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The Army Corps of
Australia and New Zealand




While the first Anzac Day Commemorative Services were not held until the 25th of April
1916, in fact the link between the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps dates back
to the turn of the century when both New Zealand and Australians fought side by side
in the South African War (known as the Boer War).

This laid the foundation for the ANZAC connection that was to be cemented so strongly
more than a decade later at Gallipoli.

Lt. General Sir William Birdwood, who won legendary fame as Commander of the
Australian and New Zealand forces which landed at Gallipoli in 1915 originated the
name "Anzac." This is Lt. General Birdwoods account of how the name came about.
"When I took over the command of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in
Egypt in 1914 I was asked to select a Telegraphic code address for them, and I adopted
the word "Anzac." Later on when we effected our landing at Gallipoli in April 1915, I
was asked by General headquarters to suggest a name for the beach where we had
made good our first precarious footing, and then asked that this might be recorded as
"Anzac Cove"


The Anzac tradition continues in that on the 31st of July 1962 saw the
commitment of Australian Armed Services along with the New Zealanders fight on
Vietnamese soil. 53,400 service people - Army - Navy and Air Force saw service and 543
New Zealanders and Australians gave their lives in this conflict. Any service that had
Kiwis attached to them were commonly known as Anzac Battalions or Anzac Batteries.

11th January 1973 saw all the Australians and New Zealanders leave Vietnam and
so ended the the longest War that Australian and New Zealand has ever been involved in.



ROLL OF HONOUR

502
AUSTRALIAN SERVICES PERSONNEL WHO GAVE THEIR ALL IN
THE VIETNAM WAR
were Killed in Action

Seven Australian civilians died whilst serving in Vietnam
LEST WE FORGET



ROLL OF HONOUR

41
NEW ZEALAND PERSONNEL WHO GAVE THEIR ALL IN THE
VIETNAM WAR
were Killed in Action

RNZA .... Royal New Zealand Artillery
RNZAF .... Royal New Zealand Air Force
RNZAMC .... Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps
RNZE .... Royal New Zealand Engineers
RNZIR .... Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
RNZSAS .... Royal New Zealand Special Air Services



"A TALE AS TOLD TO ME"
by: Bobbie Stewart

Before arriving home in New Zealand, all troops who had been to Vietnam were ordered
to change into civvies so that they would not be recognized as having been overseas in
the service of their country. And we say they were treated like heroes returning??
I don't think so, this to me was abhorrent as Im sure it was to those gallant men.

And in Australia they delayed the flights so that their men did not arrive home until the
early hours of the morning. God, how could they possibly be treated like this??

These brave troops answered the call and must have gone through a hell, the likes of
which those of us who were at home, couldn't begin to understand. It's time we made
these facts known and educated our children, about these valiant and brave men who
were treated as though they had committed crimes,
and not as the heroes they deserved to be called ....







"Poems Of Rememberance"


VIETNAM

It's so easy to forget and say I don't give a damn
Let's not remember "That War" called Vietnam
But those who remember are those who were there
They fought and died in the hope that we'd care
They fought for their country; they fought for their pride
It's a pity more people don't know why they died
For the one's who returned it's just never the same
For the scars war inflicts will always remain
All wars spell destruction,heartache and tears
Vietnam the "Modern" war confirmed all our fears
Let's remember the Anzacs, but lets remember them all
Just remember where we'd be if they hadn't answered the call

Rest in Peace Peter




MUM
This is for the nurses of Vietnam

always a smile to encourage
never sour or glum
I don't know what her name was
we just called her mum

somewhere between thirty and forty
how ancient that seemed then
for we were all of twenty
boys, just dressed as men

she was a nursing corps sister
caring for wounded young boys
but her light jokes in the morning
made her one of our joys

how could she get a bloke laughing
when he knew of the pain yet to come
I don't know, but that was the magic
of the angel we called mum

where is she now I wonder
still caring perhaps for all ranks
I hope someday she'll read this
to know her boys say
"THANKS"




THE OP ENGINEER
(an underground man)

The leading scout raised his arm in the village of Long Phuoc
He'd found another tunnel, but who'd go down to look?
The corporal passed the word back, it went back far behind
To let his platoon commander know of his recent find

Then along came this soldier, with mud from head to toe
"Wheres the tunnel entrance?" was all he wanted to know
When they showed the solider, he quickly looked around
And before you could stop him, he'd gone under ground

Now he'd been seaching on his gut, all that day I bet
Look out for booby traps that good o' Charlie sets
Then he found the wire stretched out taut and thing
But he deloused that booby trap, with a safety pin

Then he found the weapons leaning on the wall
There was no disputing he'd found a real big haul
When he finally surfaced, wearing a big grin
He proudly showed the Diggers what he'd found within

Now he'd like to sit down, and roll himself a smoke
But he's been called up forward, by another bloke
So when you see that hat badge, that's like a bursting shell
Remember that this fellow has crawled half way through hell

And if he's in a bar mate, you buy that bloke a beer
Because Sir, your drinking with an Aussie Engineer




THE LONELY FORWARD SCOUT

Each man has his duty
Yes, each man has his job
And each one takes the chance
That he will stand before his God
But ask of any soldier
What he thinks of the scout
The one that leads the others
The lonely forward scout.

He's the first one into danger
The first to face the shots
He sees and hears what other miss
And reads right on the spot
For none may walk beside him
While he's up front, the scout
He's known as both the eyes and ears
The lonely forward scout

But man is man and life goes round
And returns to form a ring
The whispering of the leaves may mean
That death is on the wing
The rifles boom, the rockets crash
Many lives hand deep in doubt
His chest now but a crimson cloak
The lonely forward scout

And now there lies in our sunburnt land
Deep down beneath the earth
A boy who died a soldiers death
For all this it was worth
We were hit from every side it seemed
Just able to get out
But there up front, alone, he died
The lonely forward scout

written by:
S.A Evans WIA 19 July 1969
Eulogy for Ray Kermode
Killed in Action
Long Kahn Province, 19th July 1969





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