W3 Company - News

W3 Coy 40th Anniversary Reunion Christchurch

Friday 19 to Monday 22 November 2010         programme and other detail at this link
want to visit Dave Wright's grave..?

Piece of Trivia - webmaster [8 March 2010]

Have enough light and power sockets in your home..? 

You once shared one per tent.

And did anyone actually see a washing machine in Nui Dat..?

Noticas Doug [Flowers] Lewis mortars- webmaster [7 March 2010]

Doug [location Gisborne] is having treatment for cancer of the bowel liver and lung, on chemotherapy at present with an operation on the liver scheduled soon.  He is in good spirits and looking forward to the November 2010 W3 reunion. 

His family say he is enjoying calls from his mates [but not at night...], so you can either email him or email me for his phone number if you don't already have it.

Media Statement - War pensions and allowances to increase - Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Veterans’ Affairs
This was released by the Minister's Office 1 March 2010.

All War Pensions and Allowances available to veterans will increase from 1 April as part of the annual cost of living adjustment, Minister of Veterans’ Affairs Judith Collins said today.  The increase of 1.96 per cent equates to the increase in the cost of living for the year to December 2009, as measured by the Consumers Price Index (CPI).  It recognises that the increased cost of living for veterans is a concern.

“Veterans who rely on their pension and allowances to help fund healthcare and other necessities shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the increased cost of living,” Ms Collins said.

Examples of the increases are:
•A veteran on a 100 per cent War Disablement Pension will now receive a tax free payment of $191.86 per week.
•A Surviving Spouse’s Pension will increase to $141.52 per week, tax free.

The adjustment of War Pensions and Allowances is an annual occurrence.

Cancellation of Legacy2010 - Chris Mullane [February 2010]
Background. You will be aware that Legacy2010 [also advertised as Reunion 2010 and planned for Queens Birthday weekend 4-6 June 2010 in Wellington] was being developed as a group of reunions for various collectives of New Zealand veterans and those who have served from World War II to the present.  The purpose of holding these reunions at the same place and time was to publicly emphasize the value of service and acknowledge the contribution to New Zealand of those who have served and their families.  The concept was for each group to hold its own reunion in Wellington over Queens Birthday weekend 2010 and to also participate in various, centrally organized public activities involving all reunion groups.  Veteran associations and ex-service organizations had been briefed on the Legacy2010 project at various stages.
NZ Defence Force Medal for Service. One of the key ingredients of Legacy2010 was to be presentation of the proposed NZ Defence Force Medal for Service.  This is of particular interest to all whose service has not been formerly recognized.  It is also a Government initiative that deserves nationwide status and publicity.  The expectation of receiving the Medal has played a key role in the interest being shown in Legacy2010 by significant numbers of those who have served since World War II.  A very wide range of engagements and activities have taken place in the 65 years since the end of WWII and, in recognizing the importance of military service to New Zealand, it is essential to ensure that former, currently-serving and future service personnel are treated fairly and equitably.  We appreciate that the matter is complicated, and because there will not be another opportunity it is important to get things right the first time around.  All of this calls for the greatest care to be taken and the government is in the process of considering the options forwarded last year by the Medallic Recognition Joint Working Group, which were compiled after the consultation process was completed.
Cancellation of the Legacy2010 Event. We have recently received official confirmation that the Medal for Service will not be available in time for presentation during Queens Birthday weekend 2010.  Therefore, the Legacy2010 event has been cancelled and those who have already registered to attend will be refunded their Registration Fees.  When more information is available regarding the Medal for Service, an alternative event will need to be considered at which to launch the Medal and enhance public understanding and appreciation of military service to New Zealand.

Yours faithfully, Chris Mullane ONZM, MBE, Chairman Legacy2010

40-years ago:  the Timeline historical series for March 1970 - webmaster [1 March 2010]
40-years ago today W3 Coy continued operations from Horseshoe Hill, but mainly worked with the ARVN sub-units who arrived for operational experience.  The ARVN training period finished with a combined operation [Op RAVEN] from 25 to 30 March 1970.  3Pl was detached back to 6RAR/NZ control on 1 until 5 March 1970 - read the timeline article for March 1970 at this link.

comments, stories and corrections are all welcome - make an effort and send them here

Feedback on the Timeline series - Peter Anderson [slightly edited and abridged - Ed]
I think the “Timeline” and “40-Years Ago” is brilliant.  I am constantly amazed at the amount of material relating to Whisky 3 that still exists after 40 years.  I know that Graeme Briscoe kept a diary during his time in Viet Nam, it was a practice that he got into pre army and kept it up.  Goodness knows where the diary is now, it would be a great day to day historical document.  Graeme Robertson 1 platoon, took a phenomenal number of photos and anyone could have had copies when we were in Singapore, I didn’t, others may have.  I wonder where Robbie is now and what happened to his photos and slides.  He was a sig in 1 platoon.  Also Rusty Naughton, also a sig took a lot of photos.

I only wish I had kept a diary, hind sight syndrome.  I believe John Hoani of 2 Platoon kept a diary, I remember talking to him about it in SVN and again at the Parade 98, I can’t remember what happened to his diary.  I say this because I am at present transcribing my father-in-law’s diaries from WW2.  They go from a week before he left Papakura until December 27 1944.  He was a POW and kept it through his Italian captivity then Germany and Polish coal mining days. I am at present transcribing his letters to his brother and his brothers letters to him that he was able to keep.

