Vietnam War: Battle of Balmoral – Australia assists recovery of Vietnamese remains – 2024
As you know, I’ve written several articles on the 1968 Battles of Coral and Balmoral – principally analyzing the Vietnamese accounts – see free-to-read: https://www.scribd.com/document/374639182/Vietnam-War-The-Battles-of-Coral-S%E1%BB%9F-H%E1%BB%99i-and-Balmoral-%C4%90%E1%BB%93ng-Tram-May-1968-The-Vietnamese-Communist-Accounts-including-three-sketch-maps – 56 pages with maps etc.
I ‘ve noticed a recent item on a local NSW website – https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/illawarra-breakfast/carl-robinson/103689052 that recounts recent Australian-assisted efforts assisting the recover of bodies/remains of the Vietnamese casualties from the Battle of Balmoral in Binh Duong Province ie: “Australia Helps Vietnam Find Fallen Soldiers from the Battle of Balmoral”. The short article notes: “After 15 years of search efforts, a team including Australian veterans have helped authorities to identify the resting place, in Binh Duong province, of a large number of fallen Vietnamese soldiers from the Battle Of Balmoral.(Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam).” The article shows an Australian Army major (? RAEME) assisting Vietnamese searchers at a site in Binh Duong.
Regards, Ernie Chamberlain
What about LUKE JOHNSTONE a Vets son who was very instrumental in putting this all together.
He lives there talks fluent Viet and i beleive also help find a invester for the project.
He was on site every day cordinating with the Vietnamese.
Further to my short item – with photograph, of 13 April on “Vietnam War: Battle of Balmoral – Australia Assists with the Recovery of Vietnamese Remains 2024” (including a photograph of a “recovery operation”), I can advise that:
A successful search has been undertaken based on information provided by the veterans and and families of 3RAR members. Those specifically involved were: Luke Johnston (son of David Johnson – 3RAR Vietnam veteran; John Bryant – 3 RAR Vietnam veteran). Our Defence Staff in the Australian Embassy in Hanoi has assisted with contact and liaison with the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence. The media photograph in the earlier posted item included WO2 Duncan Reid – the Defence Admin Assistant at the Australian Embassy. A memorial service is reportedly being planned for either 23 or 26 April. Regards, Ernie Chamberlain.
I’ve found some further information on the Vietnamese recovery of NVA remains following the Battle of Balmoral IN Maty 1968 – ie additional to the material I posted to the Frontline site on 13 April.
As a comment to the remarks “William Thomas Laidlaw”,
I’ve now found some recent advice on the Australian military assisting the Vietnamese with the recovery of NVA remains from the May 1968 Battle of Balmoral – and have posted it to the FRONTLINE website (of Ray Payne).
The Australian Army person in the on-site photograph of the “search” is not a “WO2” as I had suggested – but WO2 Duncan Reid, the Defence Admin Assistant at the Australian Embassy in Hanoi. The successful search has been undertaken based on information provided by vets and family of 3RAR members. Specifically Luke Johnston (son of David Johnston, 3RAR vet) and John Bryant (3RAR vet). Our Defence Section in Hanoi was involved in facilitating contact between Luke Johnston and John Bryant and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence. The search and recovery is now reportedly ‘wrapping up’, and a memorial service is to be conducted either next Tuesday 23 April or Friday 26 April. Regards, Ernie Chamberlain