5 RAR's last operation [Bondi] DPR/TV/1246

The 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, has just completed its last major operation in the Vietnamese War Zone before leaving to return to Australia at the end of the month. Called the Tiger Battalion, it has killed three hundred and fifty three of the enemy in its year on active service, the highest figure for any battalion in the theatre yet. The final operation, code named Bondi, lasted for seven weeks in the north-east of Phuoc Tuy Province, the Australian Task Force's special area of responsibility. The companies marched hundreds of miles in their search for the enemy and succeeded in killing 38 of them. This is A Company during the last days of the operation. The Diggers knew they were in enemy territory as they found many signs and bunkers but these last days were quiet. As they cross this stream to go into a harbour area for a break, the old Negro Spiritual "One More River to Cross" is probably flashing through their minds. A major airlift took place on Monday (Feb 16) to return the companies to the battalion's fire support base Pat and then into larger aircraft for the ride back to the Task Force base at Nui Dat for the last time. They watched their replacements, 8 RAR, leaving the chopper before boarding. The battalion now has to make hurried preparations to be ready to sail in the troopship HMAS Sydney for home on the 27th. An advance party left this week to make preparations for their arrival in Australia and an advance party from the new battalion, the 7th, arrived to begin settling-in procedures in Nui Dat. Some figures give an idea of the Tiger's year in Vietnam...its second. The mortar platoon fired 55,000 mortar bombs; the artillery battery in support, the 105th Battery, fired more than 70,000 rounds, together with the countless thousands of miles walked by the Diggers and rounds fired by them in close contacts with the enemy. Twenty-five Tigers were killed during the year, but for every one Australian dead they left 15 Vietcong and North Vietnamese dead. The Tiger Battalion finishes operations in Vietnam and prepares to return to Australia. Also identified: CSM of A Company Warrant Officer Armitage; Private Wally Cameron, 20, of Greensborough, Vic.