3rd Battalion
Royal Australian Regiment
1st Tour Vietnam
1967 - 1968 |
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Lest We Forget
South Vietnam 1967 - 1968 |
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 Additional Pages: 92 & 93 |
3rd Battalion in South Vietnam 1967-1968
The Official Record of Operation Book
This book was first printed in 1968 and distributed to all
former members of the 3rd Battalion
RAR 1967-68 who served in Vietnam during the
Battalion's Tour of Duty.
Over the years through life experiences copies once valued by members have either vanished or been misplaced. A second edition scanned from the first was distributed during a recent reunion. This scanned copy offered here is a copy of that second edition. The book is available for download for viewing by the kind
permission of Brigadier J. J. Shelton DSO, MC, the Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion RAR during 1967 - 1968
The book is available for download in Adobe "pdf" format.
Please download the file for viewing.
Adobe Reader Download
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File Size: 24 MB |
To download your own copy of the 3rd Battalion 67 - 68 Vietnam Tour book
right click mouse here and "Save As"
Please observe the file size and calculate the time required for the file to download to your location. (Based on 5 minutes at 100KB/s) |
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SOUTH VIETNAM
1967 - 68 TOUR SUMMARY |
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December 67
- 12th 3RAR Advance Party flew from Adelaide to Saigon.
- 16th 3RAR Main Body departed Outer Harbour Port Adelaide on HMAS Sydney.
- 27th 3RAR Rear Party departed Adelaide by air.
- 27th 3RAR Main Body disembarked at Vung Tau and moved to Nui Dat
- 28th 3RAR Rear Party arrived at Vung Tau and moved to Nui Dat.
January 68
- 06th 3RAR Op Balaklava
- 09-11th 3RAR Op Bordertown.
- 29th C Coy, 3RAR moved to FSPB Harrison, Bien Hoa Province (Op Coburg) .
- 31st Enemy Lunar New Year (Tet) Offensive commenced with widespread attacks on major cities and installations in South Vietnam.
February 68
- 1st Task Force Base mortared. Viet Cong battalion (D445) in occupation of Phuoc Le (Baria)
- l-2nd A Coy, 3RAR in action at Baria with 3 Troop A Squadron 3 Cavalry Regiment.
- 3-6th D Coy, 3RAR in action in Long Dien with 2/52 ARVN Rangers.
- 5th B Coy, 3RAR in contact in Hoa Long.
- 7-9th B Coy, 3RAR in action in Baria and Long Dien.
- 10th 3RAR relieved 7RAR in Bien Hoa province (Op Coburg)
- 18th Mortar and ground attack on FSPB Andersen.
- 28th Mortar attack on FSPB Andersen.
March 68
- 1st 3RAR returned to Nui Dat from Op Coburg.
- 3rd Commemorative service for 3RAR and supporting arms members killed in action in Long Dien and during Op Coburg.
- 8th 3RAR, less D Coy, commenced Op Pinnaroo.
- 17th D Coy, 3RAR joined Op Pinnaroo.
April 68
- 9th Main Body 1RAR arrived in South Vietnam.
- 9th Main Body 7RAR departed for Australia.
- 12th D Coy, 3RAR returned from Op Pinnaroo.
- 15th Op Pinnaroo completed.
- 21st 3RAR commenced Op Toan Thang (Phase 1)
May 68
- 3rd 3RAR returned to base from Op Toan Thang (Phase 1)
- 10th 3RAR continued Op Toan Thang (Phase 1) relieving 2RAR at FSPB Andersen
- 13th 3RAR occupied blocking position 20 miles north-north- east of Saigon. Mortar and ground attack on FSPB Coral.
- 16th Enemy regimental mortar and ground attacks on FSPB Coral.
- 24th 3RAR moved to FSPB Balmoral.
- 26th Mortar attack on FSPB Coral. Mortar and battalion ground attacks on FSPB Balmoral.
- 28th Regimental mortar and ground attacks on FSPB Balmoral by 165 Regiment 7th North Vietnamese Army Division.
June 68
- 1st Main Body 4RAR arrived in Vung Tau on HMAS Sydney. Main Body 2RAR departed for Australia.
- 5th 3RAR returned to base from Op Toan Thang (Phase 1). 14 D Coy, 3RAR cordon and search in Long Dien.
- 25-30 B Coy, 3RAR participated in Op Ulladulla with C Squadron 1st Armoured Regiment.
