Australians in heavy battle: rolls 1, 2 and first part of roll 4 DPR/TV/1167

Thirty eight Australian soldiers were wounded and one killed when 'A' Company 5RAR on Operation Camden engaged in a fierce battle with elements of Viet Cong 274 Regiment entrenched in a complex bunker system in the Hat Dich area. Roll. 2 Shows Australian weapons and gear being collected after being left in contact area by wounded. Weapons and gear being stack by soldiers. A closer shot of the Australian weapons. 235192 Major Richard Sutton MC of Canberra, ACT Officer Commanding 'A' Company 5RAR. 29730 Sergeant Brian (Buck) Rogers of Holsworthy, NSW checks through the gear. Major Sutton with back to camera inspects the gear. Major Sutton talks while sitting and smoking in the centre with Company Sergeant Major (CSM) 5410806 WO2 Robert Armitage MID of Holsworthy, NSW and with 217210 Lieutenant Robert Brett MC of Greenacre, NSW, one of the platoon commanders. Soldiers inspect the pack of a wounded digger evacuated the night before. The pack is smashed by shrapnel. Soldier grabs a sling as it is dropped from an Iroquois helicopter called in to lift out gear belonging to wounded soldiers. Closer shot of soldiers packing the slings with gear. Soldier chops down tree to clear area for helicopter landing. The gear being put on the sling. CSM Bob Armitage conducts the tying up of the sling and with another soldier fix the sling for pick up. Series of three shots as the Iroquois picks up gear in the sling. Roll 1. Soldiers moving through bunker system where 'B' Company had made Viet Cong (VC) contact a few days earlier. Running shot past two wounded soldiers and equipment in the forward contact area. Wounded soldiers being carried out of forward area to be evacuated. More shots of wounded being treated and moved back from contact area. Then the dust off arrives and follows a series of shots of wounded soldiers being evacuated out of the area. Roll4. Centurion tanks moving through jungle to conduct an assault on bunkers. A tank covered in bamboo as it battles through jungle to the bunkers. Tanks fire into area with machine guns and main gun. See F04378 for roll 3 and remainder of roll 4.