Australians claim mountain peak DPR/TV/1223

Place Unlinked Place
Accession Number F04728
Collection type Film
Measurement 3 min 54 sec
Object type Actuality footage, Television news footage
Physical description 16mm/b&w/silent
Maker Ward, Peter Anthony
Place made Vietnam: Phuoc Tuy Province
Date made 14 December 1969-15 December 1969
Access Open
Conflict Vietnam, 1962-1975
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Description

Australian infantry this week conquered the highest peak in a mountainous stronghold 25 miles north east of their Nui Dat base. Previous allied attempts to get into the ranges had all been repulsed. To mark the feat, the company which scaled the heights raised the Australian flag and their company flag to the skirl of the bagpipes. Alfa Company of 6 Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment / New Zealand (ANZAC). Struck little resistance in its battle to the top of the Nui May Tao, the peak which has given its name to the mountains, but other companies of the battalion, moving up the slopes, has running battles with small Viet Cong parties and suffered light casualties. The company reached the 2,100 ft top last Saturday and after securing the area, the battalion commander Lieutenant David Butler of Townsville decided to announce to the Viet Cong that the heights had been scaled for the first time by Australians and possibly the first time by allied forces in the present conflict. The Australian flag and the gold and bronze flag of the company are raised on a bamboo pole as the battalion's pipe major Warrant Officer Alex MacLeod-Lee of Clayfield , Brisbane sends the skirl of the Crusaders and Cock of the North echoing down the mountainsides. It was all over in a few minutes but they were a stirring few minutes. The men new they were right in the heart of Viet Cong territory in an area believed to be a major supply base for launching enemy attacks in Phuoc Tuy Province the Australian's special area of responsibility. After the ceremony the war was resumed. The battalion's anti tank platoon specially trained to work with tracker dogs mounts up to move off from the peak to seek out the enemy. Their faces are smeared with camouflage cream for their reconnaissance role. Milo, the black Labrador tracker dog who has pointed successfully a number of times for the battalion moves off briskly. Further down the mountainside Delta Company 6 RAR is moving into more Viet Cong camps and caches which have been described as among the most significant finds yet by the Australian force. So far Delta Company has uncovered big weapons and ammunition caches a min making factory and supply camps. This camp is hidden in a re entrant and has been used by many people over a long time. Sentries fired on the Australians as they moved in then the enemy withdrew. The mountainside is riddled with caves and tunnels and most yielded Viet Cong supplies. Out of one of these dark recesses, Bombardier Rod Acreman of Kedron Brisbane brings high explosives. There are enough of these in the cave to blow the mountain face down. In another crevice hundred of pants and shirts are found. After counting they are stuffed into bags by Private Greg McKenna of Williamstown Melbourne witht the assistance of Private Daryl Knapp of Prospect Adelaide. Many documents were captured in the sweep of the camp and these are given a preliminary examination by Vietnamese working with the company.

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