Bristowe, Daryl Wayne (Private, b. 1949)

Collection relating to the Vietnam War service of Daryl Wayne Bristowe, Vietnam and Australia, 1970 - 1971. Bristowe served in Vietnam with 1 Australian Reinforcement Unit from 15 July to 9 August 1971 and with 3 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment from 10 August to 16 October 1971.

Collection consists of letters written to Bristowe from his family and friends living mainly in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, many including newspaper clippings about Australian Rules football and the Vietnam War, and one map relating to an operation in Vietnam in September 1971 which involved 3RAR and 4RAR.

Wallet 1 of 10 contains 2 folders. Folder 1 contains 21 items dated between July and September 1970, written to Bristowe while he was serving at Puckapunyal, Victoria. Letters in this folder detail life at home, his disappointment about not getting into the tank corps, former co-workers updating him on life in the factory, his family in England, buying a new car, going no leave, Australian Rules Football (AFL), and engagements and marriages amongst his friends and family. Folder 2 contains 23 items dated September to October 1970, written while at Singleton, NSW. These letters detail the mail being slow, photo slides being sent, AFL updates, newspaper clippings, discontent with the government, conscription, and contentious objection, movies, cost of stamps, and his passing out parade.

Wallet 2 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 22 items dated between October and December 1970, written to Bristowe while he was serving at Singleton, NSW. These letters detail AFL scores and updates, going on leave, the introduction of mandatory seatbelts and increase in the cost of cars as a result, family members' health problems, lottery tickets and results, the Melbourne cup, and home renovations.

Wallet 3 of 10 contains 2 folders. Folder 1 contains 28 items, dated between November 1970 and March 1971, written to Bristowe while he was at Ingleburn, NSW. The letters in folder 1 discuss money, AFL, the weather in the Dandenong ranges, life at home for his family, his mother’s health, weddings, gardening, and stamps. Folder 2 contains 7 items dated March 1971, while at Canungra, Queensland. These letters talk about Easter plans, the weather, and asking about his new camp.

Wallet 4 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 29 items, dated between April and June 1971, also written to Bristowe while he was at Ingleburn. This includes letters and newspaper clippings, mentioning birthday wishes sent to Bristowe, the weather, a grenade incident in Vietnam, stamps, AFL scores, asking about the camp, news of his sister’s engagement, the Ferntree Gully Technical school fire, and the Lionel Rose fight.

Wallet 5 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 29 items, dated during July 1971, written to Bristowe while he was serving overseas in Vietnam. These letters detail the family visiting drive ins, asking how life in Vietnam is going, weddings and engagements at home, sending slides, care packages, mail problems, coins and currency, and AFL scores.

Wallet 6 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 36 items, dated between 1 and 18 August 1971, written to Bristowe while he was serving in Vietnam. These letters describe the weather, AFL, life at home, the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, sending slides, care packages, wedding planning, money being sent home, and films.

Wallet 7 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 27 items, dated between 19 and 30 August 1971, also written to Bristowe while he was serving in Vietnam. These letters detail Vietnam soldiers coming home for Christmas, shopping, AFL, life at home, weather, the Viet Cong, him going on leave, the mail being slow, his sister’s upcoming wedding, asking how Vietnam is going, and also includes a page of notes likely written by Bristowe that is titled fire order.

Wallet 8 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 32 items, dated between 1 and 19 September 1971, written to Bristowe while he was serving in Vietnam. These letters and newspaper clippings detail his sister’s wedding and preparations, AFL, life at home, the mail, family gardening, care packages, Vietnamese currency, tree felling, upcoming return to Australia, and the weather.

Wallet 9 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 21 items, dated from 20 to 30 September 1971, written to Bristowe while he was serving in Vietnam. These letters detail his upcoming return to Australia, gardening, his sister’s honeymoon, home décor and renovations, the weather, 4th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment wounded soldiers, films they had recently seen, cameras, care packages, AFL, cigarettes, and his grandfather’s failing health.

Wallet 10 of 10 contains 1 folder. This folder contains 18 items, dated from November to December 1971, while he was located in Woodside, South Australia. These letters detail his return to Australia, gardening, the Melbourne Cup, sending slides home, the road death toll and two National Servicemen who died in an accident on the way back to camp, shopping, and him leaving the army.

Oversize Flat Item 1 of 1 consists of one map that relates to an operation in Vietnam in September 1971 which involved 3RAR and 4RAR.