Battalion change in Vietnam DPR/TV/630

Nui Dat: About 600 troops of Australia's 2nd Battalion, RAR, based at Enoggera, Queensland, arrived in Vietnam today on board the troop carrier HMAS Sydney to start a year's tour of operational duty. The battalion was flown off the flight deck of HMAS Sydney in waves of American Chinook transport helicopters which carry twenty seven loaded troops. Troops of the outgoing 6th Battalion, who boarded Sydney on a helicopter turn round basis for the voyage home to Brisbane, cheered as the new arrivals came marching into Nui Dat. The 6th Battalion Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Townsend from Brisbane, officially handed over the unit's operational role with the Task Force to the incoming 2nd Battalion Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel N.R. Charlsworth of Brisbane, before being flown to the troop carrier. The HMAS Sydney was moored off Vung Tau Harbour, 20 miles south-east of Nui-Dat, for the changeover of the two Australian battalions. The Commander, Australian Forces, Vietnam, Major-General Douglas Vincent of Sydney, was on board HMAS Sydney to welcome the new arrivals of 2nd Battalion and farewell the outgoing 6 RAR. General Vincent paid tribute to what he described as "the new series of infantry battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment"... The 6 RAR Commander , Lieutenant Colonel Townsend described his unit's tour of duty in Viet Nam as " Both satisfying and rewarding to all ranks." The 6th Battalion is leaving behind about 200 men. These troops were replacements of reinforcements who arrived in Viet Nam after December to fill gaps left by death or sickness. They will serve with 2nd Battalion to round out the normal 12 months duty in the war theatre. Identified in shot list is Private Alan Pon of Bexley, smiles at being on HMAS Sydney and on his way home.