict in which Australians have participated. It has only recently been surpassed by Australia's long term commitment of combat forces to the War in Afghanistan. The Vietnam War involved some 60,000 personnel and grew from a limited initial commitment of 30 military advisers in 1962 to include a battalion in 1965 and finally in 1966, a task force. At its peak around 8,500 Australian personnel were serving in Vietnam. Each of the three services was involved, but the dominant role was played by the Army. After the cessation of combat operations in 1972, a limited number of Australian personnel remained in Vietnam, including an Infantry Platoon, guarding the Australian embassy. Elements of the RAAF returned in 1975, carrying out humanitarian missions to aid civilian refugees displaced by the fighting and carried out the evacuation of Vietnamese orphans (Operation Baby lift), before finally taking out embassy staff on 25 April.
The war was the most controversial in Australian society since the conscription controversy during the First World War. National Service, a ballot system of conscription, was introduced in 1964. Young men suddenly found themselves in uniform and many served in Vietnam. There were many protests against the war. Many draft resisters and conscientious objectors were fined or jailed. Many servicemen met a hostile reception on their return home. 521 Australians were killed during the Vietnam War and more than 3,000 were wounded. 110 Collie Boys served with distinction during the war, two of those boys sadly were killed in action. The Vietnam War was the first war where deceased soldiers were returned home to be buried by their loved ones.
RAN and RAAF in Vietnam
Although the majority of service personnel who served in Vietnam were Army, the importance of the RAN and RAAF should not be overlooked. The RAN and the RAAF played a variety of roles during the Vietnam War.
RAN
Three guided missile destroyers, HMAS Perth, Hobart and Brisbane served multiple deployments on a six month rotation basis, they provided naval gunfire support to troops on the ground, patrolled the North Vietnam coast and they provided escort support to U.S aircraft carriers. The converted aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney (affectionately known as the Vung Tau ferry) was used extensively as a troop carrier during the war carrying troops and equipment from Sydney to Vung Tau. A number of destroyers also served as escorts for HMAS Sydney. The Cargo vessel HMAS Jeparit carried stores to Vietnam. The Jeparit was originally chartered with a civilian crew however when loading was banned by wharf labourers in Australia the Jeparit was commissioned into the RAN and crewed by RAN personnel. The RAN also provided a Helicopter Flight attached to a U.S. Assault Helicopter unit and Clearance Diver support. Some 2,800 Naval personnel served during the Vietnam War. Of these eight were killed and fifty were seriously injured.
RAAF
The RAAF provided a number of Squadrons to the war effort in Vietnam. ‘Canberra’ Bomber 2 Sqn, based in Phan Rang, provided general bombing support. ‘Sabre’ Jet 79 Sqn, based in Thailand, provided general air support as part of SEATO nations assistance on the Thailand North Vietnam border. 35 Sqn ‘Caribou’ Transport Flight, affectionately known as ‘Wallaby Airlines’, provided general air transport to all Australian Bases in Vietnam, and 9 Sqn provided ‘Iroquois’ Helicopter support, both medical and troop transport. Some 4,400 RAAF personnel served during the Vietnam War. Of these fourteen were killed and 30 were seriously injured.
Collie Boys Awards and Decorations
Two Collie boys were awarded medals for displaying gallant and distinguished conduct during the Vietnam War, they were;
RAN - Lieutenant James BUCHANAN, DFC
Army - Sergeant Francis (Frank) Carr CASHMORE, MG MID
02089 RAN Lt James Collier BUCHANAN, DFC
James Buchanan was born in Collie in 1943, his listed next of kin was his father James Buchanan Snr, the family lived at Buckingham Mill, Collie. He was educated at the Collie Christian Brothers College and the Collie High School. James was working as a bank officer in Collie when he enlisted into the RAN in 1962 as a trainee officer. After training as a Helicopter Pilot, Lt Buchanan served on both the HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney between 1965 and 1968. In 1970 he was posted to RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam. The RAN Helicopter Flight was attached to the United States 135th Assault Helicopter Company. Lt Buchanan, as senior pilot with the RAN Helicopter Flight, flew eight hundred hours in nine months, was fired at on six occasions and was forced down once with engine failure. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in U-Minh, Vietnam, on 4th Dec 1970.
