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First newsletter for 2012
In our first newsletter for 2012, we update you on the Vietnam War Oral History Project, introduce a campaign to give every veteran a face and every family a memory in the online archive, and update you on plans for two Vietnam War exhibitions in Auckland this year. We also highlight some of the recent features and public contributions to the website.
Your comments, feedback and contributions are welcome - email us on info@vietnamwar.govt.nz
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Oral History Project Update-
The four-year Vietnam War Oral History Project is nearing completion, with 140 interviews recorded around the country with veterans and their family members. Many of these interviews are now available through the Alexander Turnbull Library, subject to any access restrictions placed on them by interviewees.
Read more about the Alexander Turnbull Library Oral History Centre.
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Vietnam stories online-
Around 50 oral history interview extracts have been added to the Vietnam War website so far, offering a rare glimpse into the varied experiences of the men and women who served. From first hand accounts on helping civilians, coming under mortar fire, even conducting an air strike mission, these snippets give a flavour of the challenges, commitment and diversity of New Zealand’s Vietnam War history.
Listen to veterans talk about their experiences in Vietnam.
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Veterans' Roll revamp-
The Vietnam War nominal roll on the Vietnam website has been extended and updated, thanks to the work of Jack and Sandy Hayes. Based on the original Flinkenberg List, the extended roll is searchable by name, service number and unit and includes information on NZ visitors and civilians in the country between 1964 and 1972. It also contains information on honours and awards, and notes on New Zealand units in Vietnam.
Look through the Vietnam War nominal roll.
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Every veteran a face, every family a memory
The Vietnam War website now contains an individual, Facebook-style page for every New Zealander who served in or visited Vietnam during the war years. Launched last year on Vietnam Veterans’ Remembrance Day, the new look is part of an ongoing campaign to gather a photograph, memory or memento of every Kiwi in Vietnam during the war. Dubbed ‘Every veteran a face, every family a memory’, the campaign has so far put more than 400 faces to names in the online roll.
Look at some of the veteran pages on the Vietnam War website - Cpl Hawea 'Guv' Grey
, Sgt Graham Campbell
, Miss Avis Wilkes
, Sgt David Roberts.
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Home Fires Burning: Remembering New Zealand's Vietnam War-
Two exhibitions are planned to mark the end of the Vietnam War Oral History Project, and showcase material gathered over the project’s four years. They explore New Zealand’s Vietnam War history, and highlight the creative work of veterans during and after the war. An installation of Vietnam War art and photography will be at the Papakura Art Gallery, 14 April - 12 May. The Papakura and Districts Museum will host the main exhibition, 24 April-28 June.
Read more about the Home Fires Burning exhibition.
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Highlights from the website
New Zealand Army Training Team veteran Brian Lichtwark provides a commentary to some of the photographs from his Vietnam War album. These show him conducting demolition training with Vietnamese soldiers in Chi Lang towards the end of the war. Listen to Bryan Lichtwark.
In 1968 troops of New Zealand’s Victor 3 Company presented Anzac nurses of the 1st Australian Field Hospital with a captured North Vietnamese Army staff car, a freshly painted pink Citroën - complete with bullet holes in the rear window. The nursing sisters used the car to travel between hospital and beach. See captured NVA staff car.
Listen to audio recorded during an air strike mission against the North Vietnamese Army, circa 1971-1972. The operation involved South Vietnamese and US aircraft, and was co-ordinated by a New Zealand Forward Air Controller (FAC), Flight Lieutenant Graeme Goldsmith, who was attached to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron (20th TASS), US Air Force. Listen to the air strike audio.
Avis Wilkes was deployed on behalf of New Zealand Red Cross and accredited to the New Zealand Army as an Assistant Superintendent. She was based at Vung Tau 1st Australian Field Hospital from June – November 1971. Hear Avis talk about trips to the local beach.
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