July 68
- 3rd 3RAR relieved 1RAR in AO Birdsville Op Toan Thang (Phase 2).
- 18th 3RAR redeployed into AO Yass to commence Op Merino. 24 3RAR returned to base from Op Merino. 29 C Coy, 3RAR cordon and search north-east Hoa Long.
August 68
- 2-13th 3RAR Op Platypus. 22 Outskirts of Saigon rocketed. 1RAR and tanks in contact with Viet Cong occupying Long Dien.
- 23rd 3RAR Op Magnetic, Long Son Island.
- 28th 3RAR Op Diamantina (until 5 Sep)
September 68
- 6th B and D Companies relieved 1RAR companies in defensive tasks in the vicinity of Baria and Long Dien (Op Nowra).
- 10th A Coy, 3RAR relieved C Coy 1RAR on land-clearing Ops in AO Warburton.
- 15th B Coy, 3RAR returned from Baria Stadium defence task.
- 19-25th C Coy, 3RAR Route 2 security Op Ngai Giao area.
- 24th D Coy, 3RAR returned from Long Dien.
- 28th 3RAR tactical HQ, B and D Companies inserted into FSPB Cedar to commence Op Windsor.
- 29th C Coy, 3RAR flown in to join Op Windsor.
October 68
- 2nd A Coy, 3RAR returned from land-clearing Ops AO Warburton.
- 6th A Coy, 3RAR flown in to join Op Windsor.
- 12th Op Windsor concluded, 3RAR redeployed into AO Garran to commence Op Capital.
- 21st A, B and D Companies returned from Op Capital.
- 22nd 3RAR HQ and C Coy returned from Op Capital. 161 Fd Bty redeployed to FSPB Wilton.
- 25th C Coy, 3RAR commenced Op Harvest.
- 27th 3RAR HQ group and D Coy joined Op Harvest.
- 29th 3RAR Advance Recce Party returned by air to Australia. 30 A Coy, 3RAR deployed into AO Rapier on Op Diamond Pin.
November 68
- 2nd 3RAR HQ, C and D Companies returned from Op Harvest. A Coy, 3RAR returned from Op Diamond Pin.
- 5th 9RAR Advance Party (150) arrived at Nui Dat. 3RAR Advance Party (146) returned to Australia by air.
- 19th 9RAR Rear Party (40) arrived at Nui Dat. 3RAR Rear Party (40) returned to Australia by air.
- 20th 9RAR Main body arrived at Nui Dat ex HMAS Sydney. 3RAR Main Body (417) departed on HMAS Sydney for Australia.
- Setting up CHQ ….Nov 1968
December 68
- 02nd 3RAR Main Body disembarked Outer Harbour Port Adelaide, South Australia
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Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, Vietnam |
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May - June 2008 |
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Historical Background
In May 1968 Australian troops established Fire Support Bases (FSB) Coral and Balmoral across the route used by the Viet Cong to depart, and approach, Saigon and nearby Bien Hoa. The bases provided defended positions for artillery, mortars and armoured vehicles which would, in turn, support infantry patrols of the area at a time when expectations of enemy attacks on Saigon were high.
The 1st and 3rd Battalions Royal Australian Regiment (1 and 3RAR), 102 Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery, and 161 New Zealand Field Battery, deployed into FSB Coral on 12 May 1968. 1 and 3 RAR began preparing ambush positions but these were incomplete when a North Vietnamese Regiment attacked the base during the early hours of 13 May. The North Vietnamese, having penetrated the 1RAR Mortar Platoon and 102 Field Battery positions and briefly forcing the defenders to abandon one of their artillery pieces, were forced back after heavy fighting.
Coral came under attack for a second time at 2.15 am on 16 May when an estimated three battalions of North Vietnamese infantry assaulted the base which was, along with infantry, now also defended by armoured personnel carriers of A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. Fighting lasted several hours before the attackers were forced to withdraw.
Further mortar and rocket attacks on Coral followed, on 22 May, and again on 26 and 28 May, but the base was not seriously threatened again. Having had the opportunity to establish a strong defensive perimeter, the Australians were able launch their own attacks against the North Vietnamese. On 26 May, in a major contact, infantry and tanks destroyed part of a North Vietnamese bunker system that had been discovered in the vicinity. The Australians continued to launch aggressive patrols from Coral, engaging in combat against North Vietnamese forces and experiencing some fierce actions through until the end of May.
