Contributor:
GRAHAME OLD
THE Vietnam war was the most controversial in Australian history since the conscription controversy of the first world war.
National Service, a ballot system of conscription, was introduced in 1964. Young men suddenly found themselves in uniform and many served in Vietnam. There were many protests against the war. Many draft resisters and conscientious objectors were fined or jailed.
Many servicemen met a hostile reception on their return home. A total of 521 Australians were killed during the war and more than 3,000 were wounded.
It was the first war where deceased soldiers were returned home to be buried by their loved ones. One hundred and ten Collie boys served with distinction during the war, two of those boys, sadly, were killed in action.
They were Lance Corporal, third Cavalry Regiment, Keith Ivan Dewar, Private James Mungo Thomas White of the fifth battalion RAR.
Keith Dewar was born in Collie on October 14, 1947. Listed next of kin was his father, Henry Dewar of Clifton Street. Keith was working as a clerk in the PMG Dept, Perth, when he was called up for National Service in 1968.
He was killed in action in a landmine explosion on June 24, 1969, in Phuoc Toy Province, South Vietnam, aged 21. He is buried in the Collie Cemetery.
James (Jimmy) White was in born in Collie on September 10, 1947. His listed next of kin was his father, Jim White of Cardiff. James was working in construction at Muja when he was called up for National Service in 1968.
He was killed in action on April 4, 1969, at Long Khan Province, South Vietnam, aged 21. James White is buried in the Collie Cemetery.
Two Collie boys were awarded medals for displaying gallant and distinguished conduct during the war. They were Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant James Buchanan, DFC, and army Sergeant Francis (Frank) Carr Cashmore, MG MID.
James Buchanan was born in Collie in 1943. His listed next of kin was his father James Buchanan (snr).
The family lived at Buckingham Mill, Collie. He was educated at the Collie Christian Brothers College and the Collie High School.
James was working as a bank officer in Collie when he enlisted into the RAN in 1962 as a trainee officer. After training as a helicopter pilot, Lt Buchanan served on both the HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney between 1965 and 1968. In 1970 he was posted to RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam.
The RAN Helicopter Flight was attached to the United States 135th Assault Helicopter Company. Lt Buchanan, as senior pilot, flew 800 hours in nine months, was fired at on six occasions and was forced down once with engine failure. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for actions in U-Minh, Vietnam, on December 4, 1970.
The citation read; “On December 4, 1970, in the U-Minh Forest he was engaged in the medical evacuation of a wounded crew member from a South Vietnamese Government patrol boat when the group came under heavy attack. Realising that the boat with which he was operating was disabled and drifting towards the enemy held shore, Lieut Buchanan hooked the skids of his aircraft onto the boat’s superstructure and towed it to a safe area, although he was still receiving heavy automatic weapons and 82mm mortar fire.
Lieut Buchanan’s coolness, determination and courage under fire, which enabled his mission to be successfully completed, are cited as being in the highest tradition of the Naval service.”
In an incident not related to Vietnam, in the early morning of June 3, 1968, the Destroyer USS Frank E Evans collided with the Aircraft Carrier HMAS Melbourne during training operations in the South China Sea.
As a result of the collision the Frank E Evans was sliced in two, the bow section sank quickly, with 74 US sailors losing their lives. Lieut Buchanan was on duty on the flight deck of the Melbourne. He was acting as mirror control officer, a device used for assisting in operations in landing and launching fixed wing aircraft, when the collision occurred.
Lieut Buchanan assisted in the rigging of scrambling nets and he then went aboard the Evans to help rescue survivors. Lieutenant Buchanan was awarded a Naval Board commendation for Bravery following the Collision.
The citation read: “In the darkness it was difficult to avoid stumbling over debris on the decks and Lieut Buchanan cleared a pathway to enable survivors to make their way to the nets from the side of the Melbourne. He then went below decks and assisted US sailors to the upper deck of the ship. He later flew as a helicopter pilot in search and rescue operations”.
James Buchanan had three younger brothers, Donald, Kevin and Joseph, who all enlisted into the RAN and all served in Vietnam.
Frank Cashmore was born in England in 1942 and raised in Collie. Frank enlisted into the army in 1959 and after training was posted to RAINF. He served with the second battalion RAR during the Malaysian conflict and in 1963 was posted to SASR. In 1966 he served with in Borneo.
Frank Cashmore served two tours in Vietnam, 1968 and 1971. He was recommended for the Military Medal for bravery and mentioned in despatches. His recommendation for the MM was downgraded to MID due to an award quota system in operation at that time.
In 1999 the decision to downgrade the original recommendation was overturned and Sgt Cashmore was awarded the Medal for Gallantry, MG. The citations read: First MID, in 1968 as a Sergeant with the 2nd Special Air Service Squadron, Sgt Cashmore was patrol commander of an ambush party which inflicted a large number of casualties on the enemy
“Second MID, in 1971, again as a Sergeant with the second Special Air Service Squadron, Sgt Cashmore was patrol commander of a 10 man ambush team which inflicted a large number of casualties on the enemy. In addition, vital documents and maps were recovered from a dead enemy commander.”
By the time the last Australian combat personnel were withdrawn from Vietnam, the war had become the longest 20th century conflict in which Australians had participated. It has only recently been surpassed by Australia's long term commitment of combat forces to the war in Afghanistan.
The Vietnam War grew from a limited initial commitment of 30 military advisers in 1962 to include a battalion in 1965 and finally in 1966, a task force. At its peak around 8,500 Australian personnel were serving in Vietnam.
Some 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam war - 521 were killed and more than 3,000 were wounded.
Collie Boys in Vietnam - Remembered Forever at the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub B
