PM Transcripts

PRIME MINISTER'S TOUR OF SOUTH-EAST AS:
SPEECH BY THE PRIIE MINISTER, MR. HAROLD HOLT,
TO THE AUSTRALIAN 105 FIELD BATTERY AT BIEN HOA,
VIET NAM 23RD APRIL, 1966
Major, Gentlemen I have had an , pnortunity today to see our own
Australian servino men on the spot and I'am very lad to be
able to brin, to you not merely the good wishes o? your fellow
countrymen, ut the pride we feel in the reputation ou've
built for Australia by your service in this area of the world.
We regard this as a critical battle area. We regard
the issues for which you are fighting as amongst the most
important that any group of countries could fight for in this
day and generation. This is literally in our jud-ment one of the great
critical battle areas for the forces of freedom in the world
today, and Australia has madea valuable contribution.
Although our numbers have been small the assistance to morale,
the actual achievements in the operations of war in which you
have been engaged have been greatly appreciated by the people
and government of South Viet lam and certainly they have been
greatly valued by our Allies of the United States and of the
other Torces who are fighting in this area of the world.
I came here knowing that you had built up in the
infantry and the artillery a splendid reputation, but I can
assure you that the comments made to me by the Prime Minister,
by the Head of State, by the Head of the American forces, have
all confirmed the high reputation which we had gathered you had
established for yourselves here. You ha, e served with
distinction to yourselves and, of course for pride in your
own country. ; ie think of this area as one in which not only is a
' battle to be fought and win for the freedom of the people who
are wanting to live out their own lives in peace, but here is
an opportunity in this part of the world, through the civic
jobs that you have been carrying out, to establish that the
age-old enemies of mankind can be conquered. And this is perhaps
the most rewardin6 tart of your duties, other than those in the
actual military operations themselves.
I am going to s-ay a fe.' '.' ords to you on Anzac Day
so I ,. on't give you too much of a uash here this afternoon but
although I -' as a very poor gunner for a few months in the A. I. F.
myself, I think recognise a good regiment of artillery
when 1 see one and I conrratulate you. Maaor Tedder, and all
your men, on a first-class artillery oattery representing
Australia in South Viet Nam.
I know how much you are all lookin.' forward to getting
back to Australia. You y'il find a wonudrfuT welcome for you
on your return and until then good fortune in your operations
and a happy journey on your way home.