By this time the North Vietnamese had turned their attention to FSB Balmoral which had been established by 3RAR some 4.5 kilometers north of Coral on 24-25 May. Tanks from Nui Dat helped Australian infantry defeat a two battalion-strong North Vietnamese attack just hours after their arrival at the base on 25 May. A second attack followed on 28 May, but a combination of infantry, armour, aircraft, artillery and mortars repelled the North Vietnamese assault. North Vietnamese activity in the area subsided and operations at Coral and Balmoral were suspended on 6 June 1968.
Members of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
rest and eat near a weapon pit at Fire Support Base Balmoral just hours after an attack on the base.
(Australian War Memorial CRO/68/0558/VN)
Twenty six Australians were killed during the fighting at Coral/Balmoral. Estimates suggest that more than 300 North Vietnamese were killed in these actions, but exact figures cannot be obtained.
Units involved at Coral/Balmoral
- HQ 1 Australian Task Force
- A Squadron 3 Cavalry Regiment
- HQ 12 Field Regiment (including elements of HQ Battery and Artillery Tactical HQ) with 102 Field Battery and elements of 131 Divisional Locating Battery, Royal Australian Artillery; 161 Field Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery; and A Battery 2/35 Artillery (US)
- C Squadron 1 Armoured Regiment
- Forward Repair Teams and Stores Section 1 Armoured Squadron Workshop
- 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR)
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR)
- 1 Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers
- Elements of 5/2 Artillery (US)
- 161 (Independent) Reconnaissance Flight
- Elements of 104 Signals Squadron, Royal Australian Signals Corps, elements Task Force Maintenance Area and elements of Detachment 1 Ordnance Field Park
- Elements of 2 Transport Platoon 5 Company
- Elements Australian Force Vietnam Provost Unit
- Elements of the Defence and Engagement Platoon
- Elements, Task Force Maintenance Area
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Monuments
erected
to the memory
NVA
who died at Coral
These two memorials
(one a shrine) have been placed near the site of the mass grave where the NVA dead were buried after the second attack at fire support base Coral
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(For full explanation
see Coral & Balmoral power point presentations.)
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Reference: DVA 40th Anniversary Commemorations (www.dva.gov.au) |
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The Tet Offensive
in Ba Ria, Viet Nam 1968 |
(with recollections of Pte. David "Johnno" Johnston, 2Pl A Coy, 3RAR) |
By Luke Johnston |
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| The Tet Offensive in Ba Ria (adobe.pdf) document may be downloaded from here... (2.35Mb) |
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TET Attacks in Phuoc Tuy Province: February 1968 |
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| A Day & A Night to Remember |
| By Major Bert Irwin OC B Company 3 RAR 67/68 |
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Honours, Decorations and Awards |
3791616 |
Private |
Francis J. Archer |
Mention in Dispatches |
55270 |
Lance Corporal |
Kevin J. Booth |
Military Medal |
5411313 |
Corporal |
John J. Davis |
Military Medal
Republic of South Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star |
61515 |
Sergeant |
Raymond J. Ewell |
Distinguish Conduct Medal |
38753 |
2nd Lieutenant |
Peter H. Fraser |
Mention in Dispatches |
33261 |
major |
Ian G. Hands |
Mention in Des patches |
235162 |
Major |
Brian W Howard |
Military Cross
Republic of South Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star |
36768 |
Lieutenant |
Marcus R. John |
Military Cross |
2987 |
Captain |
Wesley H. Jones |
Mention in Des patches |
6708578 |
Corporal |
Barry J Joyce |
mention in Des patches |
61068 |
Major |
Herbert W Irwin |
Mention in Dispatches
Republic of South Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star |
28010 |
Warrant Officer Cl2 |
William J. Lapthorne |
Mention in Dispatches |
4717740 |
Corporal |
David J. Mancer |
Military Medal |
47016 |
Major |
Peter Raymond Phillips |
Military Cross |
4718450 |
Corporal |
Brenton A Rosenthal |
Mention in Dispatches |
3395 |
Lt Colonel |
Jeffrey J. Shelton |
Distinguish Service Order |
214211 |
Sergeant |
Phillip K Williams |
Mention In Dispatches |
67008831 |
Private |
Kevin A. Youd |
Mention in Dispatches |
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3rd Battalion 1967 - 1968
Operations |
Date From |
Date
To: |
Units |
Operation |
KIA |
KIA Poss |
WIA |
WIA
Poss |
PW |
6 Jan |
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Balaklava |
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9 Jan |
11 Jan |
Bn |
Bordertown |
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2 Feb |
3 Feb |
A & B |
Baria |
40 |
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4 Feb |
7 Feb |
D & B |
Long Dien |
2 |
3 |
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1 |
7 Feb |
9 Feb |
B |
Baria |
13 |
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1 |
8 Feb |
