AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.

[1938 Observer]

Film and Sound at the Australian War Memorial

Uploaded by AustWarMemorial on Aug 3, 2010

The Film Collection currently comprises over 8000 items, including almost 3,000,000 feet of original cine film and over 1000 hours of original video.

The scope of the collection is wide, covering many aspects of Australian involvement in war and armed conflict, and spanning a period that commences with the Boer War and continues to the present day. The purpose of the film and sound collection is to document and preserve Australian war history in moving image and sound.

The Memorial's Film Collection is managed by the Film Section, a curatorial area within the Memorial's National Collections Branch. The Section is responsible for the acquisition, preservation and provision of access to the Memorial's film, video and sound recordings.

[1938 Observer]

Re: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.

Over the Front - original aircraft footage (b&w, silent)

Uploaded by AustWarMemorial on Dec 9, 2008

It features original footage of aircraft from the First World War being prepared for take off and in flight. This was used as reference material for the video produced by Peter Jackson for the film, light and sound show for the Over the Front exhibit at the Australian War Memorial.

This video is played in between the audio visual shows of Over the Front: the Great War in the air.

For further information see:
http://www.awm.gov.au/visit/visit-mu...erthefront.asp

[1938 Observer]

Re: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.

3 RAR action in Vietnam (DPR/TV/853 & 855)

Uploaded by AustWarMemorial on May 14, 2008

AWM accession number: F04204

Australian troops inflicted heavy casualties on an estimated force of two North Vietnamese battalions in the final week of May 1968 when the enemy tried to overrun Australian Fire Support Base "Balmoral" in Bien Hoa Province, north of Saigon. This footage, shot after the, the second attack on "Balmoral" (27/28 May 1968), shows infantry of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment who also suffered heavy casualties. Evacuation helicopters were hovering over the battle scene soon after the action took place, and the wounded Australian troops, were flown out. The action began when a shower of rockets and mortar shells crashed into the wooded area. Although the Australians had little time to take cover, they suffered less casualties than they had on the previous attack, on 25/26 May. A large number of enemy weapons were captured in the engagement - many left behind as the North Vietnamese retreated shortly before dawn. Among the weapons were automatic rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades, torpedoes and mortars. Seven enemy soldiers were captured after the battle. All had been wounded in the fighting, some of them seriously. They were given medical treatment. Then they, too were medically evacuated by air from the area.
We would be pleased to hear from anyone who can identify any soldiers appearing in this footage.

Details:
Cinematographer: Richard Crothers
Made at Fire Support Base Balmoral in Vietnam, 31 May 1968
6 min 15 secs, 16 mm, black and white, silent original film.

[1938 Observer]

Re: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.

The Battle of Binh Ba

Uploaded by AustWarMemorial on Mar 13, 2008

This mini doco was made by Memorial staffer Ray McJannett for display in the Australian War Memorial's 'Conflicts 1945 to today' galleries. The footage was shot by Christopher Bellis (b. 1948) working as a photographer for the Australian Army Directorate of Public Relations (DPR). Bellis had been a press photographer in Adelaide before joining the DPR and working in Vietnam between May 1969 and May 1970. Bellis had an eye for a newsworthy subject. Some of his early photographs showing graphic images of the aftermath of battle and the reactions of Vietnamese villagers were considered highly controversial by DPR. In this footage there is a great sense of proximity to the action as Bellis followed alongside the soldiers in actual combat with the enemy forces.

The Battle of Binh Ba was fought in early June 1969 in central Phuoc Tuy Province in a village located 5 kilometres north of the Australian headquarters at Nui Dat. Early in the morning of 6 June an Australian tank and an armoured vehicle had been fired on by a rocket-propelled grenade from a house as they passed through the village of Binh Ba. The village was occupied by a strong combined force of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army regulars.

An Australian force of infantry and armour moved in after awaiting approval from the local district chief to enter the village. Extensive efforts were made to clear the village of civilians. Fierce close-quarter fighting ensued, with tanks providing suport with their formidable firepower. The enemy soldiers kept undercover, firing from doorways and windows, then jumping into underground bunkers the villagers had built to protect themselves from attack. By the end of the second day most of the enemy were either dead or had withdrawn. Casualities on the enemy side were heavy - over 100 dead - while one Australian was killed. The town was severely damaged during the battle. Immediately after the battle, Australians were sent to distribute food and aid and to begin work on rebuilding. Regrettably, some civilians were killed during the fighting.

The Battle of Binh Ba was one of the major engagements fought by Australians in Vietnam, and one of the few big battles to be fought in an urban setting - something the Australians generally tried to avoid.

F08332 (Sourced from Memorial archival films F04343 and F04342)

[miolchu]

Re: AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.

I had a few friends over there. One of them told me that the Australians were pretty tough and was glad that they were on the same side.