The citation read; “On December 4 1970, in the U-Minh Forest he was engaged in the medical evacuation of a wounded crew member from a South Vietnamese Government patrol boat when the group came under heavy attack. Realising that the boat with which he was operating was disabled and drifting towards the enemy held shore, Lieut Buchanan hooked the skids of his aircraft onto the boats superstructure and towed it to a safe area, although he was still receiving heavy automatic weapons and 82mm mortar fire. Lieut Buchanan’s coolness, determination and courage under fire, which enabled his mission to be successfully completed, are cited as being in the highest tradition of the Naval service.”
Collision HMAS Melbourne and USS Frank E Evans (not related to Vietnam)
In the early morning of 03 June 1968, the Destroyer USS Frank E Evans collided with the Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne during training operations in the South China Sea. As a result of the collision the Frank E Evans was sliced in two, the bow section sank quickly, with 74 US sailors losing their lives. Lieut Buchanan was on duty on the flight deck of the Melbourne. He was acting as mirror control officer, a device used for assisting in operations in landing and launching fixed wing aircraft, when the collision occurred. Lieut Buchanan assisted in the rigging of scrambling nets and he then went aboard the Evans to help rescue survivors.
Lieutenant Buchanan was awarded a Naval Board Commendation for Bravery following the Collision.
The citation read;
“In the darkness it was difficult to avoid stumbling over debris on the decks and Lieut Buchanan cleared a pathway to enable survivors to make their way to the nets from the side of the Melbourne. He then went below decks and assisted US sailors to the upper deck of the ship. He later flew as a helicopter pilot in search and rescue operations”.
Note: James Buchanan had three younger brothers, Donald, Kevin and Joseph, all enlisted into the RAN and all served in Vietnam.
54237 Sgt 2 Sqn SASR, Francis Carr CASHMORE, MG, MID(2)
Frank Cashmore was born in England in 1942 and raised in Collie. Frank enlisted into the Army in 1959 and after training was posted to RAINF. He served with 2nd Battalion RAR during the Malaysian conflict and in 1963 was posted to SASR. In 1966 he served with 2 Sqn SAS in Borneo. Frank Cashmore served two tours in Vietnam with 2 Sqn SAS, 1968 and 1971. He was recommended for the Military Medal for bravery and mentioned in despatches. His recommendation for the MM was downgraded to MID due to an award quota system in operation at that time. In 1999 the decision to downgrade the original recommendation was overturned and Sgt Cashmore was awarded the Medal for Gallantry, MG. The citations read;
1st MID, in 1968 as a Sergeant with the 2nd Special Air Service Squadron, Sgt Cashmore was patrol commander of an ambush party which inflicted a large number of casualties on the enemy.
2nd MID, in 1971, again as a Sergeant with the 2nd Special Air Service Squadron, Sgt Cashmore was patrol commander of a 10 man ambush team which inflicted a large number of casualties on the enemy. In addition, vital documents and maps were recovered from a dead enemy commander.
‘Collie Boys’ Roll of Honour
Two Collie boys were killed in action during the Vietnam War, they were;
5715633 L/Cpl 3rd Cavalry Regiment Keith Ivan DEWAR
5715978 Pte 5th Bn RAR James Mungo Thomas WHITE
Keith Ivan DEWAR
Keith Dewar was in born in Collie on the 14th Oct 1947 his listed next of kin was his father, Henry Dewar, Clifton St Collie. Keith was working as a clerk in the PMG Dept, Perth, when he was called up for national service in 1968. He was killed in action (landmine explosion) on the 24th June 1969, Phuoc Toy Province South Vietnam, age 21 yrs. Keith Dewar is buried in the Collie Cemetery.
James Mungo Thomas WHITE
James (Jimmy) White was in born in Collie on the 10th Sep 1947 his listed next of kin was his father, Jim White, Cardiff. James was working in construction at Muja when he was called up for national service in 1968. He was killed in action on the 4th April 1969, Long Khan Province South Vietnam, age 21 yrs. James White is buried in the Collie Cemetery.
The Cost
Approximately 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam war; 521 were killed and more than 3,000 were wounded. Around 110 ‘Collie Boys’ served during the war and two were killed in action.
Collie Boys in Vietnam - Remembered Forever at the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch
‘Well Done those Men’