Field Operational Research Section Vietnam marching banner

Blue vinyl shield-shaped marching banner with intergral plastic and wood suspension bar. Titled 'FIELD OPERATIONAL RESEARCH SECTION', the banner features an image of cartoon dog Snoopy sniffing a yellow flower, over the crossed flags of Australia and South Vietnam. The bottom of the banner is edged with a blue nylon fringe. Supplied with a pair of blue and white cord tasselled hangers. There is a loop sewn to the lower reverse of the banner to locate the carrying pole (not supplied).

Marching banner of the Field Operational Research Section (FORS), Vietnam. FORS was a small team of specialists dedicated to the assessment, improvement and development of weapons and related equipment systems and tactics for Australian units through operational field research. The section was established in September 1965 to ‘provide a scientific service to the forces operating overseas’, and based in Saigon (1966-67) and later Long Binh, and had close contacts with similar US teams. The team assessed American research and development innovations and new equipment for Australian application. Due to the small size of the team, which never increased despite Australia’s increased commitment (there were three members on each tour - a major from the Scientific Advisor’s Office, a sergeant and a civilian scientist – with a total of 18 men serving overall), many evaluation opportunities were missed. Some of the successful projects include the fitting of turrets to the M113 armoured personnel carrier (APC) after the experience of Long Tan, the fitting of additional armour to the belly of each M113 to counter mines, the trial and introduction of Dapsone as an effective anti-malarial treatment; anti-bunker and counter-mine tactics and assessment of non-lethal herbicides. Section Leader from 9 May 1968 to 30 April 1969, Major Evan ‘Tim’ Holt, recalls ‘in one year we had something like 35 projects on the wall chart, ranging from the destruction of the Barrier Minefield and the Dapsone/Paludrine anti malaria trial down to eradication of filter flies in long drop toilets at Nui Dat’. The marching banner design is based on the unit plaque developed in Vietnam in 1968 by FORS member Sergeant Don Curtis and based on a knitted Snoopy doll kept in the office as a mascot. ‘We all agreed that Snoopy should be calm, happy and investigating things in the field, just like FORS.’ This banner was reproduced from the original plaque made in Saigon and was made in Bateman’s Bay for the unit’s march past at the 1992 Vietnam Memorial dedication and Welcome Home parade in Canberra.