Battalion change over in Vietnam DPR/TV/1409

Members of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, arrive in Townsville tomorrow (June 1), following their relief in South Vietnam recently by 4th Battalion. For the past year 2nd Battalion has been engaged on operations and patrolling duties throughout Phuoc Tuy Province. It was the Battalion's second tour to South Vietnam. The unit has served with distinction in the war zone, and at a special ceremony at Nui Dat earlier this month medals for outstanding loyalty, bravery and devotion to duty in the face of the enemy, were presented to members of the Battalion. At the same ceremony the unit paid respects to its 14 members killed in operations against the Viet Cong during the year. On its return to Australia 2nd Battalion will take up residence at its home base in Townsville, Qld. As members of the unit prepared to leave Vietnam with a huge amount of personal items purchased on leave, 4th Battalion, with its mass of equipment and stores was preparing for its 12 months of duty in the war zone. A battalion change-over is a highly complex operation. Members of the Navy work non-stop with Diggers and Vietnamese waterside workers, to turn the Australian troopship HMAS Sydney around, in little more than 28 hours. Barges carrying huge steel containers, containing 2nd Battalion's effects, off-loaded their cargo on board the Sydney, and then took on 4th Battalion's equipment and stores, for the return trip to shore. Helicopters flew 2nd Battalion soldiers from the Australian Task Force Base at Nui Dat, to HMAS Sydney and then 4th Battalion soldiers boarded the helicopters to move to their new home. It is also the second Vietnam tour for 4th Battalion. The Minister for the Army, Mr Andrew Peacock, will take the salute at the march-past by 2nd Battalion in Townsville tomorrow. Also identified: 57005 Commanding Officer of 2RAR Lieutenant Colonel John Murray Church; 1202845 Corporal Gordon Keith Jasch of West End, Qld; 415435 Private (Pte) Robert Paul (Bob) Beattie of Campbelltown, SA; 2793591 Pte John Robert Pascoe of Miranda, NSW; Major Dick Hall of Canberra, ACT.