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Sending of 30 army advisers to South Vietnam (SVN)
The Minister for Defence (Reginald Townley) announces intention to send 30 army advisers to South Vietnam (SVN). -
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Australia's in the Vietnam War
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Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) arrive in South Vietnam.
The first members of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) arrive in South Vietnam. -
First Australian to die in Vietnam
Advisor, Sergeant William Hacking becomes the first Australian to die in Vietnam when his weapon accidentally discharges after being caught in vegetation. -
Vietnamese President murdered
Vietnam's President Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu are murdered in a military coup, with the foreknowledge of the US Government. -
New US President
Lyndon B. Johnson becomes US president after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and announces that the US will continue support of South Vietnam. By year's end 15,000 US advisors are serving in Vietnam, which received $500m in US aid that year. -
Increase of Australian advisers
The Minister for Defence (Hon. Shane Partridge) announces the AATTV will be increased to 83 advisers with expanded role. -
First Australian to die of enemy action
Warrant Officer Class 2, Kevin Conway becomes the first Australian to die as a result of enemy action in South Vietnam. -
National Service
The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Menzies) announces introduction of national service to increase the army’s strength from 22,750 to 37,500. Opposition to the war in Vietnam is not accepted as a reason for exemption. -
Additional advisors
Australian Government, responding to requests from the US President and South Vietnam Prime Minister for 200 additional advisers, offers to send ground troops to South Vietnam -
Dispatchment of an infantry battalion
The Prime Minister announces the dispatch of an infantry battalion to South Vietnam, with an armoured personnel carrier (APC) troop, a signals troop and a logistic support company. -
1st Battalion goes for service
Advance party from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), departs for South Vietnam, for service with the US 173rd Airborne Division. -
Recruit training
First national service intake begins recruit training. -
Increase of Australian forces
Australian Government approves increase of Australian forces to a battalion group, supported by an artillery, additional APCs, engineers, army helicopters, light aircraft and more logistic support. -
Poll results
A Morgan Gallup Poll finds 56% of those polled were in favour of continuing the war in Vietnam. -
Demonstrations in Sydney
A demonstration against the war in Sydney results in 65 arrests. -
The Victoria Cross.
WO2 Kevin "Dasher" Wheatley refuses to leave his mate, WO2 Bob Swanston, and is killed. His actions earned him Australia’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross. -
New Prime Minister
Harold Holt succeeds Menzies as Prime Minister. -
National Servicemen in Vietnam
Holt announces the Australian commitment in South Vietnam will be Increased to a 4350-man task force, and will include conscripts. The 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) will include two infantry battalions, a Special Air Service squadron, combat and support logistic units and eight RAAF Iroquois helicopters (9 SQN). The Task Force will be supported by 1 Australian Logistic Support Group (1 ALSG) to be established at Vung Tau. For the first time, national servicemen will be sent to South Vietnam -
First national servicemen to die from enemy action
Private Errol Noack becomes the first national serviceman and member of 1ATF to die from enemy action. -
Mission Acomplished
Concentration of 1ATF at Nui Dat is completed. -
The Battle Of Long Tan
D Company, 6 RAR, strength of 108 men, battles North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) forces estimated at between 1500 and 2500 until relieved by A Company, carried in by armoured personnel carriers of 3 Troop, 1 APC Squadron. The enemy leaves 245 bodies on the battlefield while 17 Australian infantrymen and one APC crewman are killed. The Company earns the US Presidential Citation. -
Poll results
Morgan Gallup Poll finds that 63% are in favour of conscription, but only 37% approve of sending National Servicemen to Vietnam. -
Second Victoria Cross
Major Peter Badcoe, AATTV, is killed in action leading two companies of Vietnamese regional forces. For his outstanding heroism in this and two previous actions, he will be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. -
Increase in servicemen
The Prime Minister announces an increase of 1700 to Australia’s commitment in South Vietnam, including a third infantry battalion and a tank squadron. -
Harold Holt missing
Prime Minister Harold Holt missing, presumed drowned off Portsea in Victoria. His body is never recovered. -
New Prime Minister
John Grey Gorton sworn in as Prime Minister. -
Tet Offensive
Communist forces in South Vietnam launch what becomes known as the Tet Offensive, with concentrated attacks against every major city and regional centre. Although Tet costs the Communists 45-50,000 troops, it sows serious doubt in the minds of the Australian and American people and leads to major changes in government policy towards the conflict in South Vietnam. -
No more increase of soldiers in Vietnam
Prime Minister Gorton indicates that Australia will not increase its commitment to Vietnam. -
Civilians killed
