3 RAR action in Vietnam (DPR/TV/853 & 855)
AWM accession number: F04204
Australian troops inflicted heavy casualties on an estimated force of two North Vietnamese battalions in the final week of May 1968 when the enemy tried to overrun Australian Fire Support Base "Balmoral" in Bien Hoa Province, north of Saigon. This footage, shot after the, the second attack on "Balmoral" (27/28 May 1968), shows infantry of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment who also suffered heavy casualties. Evacuation helicopters were hovering over the battle scene soon after the action took place, and the wounded Australian troops, were flown out. The action began when a shower of rockets and mortar shells crashed into the wooded area. Although the Australians had little time to take cover, they suffered less casualties than they had on the previous attack, on 25/26 May. A large number of enemy weapons were captured in the engagement - many left behind as the North Vietnamese retreated shortly before dawn. Among the weapons were automatic rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades, torpedoes and mortars. Seven enemy soldiers were captured after the battle. All had been wounded in the fighting, some of them seriously. They were given medical treatment. Then they, too were medically evacuated by air from the area.
We would be pleased to hear from anyone who can identify any soldiers appearing in this footage.
Cinematographer: Richard Crothers
Made at Fire Support Base Balmoral in Vietnam, 31 May 1968
6 min 15 secs, 16 mm, black and white, silent original film.
Category:
Education
Licence:
Standard YouTube Licence
Para Course 3 RAR
Uploaded by herbie3088 on 10 Nov 2007
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