Uploaded June 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Troops of the Pacific Islands Regiment have no need for artificial hazards to be written into their training programme. The natural jungle of Papua/ New Guinea and the fast-flowing, crocodile infested streams, provide adequate realism for the professional native soldiers to test their skills. In a typial patrol recently, troops were flown to the Nomad River in the Western District of Papua, to begin a 60 mile trek further west to Kiunga. Patrols are constantly moving through the dense jungles, bringing contact with tribes in some of the most inaccessible areas of the Territory. It would be two weeks before this patrol reached its destination - two weeks of slogging through rain forest, of rafting across swollen rivers, and pioneering a track through unihabited country. At remote Bebilubi Village, hunters of another era welcomed the rarely seen face of a white man. Through a police interpreter, Lieutenant Kevin McTaggart of Manly Brisbane, the patrol commander, receives information on local terrain and conditions from the village chief. As well as training the PIR soldier in his operational role, the patrols gather topographical data for mapping and establish friendly relations with the native tribes.
Troops of the Pacific Islands Regiment have no need for artificial hazards to be written into their training programme. The natural jungle of Papua/ New Guinea and the fast-flowing, crocodile infested streams, provide adequate realism for the professional native soldiers to test their skills. In a typial patrol recently, troops were flown to the Nomad River in the Western District of Papua, to begin a 60 mile trek further west to Kiunga. Patrols are constantly moving through the dense jungles, bringing contact with tribes in some of the most inaccessible areas of the Territory. It would be two weeks before this patrol reached its destination - two weeks of slogging through rain forest, of rafting across swollen rivers, and pioneering a track through unihabited country. At remote Bebilubi Village, hunters of another era welcomed the rarely seen face of a white man. Through a police interpreter, Lieutenant Kevin McTaggart of Manly Brisbane, the patrol commander, receives information on local terrain and conditions from the village chief. As well as training the PIR soldier in his operational role, the patrols gather topographical data for mapping and establish friendly relations with the native tribes.
![6 RAR [Long Tan] memorial service DPR/TV/435](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XXecQylrppc/mqdefault.jpg "6 RAR [Long Tan] memorial service DPR/TV/435
Australian soldiers in Vietnam this week took time out from the grim war to honour fallen comrades and men of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, were at the parade ground best for the ceremony. Eighteen of their mates had died in the engagement at Long Tan which accounted for 245 enemy dead and has been described as the most brilliant allied victory of the Vietnam war. Chaplain R. Thompson of Brisbane, read the first Lesson and led the soldiers as they recited the Lords Prayer. At the Memorial ceremony, hymn-singing was followed by the Commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. Townsend. A Delta Company platoon sergeant, Ron Buick, of Brisbane, Qld, read the Second Lesson at the service. They were not alone. A group of United States artillerymen who share the Australian camp and add firepower to its strength attended to mourn the loss of their allied comrades. The soldiers presented arms in honour of the fallen men. The last post was played to the silent parade, followed by the lowering of the regimental flag and National emblem to halfmast. The faces of the parading soldiers clearly indicated their loss. The men they ate with, shared tents with and fought beside were gone. The Vietnamese Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Van Thieu, told them their victory was The most brilliant to date in Vietnam. He continued, This outstanding victory was achieved not only because of your long combat experience and fine leadership, but it was also due to the valiant spirit of the armed forces of a valiant people who have always fought for world peace. In the face of this, communism can never win After his address he presented a plaque to the task force, which he handed to Brigadier Jackson. He then presented personal gifts to the Commanding Officer of 6 RAR Lieutenant Col. C. Townsend, of Brisbane, Qld, and Officer Commanding Delta Company, Major Harry Smith, of Hobart, and to 17 other members of Delta Company, Alpha Company, the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, the 1st Field Regiment and 161 Battery of the Royal New Zealand Artillery.")
