Australians at War 1901-2000
1961–1966
16 January 1962
Death of J F Hurley, first official AIF photographer, appointed during the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. The photographs taken by Hurley and his colleague, G H Wilkins, of this battle have become synonymous with the appalling conditions faced by Australian soldiers on the Western Front during World War I.
August 1962
A group of 30 advisors of the Australian Army Training Team (AATTV) was deployed to Vietnam during August 1962.
1963-1966
1963–1966
Australian military units in Borneo helped defend the borders of Malaysia against incursions from Indonesia during the Confrontation conflict.
It was [for Australia] an important victory gained in a short time at a low price. Would that all Australia's military involvements had such happy consequences
[Dr Jeffrey Grey, official historian, Indonesian Confrontation conflict].
The number of Australians who died in the Indonesian Confrontation (1963–1966): 15.
From the names recorded on the national Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial.
November 1964
Introduction of selective conscription by ballot for military service.
13 November 1965
Warrant Officer K A Wheatley, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV), awarded posthumously the first Victoria Cross won in Vietnam.
18 August 1966
- Enlarge
- The Piper’s Lament, dedication of the battlefield memorial, the Long Tan Cross, 18 August 1969, to those who died in the Battle of Long Tan, 18 August 1966. [AWM negative BEL/69/0556/VN]
Battle of Long Tan, Vietnam.
I saw a rain and sweat drenched man in green, laden like a pack mule, aged 21 going on 50, cutting his way through jungle by day to find and attack the enemy, then laying all night in paddy fields or on trails in ambush.
[Brigadier Colin Kahn DSO at Martin Place Cenotaph on 3 October 1987, speaking of the experience of Australian soldiers during the Vietnam War].
