| Accession Number | P02115.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Vietnam: Phuoc Tuy Province |
| Date made | c May 1967 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Status to be assessed |
A group of Australian soldiers of 1 Troop, 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), ...
Description
A group of Australian soldiers of 1 Troop, 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), resting during a 'smoko' break while working on the barrier minefield in May 1967. The barrier minefield was constructed by the 1st Australian Task Force during Operation Leeton (3 March to 1 June 1967). It ran for about ten kilometres from the Horseshoe feature, north of Dat Do, to the coast north east of the village of Lang Phuoc Hai. The men are, from left, 3411826 Sapper (Spr) Trevor John Drummond (standing); 1200455 Lance Corporal Maurice John Hutchison; 3788172 Spr Terrence James 'Butch' Renshaw; 3788227 Corporal Maxwell Francis Staggard, and Staff Sergeant George Stephen Biddlecombe. The two non commissioned officers on the right are checking tallies of mines laid. On 30 May 1967, Spr Renshaw was killed by an accidentally detonated mine while working with a five-man engineer section, arming mines in the centre strip of the barrier minefield. Spr Sempel, a nearby soldier who was uninjured in the incident, believed he owed his life to Spr Renshaw, who had thrown himself between Sempel and the mine on hearing the mine fuse detonate. On 16 November 1967 Cpl Hutchison was killed in action in Phuoc Tuy Province during a mine clearing operation.