The Top Ender Magazine August September 2023 Edition

50 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
END OF THE VIETNAM WAR
Spanning over a decade between 1962 –
1973 The Vietnam War is known as; the
longest twentieth century conflict. For
Australia, the war ended when combat
operations ceased in 1972 with limited
Australian personnel remaining in Vietnam
to guard the Australian Embassy in Saigon
until 1973. In 1975 the RAAF returned to
assist with the evacuation of refugees,
orphans, civilians, embassy staff and to
provide humanitarian aid.
Of the 60,000 people who served in Vietnam over
the course of the war; Corporal Reginald Hillier was
the only Territorian killed in action.
Born in NSW, 1939, ‘Reg’ moved to the Northern
Territory with his family in 1941 eventually learning
how to muster cattle, ride horses and track animals; a
skill he harnessed from working with Aboriginal
stockmen during his time as a station hand.
Reg enlisted in the Australian Army in 1961 and was
considered well suited for military life. Reg was
respected by all he dealt with and viewed as a brave
soldier who was prepared to do what was
necessary to fulfil his duty. Whilst on tour in Vietnam,
stories of being true to character unveiled, with his
efforts of tracking Viet Cong through thick jungle back
to their base and entering tunnels that were
suspected to house Viet Cong forces, multiple times.
Contact Department
of Veterans’ Affairs, NT
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
8:30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday
14 Winnellie Road, Winnellie 0820
On 29 November 1965, whilst leading his section,
B Company 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian
Regiment (RAR) in the Binh Tuy province, they
came across enemy force and encountered
contact. Amongst the action, Reg was killed. He
was 26 years of age.
Unfortunately, at the time of his death, his family
were unable to afford the repatriation payment to
bring his body home, so he was buried in the
Terendak Cemetery in Malaysia where he would
spend the next 50 years.
In 2015, the Australian Government agreed to
repatriate the remains of 35 Australian
servicemen and dependants from the Terendak
Military Cemetery in Malaysia, subject to the
individual wishes of the families concerned.
Reg, after 51 years being buried overseas, was
finally returned home to Australia in 2016 with a
memorial service held in Darwin on the 11 June
2016 and reinterred at Adelaide River War
Cemetery on the 12th of June, where he could
finally lay to rest in a place he loved so much,
finally home.
Thank you for your service - Lest we forget.
Written by Louise Ruhl
A/G Deputy Commissioner, NT
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Images: Reg Hillier in Vietnam and wearing the iconic
Australian Slouch Hat
COMING UP
To mark and acknowledge the 50th
anniversary of the end of Australia’s
involvement in the Vietnam War, the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be
commemorating the event with the
following:
National Commemorative Service – a
nationally televised service held at 10.30am
on Friday 18 August 2023 at the Australian
Vietnam Forces National Memorial on
Anzac Parade in Canberra. The
commemorative service will be broadcast
live across Australia by the ABC and
streamed online. Further information can
be found here and will be updated with
details in the near future - National
Commemorative Service | Department of
Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)
Commemorative Medallion and
Certificate –DVA will produce a
Commemorative Medallion and Certificate
of Commemoration to honour their
service and recognise their sacrifice. The
medallion and certificate will be made
available to every living veteran, widows or
veterans and other family member of
veterans of the Vietnam War. Further
information can be found here - Vietnam
War commemorative medallion and
certificate | Department of Veterans' Affairs
(dva.gov.au)
Vietnam Documentary ABC Series -
Broadcasted on the ABC prior to the
national commemorative service in August,
the three-part series chronicles the
Australian experience in Vietnam.
10 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated AUGUST/SEPTEMBER JUNE/JULY 2023 11