Commander's Diaries

24 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support  2RAR/NZ in AO Drover with night ambush; 2 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango; 3 Tp remained in support 7RAR in AO Carmen---troop static during day in position where bogging occurred on 23 August; 4 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance. 

 

25 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support  2RAR/NZ in AO Drover with night ambush; 2 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango; 3 Tp remained nominally in support 7RAR in AO Carmen, remaining bogged for entire period; 4 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance. 

 

1700hrs:

1 Tp visually detected and recovered RPG 2 booster lying on ground.

 

26 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support  2RAR/NZ in AO Drover, reacting during day to support platoon in suspected bunker contact; 2 Tp returned to Nui Dat from supporting and protecting LCT in AO Mango; 3 Tp remained nominally in support 7RAR in AO Carmen, remaining bogged for entire period; 4 Tp replaced 2 Tp in AO Mango, assuming responsibility for support and protection of LCT. 

 

27 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp continued to support  2RAR/NZ in AO Drover, moved into bunker position following activity of 26 August; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp remained nominally in support 7RAR in AO Carmen, remaining bogged for entire period; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango. 

 

0915hrs:

3Tp [sic] with 1 Pl V Coy 2RAR/NZ moved into bunker system.  Remained in position through day and night due to mechanical breakdowns.

 

28 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp remained vicinity of bunkers located 27 August to replace unserviceable gearbox, moving to vicinity Route15 by late in night, continued support role for 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp recovered from bogging and released from 7RAR, returned to to Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT, moving NDP during day. 

 

29 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp remained in support of 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp deployed in support of Massey Force on Operation MASSEY HARRIS; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango. 

 

1315hrs:

APC with Massey Force detonated pressure mine.  Troopers Peck and Rossiter and Lance Corporal Page, who were dismounted, received ear blast and sand blast as a result.  Members remained on duty.  All from callsign 3.

 

30 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp remained in support of 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover with ni ambush; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp continued in support of  Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango. 

 

31 August 1970:

SHQ remained Nui Dat; 1 Tp deployed from supporting 2RAR/NZ in AO Drover, to support 7RAR in AO Carmen--to remain standby for reaction in support of Operation against D445 along axis of Route 328 north of Route 23; 2 Tp remained Nui Dat for rest and maintenance; 3 Tp continued in support of  Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Tp continued to support and protect LCT in AO Mango. 

 

1240hrs:

Massey Force located and destroyed garden and bunker.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 September 1970

SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained at the Horseshoe on reaction for task against D 445 on Route 326 north of Route 23; 2 Troop returned to Nui Dat for rest and maintainance; 3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing team in AO Mango

 

1200hrs

Massey force detected and destroyed gardens and paddy

 

2 September 1970

SHQ(-)remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained at the Horseshoe on reaction task against D445 on route 326 north of Route 23; 2 Troop rest and maintainance;3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; ad 4 Troop continued support and protection for the land clearing in AO Mango.

 

1000hrs

Massey force destroyed  illegal paddy field.

 

3 September 1970

SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat ; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained at the horseshoe on reaction task against D445 on route 326 north of Route 23; 2 Troop rest and maintenance, 3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO

Susan; and 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.

 

1500hrs

Massey force destroyed three illegal paddies.

 

4 September 1970

SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop supporting 7 RAR in AO Carmen remained at the Horseshoe on reaction task against D445 on Route 326 NORTH OF Route 23; 2 Troop rest and maintenance; 3 Troop continued support for MASSEY HARRIS on AO Susan; and 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.

 

5 September 1970

SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop continuing to support 7 RAR in AO Carmen, prepared to return to Horseshoe. En route vehicles collapsed bridge at YS 586637, isolating Troop with two vehicles either side of crossing; 2 Troop continued rest and maintenance, providing reaction force ; 3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSY HARRIS in AO Susan; and 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.

 

General 92A (dozer) with 3 Troop remained bogged during 4 September resulting in a delay to MASSEY force as dozing [ was] required to cross rivers to east. Vehicle carried out task [on] 5 Sep.

 

 

6 September 1970

SHQ(-) remains Nui Dat; 1 Troop continuing support of 7 RAR in AO Carmen, remained astride collapsed bridge. Bridge repaired during day, collapsed at 1700hrs as [ callsign] 1 Charlie attempted to cross. No vehicles succeeded in crossing. 2 Troop continued rest and maintenance, providing reaction force;3 Troop continued support for Operation MASSEY HARRIS in AO Susan; 4 Troop continued support and protection for the Land Clearing Team in AO Mango.

 

0830hrs

Reaction Troop ( 2 Troop) stood by to support 7 RAR contact. Troop remained Nui Dat

 

1040hrs

3 Troop moved from NDP to support 1 Troop B Sqn 3 Cav bunker contact.

 

1150hrs

While moving to 1 Tp B Sqn 3 Cav bunker contact, 3 troop located one bunker. Whilst investigating, Troop sighted movement and engaged one enemy with unknown results. Troop continued to 1 Troop B sqn 3 Cav bunker system with intention of returning to this bunker system during the afternoon.

 

1520hrs

3 Troop located and investigated extensive bunker system. Troop moved through the area to be joined later by infantry who further investigated. Infantry arrived at 1700hrs. Following demolition, force returned to NDP Beverley at 1730hrs.

 

2057hrs  

Ready reaction troop stood by to support 2 Platoon C Company 8 RAR contact. Stood  down at 2130hrs.

 

1755hrs

Infantry with 4 Troop located resting place for VC in vicinity [of] NDP Jill.

 

1846hrs

4 Troop sighted suspect enemy movement. Infantry engaged with small arms and mortars.