Massacre of civilians by US soldiers at My Lai village. At least 450 unarmed people are killed. -
Third Victoria Cross
Serving as a company commander with a Vietnamese mobile strike force, WO2 Ray Simpson displays outstanding heroism and disregard for personal safety in two firefights with enemy forces. His actions will make him the third member of the AATTV to be awarded the Victoria Cross. -
The Battle of Coral & Balmoral
The Battle for Fire Support Base (FSB) Coral begins with an enemy attack that overruns 1 RAR Mortar Platoon and captures one of 102 Field Battery’s gun pits. The base is cleared with the help of helicopter gunships. After a second attack on May 15, Australian casualties around Coral stand at 15 killed and 56 wounded while enemy losses are estimated to exceed 100 dead. -
Fourth Victoria Cross
WO2 Keith Payne, also a company commander with a mobile strike force, earns the AATTV’s fourth Victoria Cross. -
The Battle of Binh Bah
Two companies from 5 RAR, supported by APC and Tank troops and Australian helicopter gunships, engage in house-to-house fighting to clear the town of a strong force of NVA regulars. The fighting destroys much of the town and costs the NVA more than 100 dead for the loss of one Australian. -
Poll results
Morgan Gallup Poll finds 55% want Australians brought home from Vietnam. -
Ho Chi Minh dies
Ho Chi Minh dies in Hanoi, aged 79. -
Withdrawal of US troops
Following the withdrawal of 25,000 US troops from South Vietnam, and plans by the US Government to withdraw another 50,000, the Prime Minister (Sir John Gorton) advises any further substantial reductions will include Australian forces. -
First moratorium marches in Australian cities
Anti-Vietnam War protesters stage the first moratorium marches in Australian cities (70,000 in Melbourne, and about 120,000 throughout Australia). -
second moratorium march.
About 100,000 people take part in a second moratorium march. -
8 RAR returns to Australia
8 RAR returns to Australia at the end of its 12 month tour in South Vietnam. It is the first 1ATF unit not to be replaced. -
New Liberal leader and Prime Minister
Sir William McMahon replaces Gorton as Liberal leader and Prime Minister. -
Further cuts in Australian forces in South Vietnam
Prime Minister McMahon announces further cuts in Australian forces in South Vietnam, including withdrawal of the tank squadron, RAAF Canberra bomber squadron and some Caribou transport aircraft. -
Third and last moratorium marches
Third and last of the big anti-war rallies. About 110,000 demonstrate in State capitals -
Australian forces withdrawn and change in period of national service
The Prime Minister announces the bulk of Australian forces in South Vietnam are to be withdrawn, leaving only a modified training team. The period of national service is reduced from two years to 18 months. -
End of Australian combat operations in Phuoc Tuy province
4 RAR moves out of Nui Dat to Vung Tau, ending Australian combat operations in Phuoc Tuy province.7 -
Peace agreement
USA and North Vietnam sign a peace agreement. -
The last Australian logistic units leave
The last Australian logistic units leave Vung Tau and Australia’s commitment in South Vietnam returns to a training role with the 150-man Australian Assistance Group, Vietnam (AAAGV) and the AATTV. -
Australian Labor Party elected to Government.
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Conscription ends
Conscription ends, draft resisters are released from jail and pending prosecutions for draft resistance are dropped. -
Australia’s military commitment ends
Australia’s military commitment in South Vietnam ends, although controversy about the precise end date of the war continues. -
Peace with honour
Nixon announces agreement that has been reached for 'peace with honour -
Establishment of diplomatic relations with Hanoi
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam announces establishment of diplomatic relations with Hanoi, but retains recognition of South Vietnam's Government. -
Last US troops leave Vietnam.
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International Conference on Vietnam receives first official complaints of violations to the ceasefire.
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Ceasefire begins
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Last Australian troops to leave Vietnam
The Saigon Embassy Guard Platoon are the last Australian troops to leave Vietnam. After departure of the Embassy Guard, Transport Support Flight Butterworth continued their regular Saigon courier service. -
War has started again
South Vietnam's President Nguyen Van Thieu declares that war has begun again. -
Australian government aids Vietnam
Australian Government responds to urgent requests for transport assistance from Governments of South Vietnam and United States by hastily dispatching a contingent of seven RAAF Hercules and two Dakota aircraft to Vietnam on a humanitarian relief mission The RAAF is utilized in various roles during final weeks of the war, including movement of refugees, transport of Red Cross and UN supplies, and on 4th and 17th April, evacuation of Vietnamese war orphans from Saigon to Bangkok during 'Operation -
Phnom Penh, Cambodia falls to the Khmer Rouge
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Australia closes its embassy in Saigon, completing withdrawal from Vietnam on ANZAC Day.
The final task of Australia's military in the Vietnam War is conducted on ANZAC Day, when the RAAF participates in evacuation of the Australian Embassy and final withdrawal of personnel from Saigon -
Communist forces capture Saigon as the last Americans leave in scenes of panic and confusion.