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A & D |
Hoa Long |
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10 Feb |
1 Mar |
Bn |
Coburg |
7 |
5 |
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8 Mar |
15 Mar |
Bn |
Pinnaroo |
18 |
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2 |
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10 |
21 Apr |
3 May |
Bn |
Toan Thang |
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10 May |
5 Jun |
Bn |
Toan Thang |
72 |
18 |
4 |
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10 |
14 Jun |
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B & C |
Long Dien |
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21 Jun |
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D |
Long Dien |
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2 |
16 Jun |
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A |
Duc Thanh |
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24 Jun |
28 Jun |
B |
Ulla Dulla |
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3 Jul |
18 Jul |
Bn |
Toan Thang |
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18 Jul |
24 Jul |
Bn |
Merino |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
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29 Jul |
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C |
Acorn 16 |
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2 Aug |
13 Aug |
Bn |
Platypus |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
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23 Aug |
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B & D
Tac HQ |
Magnetic |
1 |
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28 Aug |
5 Sept |
Bn |
Diamantina |
2 |
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1 |
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1 |
6 Sept |
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B & D |
Nowra |
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10 Sept |
2 Oct |
A |
Lyrebird |
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19 Sept |
25 sept |
C |
Crown |
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28 Sept |
11 Oct |
Bn |
Windsor |
14 |
12 |
1 |
4 |
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12 Oct |
22 Oct |
Bn |
Capital |
18 |
10 |
2 |
3 |
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25 Oct |
2 Nov |
C & D
Bn HQ |
Harvest |
6 |
3 |
2 |
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205 |
63 |
15 |
14 |
25 |
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Casualties inflicted 1967 - 68 |
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DECORATIONS |
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Army Number: 61515
Rank: Sergeant
Christian Name: Raymond Leslie
Surname: EWELL
Award: DCM
Sergeant Raymond Ewell enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 18 April 1963. He joined 3rd Battalion. The Royal Australian Regiment on 14 November 1963 and saw operational service in Malaya and Borneo during 1964 and 1965. He arrived in South Vietnam on 12 December 1967 as Platoon Sergeant 9 Platoon, C Company.
On 24 March 1968 during Operation Pinnaroo, his Platoon Commander was mortally wounded and four other soldiers wounded in an enemy minefield. Sergeant Ewell immediately took command of the platoon and organised and controlled the evacuation of the wounded. Throughout this evacuation he moved over the mined area showing no regard for his personal safety.
During the latter stages of Operation Pinnaroo, he continued to command the platoon and as a result of his thorough and aggressive patrolling his platoon found numerous caches and caves. Although they were known to be booby-trapped Sergeant Ewell made a practice of accompanying the engineer mini team on their initial entry and search of those dangerous areas. As a result, much new material of great intelligence value was found and his daring conduct instilled confidence in his men.
On 22 September 1968 while again acting as Platoon Commander Sergeant Ewell led a 14 man patrol during Operation Crown. At approximately 1120 hours the patrol contacted five Vietcong, killing at least one of them before the enemy broke contact. Sergeant Ewell quickly followed them up and regained contact. In the ensuing firefight one member of the patrol was wounded.
Sergeant Ewell quickly changed direction to outflank the enemy. During this movement his patrol clashed with another enemy force of approximately 20 Viet Cong. The patrol was engaged in a prolonged action for two hours and fought off a determined attack from three sides. Sergeant Ewell directed artillery and mortar fire support and by skilful fire and movement conducted an orderly withdrawal to a more secure position. As a result of his aggressive reaction an estimated six Viet Cong were killed.
Throughout his service in South Vietnam Sergeant Ewell distinguished himself as a courageous soldier, whose personal gallantry was an inspiration to the men under his command. |
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| 07-09 Feb 1968 |
Barea and Long Dien |
Maj. H. W. Irwin |
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3rd Battalion Association
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