Australians at War 1901-2000
1971–1973
24 February 1971
Captain J J Smith, Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, awarded a Bar to his Military Cross. The AATTV was the most decorated unit in Australian military history.
31 March 1972
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- HMAS Sydney, the ‘Vung Tau ferry’, transporting military equipment and service personnel to Vietnam. [AWM negative P1539/20]
During March, HMAS Sydney, on the last of 23 voyages between Australia and Vietnam, departed Vung Tau with the last major elements of Australian ground forces.
[For the purposes of this timeline, the last day of the month has been chosen as an indicative date only].
5 December 1972
Australian Labor Party elected under Gough Whitlam. Conscription for military service ended.
20 December 1972
Australian Army Assistance Group(AAAG) departs Vietnam, on the last two RAAF C130 flights in support of Australian troops. This now leaves a small Australian Embassy Guard as the last of the Australian troops in Vietnam.
[For the purposes of this timeline, the first day of the month has been chosen as an indicative date only].
11 January 1973
Australia's Governor-General, Sir Paul Hasluck, proclaimed the cessation of hostilities in Vietnam by Australian forces.
The number of Australians who died in the Vietnam War (1962 - 1973): 520.
(From the names recorded on the national Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial).
30 June 1973
The last Australian troops in Vietnam (an Australian Embassy guard) departed from Saigon.
[For the purposes of this timeline, the last day of the month has been chosen as an indicative date only].
The number of Australians who died in the Vietnam War (1962 - 1973): 520.
(From the names recorded on the national Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial).
15 March 1973
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- Scene at the Vietnam Veterans’ Welcome Home March, Sydney, 3 October 1987. [From Welcome Home, compiled by J Thurgar and C Wright]
Dedication of the Memorial to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on Anzac Parade, Canberra, by His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The memorial sculpture was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) (on 31 March 1921).