Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War

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In August 1962, Australia's initial military commitment to South Vietnam consisted of a team of 30 military advisers, known as the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV). Following the withdrawal of Australian combat forces by December 1971 and the eventual recall of the AATTV in December 1972, more than 50,000 Australian personnel had served in Vietnam. Of these, 2398 were wounded and 521 killed.

The National Archives holds a wide range of records which deal with Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. Issues covered include the initial decision to send troops overseas, their eventual recall, the escalation in the numbers, conscription, objectors to the war etc.

Listed below are record series from select Australian government departments and agencies concerning the Vietnam War. Unless otherwise indicated records listed are held at the National Archives in Canberra.

Records of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War

Department of Defence (CA 46)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1948–78 A1945
Files relating to medical matters during the Vietnam conflict 1964–72 A9647
Army office operations branch files on Vietnam operations (held by the Australian War Memorial, Canberra) 1966–71 AWM109
Correspondence files 1967–73 A1946
Commanders' war diaries of Special Air Service (SAS) Squadrons on service in South Vietnam 1966–71 A6931
Correspondence files – RAAF HQ, Saigon 1965–72 A2049
Miscellaneous Army Headquarters/Army Office record sets 1973 A6923
History record sets of the Army Historical/Research Staff 1973–ongoing A6932

Headquarters, Australian Force Vietnam (CA 5969)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Standard operating procedures (SOP) for various units (held in Sydney) 1964–72 C2635
HQ Australian Force Vietnam (Saigon) records (held by the Australian War Memorial) 1965–72 AWM98
Vietnam soldier's personnel files (held in Melbourne) 1965–72 B2371
Standing orders/instructions for various units in Vietnam (held in Sydney) 1966–72 C2636
After-action reports (held in Sydney) 1966–72 C2637

Headquarters, RAAF contingent (Vung Tau) (CA 1399)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Nominal rolls, briefings, details of operations and activity reports of RAAF squadrons in Vietnam 1962–71 A10779
Summaries of operational activities in Vietnam – statistical bulletins 1967–71 A10780

Department of the Navy, Navy Office (CA 38)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Naval historical collection (held by the Australian War Memorial) 1872–1974 AWM124
Reports of proceedings, HMA ships and establishments (held by the Australian War Memorial) 1939–ongoing AWM78

Department of External Affairs (CA 18)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Bound volumes of despatches from overseas posts 1940–ongoing A4231
Correspondence files 1948–89 A1838
Correspondence files – Australian Embassy, Saigon 1952–ongoing A4531

Cabinet Office (CA 3)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Cabinet files 'C' single number series 1958–67 A4940
Cabinet submissions and associated decisions 1963–66 A5827
Cabinet submissions and associated decisions 1966 A5828
Cabinet submissions and associated decisions 1966–67 A5842
Folders of Cabinet submissions, first Gorton Ministry 1968 A5867
Folders of Cabinet submissions, second Gorton Ministry 1968–69 A5868
Third Gorton Ministry – folders of Cabinet submissions 1969–71 A5869
Cabinet files, 'CO' single number series 1968–72 A5882

Attorney-General's Department (CA 5)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Correspondence files 1901–ongoing A432
Personal [surveillance] files – Australian Security Intelligence Organisation 1949–ongoing A6119
Subject [surveillance] files – Australian Security Intelligence Organisation files 1949–ongoing A6122

Personal papers of Harold Holt (CP 27)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Subject files maintained by the Rt Hon. HE Holt 1952–67 M2606
Folders of papers maintained by Holt while Prime Minister 1966–67 M2684
Personal papers 1967 AA1985/247
Correspondence files of Mr Harold Holt 1966–67 A7854

Personal Papers of Sir John Grey Gorton (CP 136)
Title or description of record Date range Series number
Folders maintained by the Rt Hon. John Gorton as Prime Minister and Minister for Defence 1968–71 M3787

Other selected records held in Canberra

The following table lists samples of individual items relating to issues concerning the Vietnam War.

Collection references
Title or description of record Date range Series, item number
Australian Army Training Team, Vietnam 1962–66 A4531, 215/4/1 Part 3
Treatment of prisoners and release of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong 1965–71 A4531, 201/2/7/11 part 1
South Vietnam – political – general 1971–81 A1838, TS3014/2/1 part 15A

Further information about Australia and the Vietnam War

Vietnam War service

If you served with Australian forces in the Vietnam War you can obtain access to your service record by contacting the Department of Defence.

An online nominal roll lists all who served with the Australian forces in the Vietnam War.

The fall of Saigon