As is the Battalion which carries the traditions of both 5RAR and 7RAR into the 21st century, that being the 5th 7th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry. Which after using the Colours of both 5RAR and 7RAR for 30 years; the Battalion was Awarded their own Colours at a Parade on the Battalions Birthday on the 3rd December 2003. {Go to 5/7 RAR Association web site, web address on the Home Page}

I was introduced to my new Platoon, 3 Platoon of 'A' Company and was placed in Seven Section. The Company Commander (OC) was Major Thomson a pom and every inch a soldier. Company Sergeant Major (CSM) was Warrant Officer Class Two Jimmy Husband, already a first Tour Veteran with the AATTV. Now I have to say that I did not hit it off with the CSM at first and after a run in which I was a bit pissed off about, at the time. However I became a fan of his in Vietnam and have had the utmost respect for him as a soldier and as a man ever since.

The Platoon leadership of Three Platoon was a very high quality. We were lucky to have 3 Soldiers who had Vietnam experience having served with 7RAR on its first tour in 1967-68. They were Platoon Sergeant Henry King and Corporals Pepi Tura and Abe Paulett. They were working with the Platoon Commander, a National Serviceman, Lt McNee or "Macca", in a way that would ensure we would come home alive. The discipline in Three Platoon was less obvious than Kapooka, but it instilled in you a sense of responsibility.

When based at 7RAR's Unit at Holsworthy there was a lot of focus on shooting and hours were spent on the range. Also to toughen us up for working in the heat and humidity in Vietnam the platoon was trucked out to the range a few kilometers away. Then after the Range Shoot of a few hours, marched and jogged back in the midday heat. This was while wearing our basic webbing, full water bottles carrying our personal weapons.

All in all, a very valuable preparation to our toughness in working in the heat and humidity of Vietnam. Not so much time was spent on drilling, apart from the morning parade and when the Battalion was getting ready for the formal march out of Holsworthy prior to leaving for Vietnam. The main focus was on how to work as a Platoon. To be able to move in the bush and Harbour up for meals and or night security.

During this early stage the platoon was using the 'circle' type of harbour, each section 7, 8 & 9 of the Platoon taking up a part of the 'circle'. Section seven from 12 to 4 o'clock. Section eight from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock. Section nine 8 o'clock to 12 o'clock. In the first instance this was practiced on the local football fields so that each man could see the other members of the platoon and how it all worked.

On deciding to 'Harbour' the boss would do a quick recce of the area with his scouts. Post a sentry then send the other scout back to get the rest of the platoon. They would move up to the boss who would show the section commanders what position he wanted them on the ground. Harbour drill was changed to a more secure shape during the year and was used right through the tour in Vietnam.

This was from the Circle to a 'TRIANGLE'. This is a much more secure formation and with the machine guns on each 'point' it gives the unit a very strong defense. Each section would form one of the three sides of the triangle. A M60 Machine Gun at each point. This shape gave very good all round protection both in a night harbour or ambushing a track. Each gun could lay down fire support to its own section and be able to swing around to support the section on the 'next angle' of the triangle. The Boss would be in the middle of the formation with the platoon sig and the Platoon Sgt.

For a further explanation on Harbouring up; go to Page 21 'Ambush in Vietnam':  7RAR spent a large part of the year 1969 engaged in 'Exercises' in different parts of Australia to bring the Battalion to a fighting pitch for its tour of Vietnam. These Exercises are listed below.

Also practiced on open ground was the 'mine drill' and 'harbour drill'. By having the ability to see the whole Platoon react to the drill, you knew they were in position in the jungle, when you could not see anyone. Mine drill was important due to the number of Killed In Action (KIA's) and casualties that the Australian Force in Vietnam was suffering at that time. Casualties that A Company were to suffer during its tour.

See the Page 'Mine Incident': Page 20:

The main drill would be sprung at unexpected times during other Platoon training by the yelled words, "MINE! MINES! MINES! Then every one would FREEZE and get out their bayonets. Someone would be made the wounded soldier. Each member of the platoon would prod around them and to the next Digger. The area would be marked with white tape or pressure pack shaving cream. The 'injured' soldier would be treated and carried out of the area. At a given time the drill was stopped.

Also practiced on open ground was the 'mine drill' and 'harbour drill'. By having the ability to see the whole Platoon react to the drill, you knew they were in position in the jungle, when you could not see anyone. The mine drill was important due to the number of Killed In Action (KIA's) and casualties that the Australian Force in Vietnam was suffering at that time. Casualties that A Company were to suffer during its tour. See the Page 'Mine Incident': Page 20:

SUPPORT WEAPONS COURSE

While at Holsworthy I was sent on a Support Weapons Course. On this course I was taught the capabilities of each weapon in detail and then fired those of weapons. These were the 84mm rocket launcher, the Carl Gustoff.  {See Images of Carl Gustoff Below}. The M16 automatic rifle and the M60 Machine Gun. These weapons from the USA arsenal , M79 Grenade Launcher and the M72. A shoulder fired anti bunker rocket. The other skill acquired was to be able to fire Rifles Grenades. A rifle grenade is an M26 grenade fired from the muzzle of the SLR. It was the result of a metal spigot that fitted over the SLR.

