Vietnam Veterans Rob Edgell and Jim Dewar had prepared us for their talk with a short military biography.

However we were unprepared for their racy and entertaining tag-team presentation, which kept us on our toes. Their time sped past: we could have listened to many more of their yarns.

Before joining the Army Rob Edgell was doing an apprenticeship in the Furniture Trade.  He joined the Army July 20 1969 and was posted to NSW to start his training.

Training was for nearly 12 months and on completion he was posted to Vietnam as an Infantry soldier.  He served with the 7^th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment in 1970 as a Forward Scout.  He served 12 months in Vietnam and on return to Australia finished his apprenticeship.  He went back to night school to improve my education, then joined the Education Department and became a trade teacher.

Jim Dewar was doing an apprenticeship in Hairdressing and on completion within days was conscripted into the Army for 2 years. His training was for 12 months then posted to Vietnam as an Infantry soldier.  He went to 7 RAR but on an earlier tour 67-68. as a Forward scout and later as a Radio Operator.  On return to Australia Jim went back to his job as a hairdresser, but this did not go well.

Despite their training in sub-tropical Queensland, they found the heat and humidity in Vietnam oppressive, and the task of carrying a load of over 50 kg with water, food, weapons and ammunition was really demanding.  As nineteen-year-olds, they soon bonded with their fellow troops, and this helped keep morale high. As forward scouts, they were always on the lookout for booby traps, which they described as simple or sophisticated, but always threatening injury. 

They were constantly wet, either from rain or sweat, and sleeping was always challenging.

Rob described the wildlife: snakes, scorpions, spiders and leeches, which were always present: underfoot, on their bodies or in their beds. 

They described some of the differences between troops from different countries who fought in Vietnam: the Americans were noisy and had huge firepower, whereas the Aussies were stealthy and unobtrusive in the jungle. Rob described how he used secateurs to cut through undergrowth, as it was quieter than using a machete. They were always wary of finding non-combatants within the war zone, and were careful to avoid harming farmers and their families. 

Jim’s description of R&R in Hong Kong went down well, but we were saddened to hear how poorly they were treated when they returned home and were discharged: both by the general public and the RSL. 

Their discharge from the army was at the time of anti-war demonstrations and peace marches. 

We hope this episode of non-respect has finally ended: Rob and Jim’s talks to the public certainly help restore our respect for our armed forces.