| Place | Asia: Vietnam, Vung Tau Special Zone, Vung Tau |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | COL/67/0140/VN |
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Negative |
| Maker |
Coleridge, Michael |
| Place made | Vietnam: Phuoc Tuy Province |
| Date made | 14 February 1967 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
An Nhut, Vietnam. One of the casualties of a mine explosion being evacuated to Vung Tau by a 9 ...
Description
An Nhut, Vietnam. One of the casualties of a mine explosion being evacuated to Vung Tau by a 9 Squadron Iroquois UH-1B helicopter (A2-1019). Between 13-14 February 1967 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR) were conducting a cordon-and-search (Operation Beaumaris) of An Nhut, a small village between Long Dien and Dat Do, when a mine detonated at C Company's headquarters during a briefing of C Company officers and senior non-commissioned officers. Five of the group were wounded and three officers were killed; Major Donald Bourne, the Company Commander, Captain (Capt) Robert Milligan, second in command and the New Zealand artillery forward observer, Capt Peter Williams of 161 Field Battery. The explosion was thought to have been caused by an unrecorded ARVN booby trap left behind when old barbed wire barriers were removed from around the village. Identified from left to right: 212969 Sergeant Ralph Hindmarsh, 8 Pl, C Coy, 5RAR; 47046 Lieutenant George Roger Wainwright, Officer Commanding 8 Pl, C Coy, 5RAR; 29635 Captain Robert Milligan 2IC C Coy, 5RAR (on stretcher); unidentified; 216429 Private Paul Murrant, C Coy, 5RAR (back to camera); unidentified RAAF crewman; Captain Anthony (Tony) White, Regimental Medical Officer, 5RAR.