The Spigot had a pipe section that went over the muzzel and a metal cage with 3 'fingers', which held the grenade. When fired from the rifle the genade would spin out of the 'fingers' and the strike lever would fly up allowing the grenade to explode. That was as long as the Reifleman remembered to pull the grenade pin before firing the spigot. Another critical point was to take the 'ball' 7.62 bullet out of the rifle and use the correct balistight cartridge to fire the spigot.

This was used in action. Read this story on the page "NIGHT MOVE" Page 19:

The round used was a blank round, or cartridge with no "bullet" part. This was loaded in to the breech after the magazine was taken off the weapon and a live round ejected. The skill required was to judge the area you wanted to hit with the grenade. Either on the ground or for it to explode as a sky burst. It would then shower red hot steel fragments on the enemy. I took part in two other courses while with the Battalion. One was a Signalers Course. This was to operate the Radios of the day, used by each platoon in the field. The 25 set. I don't remember were or when this course took place.

I do remember learning tricks of the trade in putting up cable to extend the range of the radio. It also meant I learned the "Phonetic Alphabet". That is were the letters of a word, for example 'OINK' are expressed as seperate words. {The alphabet is Listed Below) So oink, would be Oscar, India, November, Kilo. The key thing to remember with numbers is that zero, is said ZERO, and not 'O', as used by most civilians. Its 30 years later and I still use ZERO in numbers and find myself correcting people who want to say 'O'. But ZERO is a Number, it is NOT a letter.

It was also important to learn the 24 hour clock. So not to confuse 'times', the Army does not use for example 8pm as that can be mixed up with 8am. {The 24 hour clock hours is displayed Below: See IMAGES & INFORMATION} The other habit from this course was to learn to say "Say Again" when you wanted some information repeated, either face to face or via the radio.

Another habit was not to say the word, "REPEAT". As repeat is an artillery command. This means you want the heavy artillery supporting your mission to fire again. I don't think I have said 'repeat' in every day language since my army training. The course was put to good use in country when I became the Platoon Sig. This occurred for a few months. I had to re-sort my big pack to be able to carry the 25 set. This was done with a US 'A' Frame, together with a pack from an ARVN Soldier I bought for a few dollars with the incountry money system, Military Payment Script. (MPC). It was good to know what was going on via the radio, but your work continued long after other people could relax.

So some nights I was huddled under a hutchie with a torch writing down the codes coming in from HQ. In groups of 3, I would write down the letters and numbers and they using a code book change the code to regular English that made sense to the Boss. The night I handed over the radio we had a contact. This story is on the page called "NIGHT MOVE" Page 19:

EXERCISES IN AUSTRALIA

TRAINING FOR WAR

Exercise WILD FURY was held from 11 to 15 August in Holsworthy range, to practice combined work with Choppers and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs). The weather matched the name with continuing rain all week. Exercise KING KONG was held from 24 to 31st August at Tianjara, down on the south coast of New South Wales (NSW) it was held in cooperation with the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam for its own rotation to Vietnam. This exercise was held in some dreadful rain not unlike some of the down pour heaping on us in Vietnam. I was very green as such given the 'newby' jobs like being put out on 'listening posts ahead of our position.

It was light scrubby scrub, down hill from the Company, I was taken out from one of the Machine Gun positions, very important that once in Viet Nam that Diggers manning the Gun were aware that someone was posted out in front. For some reason I settled down on a large rock, in a position I would not have put myself in once incountry. Yet I was thinking later that perhaps I was in the shade and my greens gave me some camouflage?

I was startled to to see see a soldier walking up the hill some yards to my right and I kept still as he past out of my line of sight. I then slipped off the rock and very quietly followed him up the slope, as he 'high stepped', to avoid making any noise. I thought it looked very comical at the time. He had a smile on his face as he expected to catch 'A' Company completely by surprise. I got as close as I could and said "halt". As we only had blank ammo he knew I could not 'shoot him', so took off down the slope like a rabbit. I was pissed off so I fired off a couple of rounds down the hill. Then I went in to the position, calling out I was on the way.

The OC of the Company came down to ask me what I had done. I was most indignant that I had cought the 'snipper' dead to rights and he had taken off, which was most unfair. He smiled and said 'Well Done'. I did in fact man a couple of listening posts in Viet Nam and the situation did not repeat its self!  

A Major exercise was the stint at CANUNGRA the Australian Army Jungle Training Center; story next page, "Platoon Set Up"Page 11. The biggest exercise was the time at Shoalwater Bay Queensland and the story is also on the next page, "Platoon Set Up".

IMAGES AND INFORMATION

PHONETIC ALPHABET

ALPHA-BRAVO-DELTA-ECHO-FOXTROT-GOLF-HOTEL-IDEA-JULIET-KILO-LEAMA-

MIKE-NOVEMBER-OSCAR-PAPA-QUBEC-SEARA-TANGO-UNIFORM-VICTOR-

WHISKY-X-RAY-YANKEE-ZULU

24 HOUR CLOCK:-

2400hrs-0100-0200-0300-0400-0500-0600hrs-0700-0800-0900-1000-1200hrs-1300-1400 -1500-1600hrs- 1700-1800-1900-2000-2100-2200-2300-2400HRS- Each Time frame add "hrs"

THE  COLOURS  OF  7 BATTALION  ROYAL  AUSTRALIAN  REGIMENT

QUEENS COLOUR ON THE LEFT THE REGIMENTAL COLOUR ON THE RIGHT