Description
Title: The Fighting First – Combat Operations in Vietnam, 1968 – 69, the First Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment
Author: McAulay, Lex
Condition: Very Good Plus .
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 1991
ISBN: 0044422199
Cover: Hard Cover with Dust Jacket – 293 pages
Comments: The history of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment in Vietnam 1968 – 1969.
1RAR returned to Vietnam for a second tour, relieving 7RAR on 9 April 1968. It was based at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province, and was primarily involved in patrols, searches, reconnaissance and security operations.
On 12 May 1RAR was redeployed north of Saigon for Operation Toan Thang (21 April – 7 June). This operation aimed at blocking the communist withdrawal following the 1968 Tet Offensive. 1RAR patrolled the Bien Hoa–Bien Nuong border. On 11 May the battalion arrived at Fire Support Base Coral. The base was attacked twice, firstly on 13 May and again on 16 May. Both attacks were repulsed. On 6 June Coral was closed, and 1RAR returned to Nui Dat.
A follow-up operation, Toan-Thang II (13 June – 18 July 1968), saw the battalion move to the Bien Hoa–Long Khanh border. 1RAR participated from 13 June to 3 July.
The battalion continued to carry out patrolling operations in Phuoc Tuy province for the remainder of its second tour. It was replaced by 5RAR on 15 February 1969. 1RAR departed for Australia the following day, arriving in Sydney on 28 February.
Includes – Roll of honour, list of wounded, nominal roll, citations and awards
