Fallen Sailors & Soldiers Memorial
Fremantle, Western Australia

In January 1962, the first units of the Royal Australian Navy became involved in the Vietnam conflict. They were the HMAS Vampire and the HMAS QUICKMATCH who visited Saigon to mark Australia Day. The subsidiary task of the ships was to report on the feasibility of HMAS SYDNEY making the passage up the river to Saigon's port. In January 1963 HMAS QUIBERON and HMAS QUEENBOROUGH were despatched from Hong Kong to the port of Nha Trang and thence to Saigon accompanied by escort vessels with aircraft providing cover. The Vietnamese Naval vessel Ky-Hoa accidentally holes HMAS QUIBERON.

The role of the Australian Army in Vietnam increased so did the direct involvement of the Australian Navy. The converted aircraft carrier HMAS SYDNEY transported Army personnel and equipment to and from Vietnam from May 1965 until November 1972. This ship became a familiar sight and temporary home for some 16,000 Australian military personnel as they deployed to Vietnam. SYDNEY became affectionately known as the 'Yung Tau Ferry'. During her many voyages SYDNEY was escorted and protected by destroyer, frigates and other units of the Royal Australian Navy. In her 25 round trips SYDNEY transported 5,733 tons of cargo, 2375 vehicles and 14 aircraft, as well as the troops and steamed 845,000 nautical miles.

The merchant ships JEPARIT and BOONAROO also provided logistic support to the Australian forces in Vietnam. These two National Line ships were seconded to the Royal Australian Navy and temporarily commissioned as HMAS JEPARIT and HMAS BOONAROO during their tour of duty.

In May 1968 Clearance Diving Team 1 spent a short period in Vietnam working with the United States Navy divers. Clearance Diving Team 3 was deployed from February 1967 until May 1971 for clearing rivers and shipping channels of mines and booby traps laid by the Viet Cong. The team also carried out salvage work and trawler searches to protect and secure South Vietnamese ports fro sabotage. Over this period there were 7573 ship searches, 153 major diving tasks, 73 explosive devices removed from ships, 952 tons of heavy ordinance destroyed, 42,000 items of unsafe ammunition destroyed, 68 special operations including canal barricades, search and destroy missions in villages plus reconnaissance and ambush missions from fire zones. Casualties were one clearance diver killed and one clearance diver wounded on active service.

From March 1967, the first of the 'gunline' destroyers HMAS HOBART followed by PERTH, BRISBANE and VENDETTA joined the United States Seventh Fleet and remained on station of the Vietnamese coast until October 1971. During the course of these operations the destroyers fired approximately 102,000 rounds of ammunition in aggregate and steamed 897,484 nautical miles. North Vietnamese field batteries fired upon HOBART and PERTH on numerous occasions. In October 1967 PERTH received a hit resulting in 4 sailors wounded and damage to the ship. In June 1968 HOBART was hit and damaged by missiles fired from friendly aircraft. Casualties wee two sailors killed and seen wounded.

From October 1967 until June 1971, the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Air Arm contributed a helicopter flight that flew in hazardous operations including combat assaults, naval gunfire, fire support, medical evacuation and cargo lift. In April 1968 the Fleet Air Arm also provided eight helicopter pilots for 9 Squadron RAAF at Vung Tau and operated in support of the Australian Task Force. The Helicopter Flight casualties were five killed and six wounded. Members of the Royal Australian Navy also served at the Headquarters Australian Forces Vietnam in Saigon. There was also a detachment of Australian medical officers. These were Royal Australian Navy doctors who served with the Royal Australian Field Hospitals well as United States Army and Navy hospitals. While serving in this capacity they were also involved in the Medical Civil Action Program. These doctors provided medical support to the local civilian population.

During the 10 years that the Royal Australian Navy was involved in the war, a total of eight officers and sailors were killed and another 46 wounded. The dedication and professionalism shown by members of the Royal Australian Navy earned the Service the respect of our Allies and continued the traditions established by Australian sailors in other theatres of war.
 

Lieutenant Commander
Patrick John Vickers RAN

Lieutenant
Anthony Austin Casadio RAN

Petty Officer Airman Aircrewman
O'Brien Cedric Ignatious Phillips

Acting Sub Lieutenant
Antony Jeffrey Huelin RAN

Leading Airman Aircrewman
Noel Ervin Shipp

-HMAS HOBART-
Chief Electrician Weapons Radio
Raymond Henry Hunt

Ordinary Seaman Quartermaster Gunner
Raymond John Butterworth
 
-CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM 3-
Able Seaman Clearance Diver
Bogdan Kazimierz Wojcik

Lest We Forget
 

22 February 1968
Q51542

21 August 1968
Q2361

21 August 1968
R56859

3 January 1969
O2771

31 May 1969
R59629  


17 June 1968
R54257

17 June 1968
R66558
 

21 June 1970
R62713

Unveiled by
His Excellency Lt Gen John Sanderson AC
Governor of Western Australia
1st July 2001
 

Korea  1950 - 1953
Malaya   1948 - 1960
Borneo   1962 - 1966
Vietnam  1962 - 1972

Lest We Forget
 

1914 - 1918

1939 - 1945

This plaque was dedicated to the memory of the light cruiser HMAS Sydney which sank with the loss of her entire ships company on the 19th November 1941. The crew of 645 included 91 Western Australians.

HMAS Sydney sank following her interception and engagement of the German raider HSK Kormoran off the coast of Western Australia during WWII.

The plaque also honours the memory of the women who gathered here on Monument Hill to watch and wait in vain for her return to Fremantle.

Lest We Forget

Unveiled by
The Premier of WA
The Hon Dr GI Gallop MLA
24th February 2002