Packet of cigarettes : Private R J Barry, 6 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment

The cigarettes are still wrapped in their original cellophane wrapping with a red strip at the top of the packet for easy opening. The outer packet is paper. The front of the packet shows a charging soldier super imposed over the South Vietnam flag. Next to the soldier's left heel is the 'CLUB' symbol, similar to that used in a card deck. In front of his left foot is written in Vietnamese 'QUYET - TAM / BAO VE DAT NUOC'. Below the soldier is a blue band with the maker's name printed in a decorative style 'J. BASTOS'. Below the blue band is printed in Vietnamese 'BAO BAM PHAM CHAT'. On the back of the packet is a pentagonal shape with a blue background. Printed on the background is a hand holding an olive branch and the outline of a helmeted soldier, a villager with a conical hat and a child. Printed above the pentagon in Vietnamese is 'QUAN DOI VIET-NAM CONG-HO'. Printed in Vietnamese below the pentagon is 'HUYNH DE CHI BINH / QUYET TAM CHIEN THANG'. Similar to the front of the packet is a blue band with 'J. BASTOS' written in a decorative style within the band. The Vietnamese translates as being property of the South Vietnamese Army and was only for issue to same. The writing at the soldier's feet translates as 'Protect the Country'.

This packet of cigarettes was acquired by 2788438 Private Richard Joseph Barry from a young Vietnamese woman as a souvenir in exchange for some sweets from Barry's ration pack. The woman had been trying to sell Barry the baby she was carrying on her hip however the former managed to convey that this was not possible. Barry was born on 16 March 1947 in Sydney, NSW and was called up for National Service on 13 September 1967. He was appointed to 6 RAR's Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company and trained as a visual tracker rifleman.

However as the Viet Cong did not have tanks it was decided that the unit would adopt their secondary role as combat trackers using dogs. The three dogs the platoon used in Vietnam were: Marcus, Milo and Trajan. 6 RAR embarked aboard HMAS Sydney for Vietnam on 8 May 1969; part of 6 RAR's second tour of duty. On 19 May, the unit arrived at Nui Dat and was renamed 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion to reflect the inclusion of two Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment rifle companies, two sections of mortars and two assault pioneer sections. The unit's Anti-Tank Platoon was placed under the command of D Company and worked within the Company mainly as a fourth rifle platoon.

Barry's first operation was Operation Laverack, which commenced on 30 May 1969. It was a reconnaissance in force in the area to the north of Nui Dat and astride Provincial Route 2. It was designed to deny the Viet Cong the free use of the major communications routes between the west of Phuoc Tuy Province and the staging and base areas to the north east. For the first two weeks in June all 6 RAR/NZ companies carried out continuous ambushing in their Areas of Operation. As of 16 June Barry's platoon had one contact with one Viet Cong killed with no casualties in the platoon. On 22 June the platoon moved further north from their original patrol and joined up with V Company (a New Zealand Unit) just north of the North Vietnamese refugee village of Xa Binh Gia. Their main jobs were patrolling, searching enemy villages, ambushing and following up enemy trenches with the dogs. On 30 June they were extracted by air and returned to Nui Dat.

Barry's platoon participated in their second operation, Operation Mundingburra from 14 July 1969, however on 10 July Barry suffered minor burns to his face, arms and left hand. He had been asked to sweep up the rubber tree foliage and other debris that had accumulated around the tent lines at Nui Dat and light a bonfire. However Barry had been given a petrol can containing aviation fuel instead of ordinary petrol and the subsequent explosion caused Barry's injuries. After a week convalescence Barry re-joined his platoon at Fire Support Base Thrust. The platoon had been called upon to train South Vietnamese troops in the methods of jungle warfare. The platoon went on night ambushes every night split into teams with approximately nine or ten South Vietnamese troops. Operation Mundingburra finished on 15 August. Barry as a part of the Anti Tank platoon had been travelling with A Company searching bunkers and enemy caches for the final three days. They travelled all the time in the mangrove swamps mostly waist high.

On 18 August 6 RAR/NZ, erected a stone cross at the Long Tan battle site and conducted a service to remember those of the battalion who had died there. This was Barry's last venture into the bush. From 20 August the 10th National Serviceman's Intake were recalled to begin their anti-malarial course and to start cleaning and handing in their gear. Medical exams and blood tests were held to get their International Health Cards up to date. Barry flew to Sydney via Saigon on 3 September arriving in Australia on the morning on 4 September. Barry was formally discharged on 3 October 1969 having completed the prescribed period of two years continuous full-time service in the Regular Army Supplement.