Last patrol in Vietnam DPR/TV/628

The last patrol against Viet Cong by 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, returned to base here this week to be led in by the Band and cheered along the route by officers and men. The patrol marched out of the jungle and was picked up by unit trucks and ferried to the main entrance of 6 RAR base where the band was waiting to march in. Led by Sergeant Francis Alcorta of Newmarket, Brisbane, who was mentioned in despatches for gallantry on operations recently, the patrol from Alpha Company were guests of honour. The 6th Battalion leaves here shortly for Brisbane aboard HMAS Sydney having handed over to 2nd Battalion from Enoggera, Queensland. As the 6 RAR Band played the last patrol into base the cheering troops lining the route enveloped both band and patrol with red smoke. A brief halt and ceremony outside the regimental first aid post was made with patrol members being given champagne and beer by officers and men of the unit. The Commanding Officer, 6 RAR Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Townsend of Brisbane, made a short speech in which he congratulated the troops for their fine efforts over the year. Colonel Townsend then poured a glass of champagne for Sergeant Alcorta and together they toasted the success of the Battalion. Patrol members downed their champagne to the cheers of watching troops then they marched off to their Company lines for the last time. For the men of 6 RAR it was the end of a hard year of operational duty. For the men of 2nd Battalion it marked the beginning.