5th Battalion, Royal Australian RegimentPrint Page

The plaque commemorates those of the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) who served two tours of duty in the Vietnam War.

The plaque location is indicated by a red poppy in the second image. 

The Battalion arrived in Vietnam throughout April and May 1966. It formed half of the infantry component of the 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) with 6RAR. 1ATF replaced 1RAR in Vietnam and was stationed at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province. In March 1967 5RAR was given the task of establishing and defending a base on the forward rim of an extinct volcano known as the Horseshoe. The purpose of this base was to deny the VC access to supplies from Phuoc Tuy. 5RAR was relieved by 7RAR in late April, departing for Australia the following month, where it returned to Holsworthy Barracks.

The battalion returned to Vietnam in February 1969, relieving 1RAR. Throughout its second tour 5RAR was mainly involved with pacification operations in Phuoc Tuy. One of the major operations 5RAR carried out became known as the Battle of Binh Ba (6-7 June 1969). The battalion began a search-and-clear of the village of Binh Ba, following an attack on a Centurion tank. 5RAR was relieved by 7RAR on 16 February 1970 and returned to Australia later that month.

Australia's military involvement in the Vietnam War began with the arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962.  Australia's participation in the war was formally declared at an end when the Governor-General issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973.

However, the end-date of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War has officially been amended to 29 April 1975 to reflect Australia’s further involvement in the war during the fall of Saigon in 1975.  The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Australian War Memorial, in Canberra now recognise this new date.

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