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When: 1965.
Uploaded: 19 Sep 2017 by Lyn (Collins) Hansch.
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Service number: 37003 Rank: Private (Temporary Corporal) Unit: 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Service: Australian Army Conflict: Vietnam, 1962-1975 Date of death: 21 September 1965 Place of death: South Vietnam Cause of death: Killed in action Cemetery or memorial details: Terendak Military Cemetery, Malaysia Source: AWM153 Roll of Honour cards, Vietnam
Joined up on the 3 June 1965
Veteran Search Result Name: SMITH, Francis John Service No: Service: Date Of Birth: 14/08/1940 Date of Death: 21/09/1965 Official Commemoration: MALAYSIA - Terendak Cemetery Commemoration Position: C of England Plot - Row A - Grave 12 Rank: (Temporary) Corporal Place Of Birth: Ouyen VIC AUSTRALIA Corps: Royal Australian Infantry Corps National Service: No 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment 03/06/1965 21/09/1965
n early 1965, the Australian Government agreed to dispatch an infantry battalion to South Vietnam. The leading troops of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), landed on 3 June in a chartered Qantas aircraft. This was the first use of Qantas charters to move troops into (and out of) South Vietnam, and 'skippy flights', as they came to be known, would continue at regular intervals almost until the end of Australia's commitment to the war. Another significant event occurred on 8 June, when the transport ship (converted aircraft carrier) HMAS Sydney, with destroyer escort HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Duchess, arrived at Vung Tau on the first of what became regular naval logistical support operations.