The Vietnam War

From 1962 to 1973, more than 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War as part of an allied force led by the United States.

From 1962 to 1973, more than 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War. They were part of an allied force led by the United States. Australians fought alongside South Vietnamese Government troops against the Vietcong, a communist-led insurgent force supported by the North Vietnamese Army.

In 1964, the National Service Act introduced a scheme of selective conscription in Australia, designed to create an army of 40,000 full-time soldiers. Many of them were sent on active service to the war in Vietnam.

521 Australians died during the Vietnam War and around 3000 were wounded.

Curriculum areas

Year 10 History
Year 11 History
Year 12 History

Questions

What factors led to Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War?
Why did the Australian Government introduce selective conscription in 1964?
How did the introduction of conscription shape attitudes to the Vietnam War in Australia?

Records

Record

Letter to Prime Minister John Gorton from Lyndon B Johnson on the supply of sugar to United States during the Vietnam war.

Australia to supply sugar to free world forces in South Vietnam – Letter from President Lyndon B. Johnson to Prime Minister John Gorton

Letter to Prime Minister John Gorton from Lyndon B Johnson, President of the USA, on the supply of sugar to free world forces during the Vietnam war.

Record

National Service ballot balls [marbles], circa 1965.

National service ballot balls – the conscription lottery

This is a photograph of the ballot balls (marbles) that were used by the Australian Government as part of its National Service Scheme between 1965 and 1972.

Record

Australian troops returned from Vietnam in 'Welcome Home' parade, Brisbane.

Australian troops marching in ‘welcome home’ parade in Brisbane after returning from Vietnam

This photograph shows a 'welcome home' parade for Australian soldiers who had returned from service in South Vietnam.

Record

Personal Particulars form for Vietnam conscript Patrick O'Hara.

Vietnam national service conscript – personal particulars form for Patrick O'Hara

The 'personal particulars' form of Patrick Harrington O'Hara, a national serviceman (conscript) who served in the Australian Regular Army from 1967 to 1969.

Record

American President Lyndon B Johnson on official visit to Australia

This photograph shows United States President Lyndon Baines Johnson among a crowd of people during an official visit to Australia in October 1966.

Record

Protest against the Vietnam War outside Old Parliament House

A demonstration against the Vietnam War outside (old) Parliament House in Canberra, during the visit to Australia of United States Vice President Spiro Agnew.

Record

Secret memorandum for Cabinet on compulsory military service in 1964.

Cabinet proposing a national service scheme – secret memorandum

This secret memorandum for Cabinet proposes an accelerated compulsory national service scheme to build up the strength of the Australian Regular Army.

Record