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Visit of South Vietnamese President
The President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem vists Australia and PM Robert Menzies reaffirms support. -
Australia Begins their Involvement in the Vietnam War
The Minister for Defence, Reginald Townley, announces intention to send 30 army advisers to South Vietnam. -
Period: to
Australai's Involvement in the Vietnam War
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Australia's First Death
Advisor, Sergeant William Hacking becomes the first Australian to die in Vietnam when he accidentally discharges his weapon after becoming lost in vegetation -
Assasination of the South Vietnamese President
Ngo Dinh Diem, the first President of South Vietnam, and his brother are assassinated in a successful CIA back government overthrow led by General Duong Van Minh and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) -
Increase in Army Training Advisers
The Federal Minister for Defence Paul Hasluck announces that the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam will be increased to 83 advisors with an expanded role. -
First Australian Battle Casualty
Warrant Office Class Two Ken Coway, an Army advisor is killed in action, the first Australian battle casualty of the war. -
Begining of Conscription
Selective conscription is introduced for 20 year old males by ballot under the National Service Act (1964). -
First Battalion Leaves for Vietnam
The 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment leaves for Vietnam aboard the HMAS Sydney -
Battle of Gong Toi
The First Royal Australian Regiment engage the Vietcong at the Battle of Gang Toi. Two servicemen, Private Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillsonare posted missing believed killed during the fighting. Their bodies are recovered more than 40 years later and are returned to Australia for burial. -
Warrant Officer Kevin Wheatley Dies
Warrant Officer Class Two Kevin Wheatley dies while defending a wounded comrade. He is posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry. -
"All the way with LBJ"
PM Harold Holt vists the United States to discuss the war with US President Lyndon B. Johnson. Holt confirms the Australian government's full support for the United States' Vietnam policy and in a speech on June 30th adopts the slogan "All the way with LBJ". -
Battle of Long Tan
Australians claim a decisive victory in the Battle of Long Tan, fought by the D Company of the 6th Battalion, RAR. The company earns a US Presidential Unit Citation. -
LBJ Visits Australia
US President LBJ visits Australia. This causes fierce protests in the streets of Melbourne and Sydney. -
Battle of Suoi Chau Pha
7th Company RAR is involved in heavy fighting during the Battle of Suoi Chau Pha. Aussie casualties are heavy with 5 killed, one dead from wounds and 19 wounded. Only 5 VietCong were confirmed dead, however drag marks and extensive blood trails indicated that they had suffered heavily, with perhap another 33 killed or wounded in the contact, while a further 200 casualties were estimated from artillery and mortar fire, as well as a number of airstrikes. -
John Gurton is Content
Australian PM John Gurton announces that Australia will not increase its commitment to Vietnam. -
Battle of Coral-Balmoral
The Battle of Coral-Balmoral takes place and is the bloodiest Australian engagement in the war. 25 Aussies are killed and nearly 100 wounded during 26 days of fighting. The operation ends on the 6th of June 1968. -
John Zarb
John Zarb is the first person to be found guilty of not complying with his call up notice during the Vietnam War. He is convicted in Melbourne and sentenced to two years jail. He loses his appeal to the full High Court on 25th November 1968. He is released on compassionate grounds in August 1969 after serving 10 months and 7 days in Pentridge Prison. -
Moratorium Marches
The first of the mortatorium demonstrations take place as 200,000 march in Australian cities to call for an end to Australian involvement in the war, The largest turn out was in Melbourne where 70,000 people marched down Bourke Street, Melbourne. Four months later on the 18th of September 100, 000 march in Australian cities in moratorium's. Over 300 people are arrested on the marches. -
Battle of Long Khanh
Battle of Long Khanh takes place The 3rd Battalion RAR with centurion tanks in support attack a heavily fortified base camp during Operation Overlord. Although the Aussies capture the bunker system, and a second system located to the south, the bulk of communists successfully withdraw, -
Battle of Nui Le
The Battle of Nui Le takes place in Phuoc Tuy Province. A tactically inconclusive encounter between troops from the 4th Battalion, RAR and the NVA 33rd Regiment north of Nui Dat, it proved to be the last major battle fought by the Australian forces in the war. Five Aussies are killed and 30 are wounded. -
Australia's Last Battalion Leaves Nui Dat
The withdrawal of troops and all air units continued throughout 1971 with the last battalion leaving Nui Dat, while a group of advisers belonging to the team remained in Vietnam the following year. They move to Vung Tau, ending Australian combat operations in Phuoc Tuy province. -
Australia Begins to Finalise The Withdrawel from Vietnam
The Whitlam Labor Government is elected. Australia begins to finalise the withdrawal of its troops from Vietnam. -
Withdrawal from Vietnam
Communists launch a major offensive in the North of South Vietnam. Australia closes its embassy in Saigon, completing withdrawal from Vietnam on ANZAC Day. The Australian Government helps the South Vietnam Government and the US Government in a humanitarian relief mission to evacuate and aid Vietnamese war orphans. Communists capture Saigon on the 30th of April.
