Australian Trackers & War Dogs MemorialPrint Page 
The monument commemorates the trackers and war dogs who have served Australia since World War Two and is dedicated in memory of Bobby Woods. Originally erected in memory of the dogs who served in Vietnam, it was re-dedicated in October 2008 to all dogs that have worked in the service of the nation and lists the names of dogs that served. An additional plaque was added to the memorial in 2009.
Eleven black Labrador tracker dogs were used by the Australian Task Force in the Vietnam War. It was Australian Army policy that the dogs not be brought home at the end of their service. The dogs were the core of Combat Tracker Teams that were used from 1967 until the last combat troops left in late 1971.
Trained from the age of about 10 months at the Tracking Wing of the Ingleburn Infantry Centre in New South Wales, two dogs were assigned to each of the Australian battalions based at the Task Force base at Nui Dat, in Phuoc Tuy Province.
The fate of Australia`s war dogs, once their service came to an end in Vietnam, caused consternation in Army circles and anguish to their handlers. After much discussion about the issue, and with the matter having been raised in Parliament, the Army decided in 1968 that at the end of their working lives the dogs would be kept by the battalion as a reserve, then given as pets to European or Australian families resident in Saigon. Only as a last resort, if no home could be found, would they be destroyed. In the event, none of the 11 dogs who served in Vietnam was put down, with homes being found for the ten who survived.
Location
| Address: | 1677 Mandurah Road, Veterans Totally & Partially Disabled Property, Baldivus, 6171 |
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| State: | WA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -32.375988 Long: 115.779336 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Monument |
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| Monument Theme: | Conflict |
| Sub-Theme: | Multiple |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Saturday 25th October, 2008 |
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Australian Trackers and War Dogs Memorial
Dedicated in memory of Bobby Woods
Plaque :
In memory of the trackers and those military working dogs that served the nation with distinction in armed conflicts since World War II
We also honour the Service Dog Handlers that serve Australia in peace
Man`s best friend throughout the ages.
25 October 2008
Plaque :
In honour of the dogs that have served Australia overseas with the Royal Australian Regiment and did not come home.
Without their help many more lives would have been lost. Mans best friend throughout the ages.
Down jungle track through shot and shell
Ears pricked high, keen sense of smell
Our tracker dogs with care and poise
Alert to ambush, foreign noise
Never whimper, whine or bark
Their service honoured with this plaque
No medals pinned to hairy chest
They stayed behind, they were the best
Presented by the Australian Defence Force Trackers & War Dogs Assoication
16 August 2009
Royal Australian Regiment War Dogs with Overseas Service
1955 - 1973
Malaya
1955 - 1969
Lawder George Stamford Pedro Tex Prince Jewel Rajah Brock Mogg Hemming Karl Rush Rocket Ulfo Search Spear Jet Tarzan Span Bramble Darkie Handy Thrush Rolf Rufus Sooty Wince Sandy Breda Kimber Paddy Gunnar Simba Rank Toddy Goldie
Borneo
1963 - 1965
Paddy Gunnar Simba Rank Toddy Goldie
South Vietnam
1967 - 1971
Cassius Justin Caesar Marcus Tiber Janus Julian Milo Trajan Juno Marcian
Singapore
1969 - 1973
Rank Tago Hadrian Timothy
ANZAC
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old ;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