The W3 website is far and away the best NZ Viet Nam web site, it is a great pity that the other companies did not have someone to facilitate and expedite the information that is out there and going to be lost as their members pass on.  It is a great pity that more of our members (W3) are not more forthcoming with comments, opinions, photos, information, comments, diary accounts etc.  I sometimes think before I reply or send info that there are other voices out there that can contribute, it is not blowhard or BS stuff and maybe they don’t think that those long ago days are worth remembering or that they don’t have memories worth passing on to future generations.  Myself, I would hate to be regarded as someone who always wants to be in print, but it does gall me when there are no replies or contributions from others.  I see in the latest Army News that one of the things that the army is now aware of is that instead of keeping diaries or writing letters modern troopies resort to cell phones, blogs, tweets, emails etc and there is no paper trail to be kept for future generations.  Information lost is never ever regained easily.

But back to our website, the site is excellent and with the “Timeline” and “40-Years Ago” is going to be of significant military and historical value in the right now and very near future and believe me in another twenty years there will be people saying 'I wish I knew more of what Dad did in Viet Nam and what was the Kiwi role in SVN and just what was Whisky Three'.  It is great that Bob Upton is in charge of an archive for W3, all members should be co-opted to contribute because all have stories and other stuff.  I hope this isn’t boring but once again, the website is a credit and it is always great to click on “Updates” and there it is, more information, invaluable.  Regards Andy

see this blog article featuring the W3 website as an illustration of Andy's historical points

Updates on the Reunion preparation and website improvements - webmaster [6 February 2010]

Reunion:  It is clear now that the mass email message about the reunion sent earlier attracted the attention of various ISP and individual user anti-virus spam filters by mistaking the large number of email addresses as a spam attack.  This means the email would have ended up in the email spam folder rather than the Inbox.  Point to veterans - regularly check your spam email folder.  Point to webmaster - find a solution ASAP..!

Ross & Jill Dunlea have volunteered to provide seafood for the reunion, Bob Newson has a clash of dates with a family wedding and apologizes in advance, Ian Caldwell offered his services to the organising committee, Craig Cocker intends to be at the reunion, Danny Campbell replied to the email with a recipe for a 5-minute microwave chocolate cake [happy to forward recipe on request - my wife thought it pretty good], and Ben Hona intends to be at the reunion and advised a change in locstat.

The reunion has been advertised in Australia through the NZ Sub-branch newsletter, and will be on the EVSA website notice board ASAP.  The RNZRSA newspaper will also advertise the reunion but appear to only do so 6-months beforehand.

Cassandra Brooker has offered the W3 Archive stuff from her Dad's [Gary Brooker] Vietnam stash - Gary wrote a  number of stories about W3 activities so his notes may be among the papers.

Website improvement:  Check out the nominal roll pages for individual photographs beside names.  I'm short a few so would appreciate it greatly if anyone can help with a reasonable head & shoulders view of any missing people taken in SVN.  The nominal roll starts here or under People on the top menu.  Also: can someone identify the appointments  in Coy HQ of the people identified as Coy HQ..?

Duke Henry has suggested a further addition to the website for family stories post-Vietnam - more details later [need to figure out the process first..]

40-years ago:  the Timeline historical series for February 1970 - webmaster [30 January 2010]
40-years ago today W3 Coy continued operations to the west of Route 2, enjoying further success in a number of contacts with NVA or VC.  Mid month they were withdrawn for their first 48-hour recreational leave in Vung Tau and then replaced A Coy 6RAR/NZ as the garrison at the Horseshoe SE of NUI DAT and on the outskirts of DAT DO - read the timeline article for February 1970 at this link.

comments, stories and corrections are all welcome - make an effort and send them here

40-years ago:  30 Jan 70 - 1122H at YS438862 2Pl had two patrols about 200 metres away from the main ambush area.  The lead scout of Cpl Goodman's patrol contacted 2x VC moving through thick jungle, after a brief engagement at 30 metres distance both VC were WIA [BT] but fled the scene.  Cpl Goodman's patrol tracked the VC by following the blood trail [BT] while the second patrol under Sgt Heyward moved to block the VC withdrawal. 

40-years ago:  27 Jan 70 - 1931H [after dark] at YS451865 1Pl initiated their ambush after trip flares close to the killing area were ignited.  No VC were sighted but the area was engaged with claymore, M60 and other small arms fire.  Artillery fire was also directed into the area.  Two M67 HE grenades were thrown into an area to one side of the track under ambush, at least one bounced off vegetation and landed back close to the section in contact.  Consequently four 1Pl soldiers were WIA with minor fragmentation wounds, they remained on duty overnight but were casevac'd the next day.  The four WIA were Teller, Davie, Caldwell RA, Naughton.  Given the lack of reaction from the VC party it could be assumed that animals may have tripped the flares.

Cpl John Barkle [the ambush commander] offered this useful piece of hindsight in his contact after-action report:  "Grenade should, if it has to be thrown be used with extreme caution, especially at night."

The four 1Pl WIA [the first in W3 Coy to be injured on duty] immediately qualified for the Vietnam Star which was presented to servicemen who were wounded or killed on duty, captured, or who had otherwise served in SVN for at least 180-days.

The platoon took no chances on this occasion: the contact after-action report noted the M60 fired 500 rounds, M16 x100, SLR x100, claymores x6 and M61 [sic] HE grenade x2.

The timeline article for January 1970 is at this link

send corrections here

40-years ago:  the Timeline historical series for January 1970 - webmaster [1 January 2010]
40-years ago today W3 Coy were enjoying Christmas Day dinner and New Year celebrations having finished Op BLUEWATER, before doing unit sports, throwing a new model hand grenade and preparing for deployment on Op NAPIER - read the timeline article for January 1970 at this link.

Comments, stories and corrections are all welcome - make an effort and send them here

link to more news from before January 2010