Historical Background
1st Australian Task Force
The 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) commanded the Australian and New Zealand Army units deployed to South Vietnam between 1966 and 1971. 1 ATF was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province. While the Task Force was primarily responsible for securing Phuoc Tuy Province, Task Force units, and the Task Force Headquarters itself, occasionally deployed outside the Province.
Australia's commitment to Vietnam began on the 3 August 1962 with 30 Military Advisors being sent to assist in training South Vietnamese Forces. Our commitment ended in June 1973 with the withdrawal of the last Australian Troops. The Vietnam War was the longest war in which Australia was ever involved.
The basic operating unit in the field patrolling out of the base at Nui Dat was the Infantry Rifle Section. Click on the photo below to see what a rifle section was and what weapons they carried.
Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps
Between 5 May 1967 and 25 November 1971, 43 members of the RAANC served in Vietnam with the 8th Field Ambulance at Vung Tau and later with the 1st Australian Field Hospital at Nui Dat.
Throughout the Tet Offensive, Battle for FSB Coral and Balmoral, Battle of Long Tan, and routine operations in Phuoc Tuy Province by the 1st Australian Taskforce, the nurses of the RAANC were on duty.