Bullet damaged boot : Squadron Leader J H Cox, 9 Squadron, RAAF

Left foot black leather boot with toe cap. The boot has eleven pairs of lace holes with black painted aluminium eyelets, and a brass zip fastener running up the inner side from instep to calf. No laces are present. The rubber soles are attached with brass tacks, and have reinforcing stitching. The leather tongue and the third and fourth eyelets on the inner side of the boot have been damaged and holed by a bullet or shell splinter.

This bullet damaged boot is a souvenir of the 'Battle of Suoi Chau Pha', which occurred in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. On Sunday morning, 6 August 1967, A Company, 7 Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, commanded by Major 'Jake' O'Donnell MC, engaged elements of 274 (Viet Cong) Regiment. The action resulted in heavy casualties to both sides, including six Australians killed and 16 wounded.

The first 'dust-off' (casualty evacuation) helicopter on the scene was flown by Squadron Leader James Henry Cox and his crew: Pilot Officer Davidson, (co-pilot), Leading Aircraftman (LAC) Williams (crewman), Sergeant Moore (gunner), and Corporal Atkin (army medical orderly). While endeavouring to hoist out the first casualties, the helicopter was heavily damaged at close range by enemy small arms fire.

This fire damaged the helicopter's hoist, cut Cox's radio communication cord, and damaged his boot, slightly wounding him in the left foot. Atkin was also slightly wounded by shrapnel. The helicopter returned safely to base and the evacuation was continued by other helicopters of 9 Squadron RAAF, in spite of frequent heavy enemy fire.