Historic Military Interviews

Air Vice Marshall Alan Reed would fly RF-4c Phantom Bombers during the Vietnam war. He would fly more than 100 missions over North Vietnam doing arial reconnaissance. The RF-4C Phantom was designed by McDonnell Douglas in response to a US Air Force request for a photo-reconnaissance aircraft with two crew members, supersonic speed, and a high altitude capability. The prototype first flew in May 19...

The Vietnam War was a brutal conflict that saw many soldiers from Australia lose their lives. The Australian government also sent two war artists to Vietnam to capture the horrors of war in their artwork. One of these war artists was Lt Bruce Fletcher, who was seriously wounded upon arrival in Vietnam by a round that went off when a soldier carrying a number of enemy rifles dropped one of them whi...

During the Vietnam War a group of soldiers from the 2nd Royal Australian Regiment (2nd RAR) had the day before returned from a patrol. While resting they were asked to go outside the wire to see a helicopter power display. While watching three soldiers stopped to pose for a photo. Thirty seconds later a wayward missile from a helicopter would fall amongst them them killing three in total and sever...

Today, we have the honour of talking to 102-year-old 2nd World War veteran Jim Brooks about his memories. We talk to him about his time he spent during the 2nd World War in Darwin, Papua New Guinea, and Borneo. The Borneo campaign was considered the final major Australian operations of the 2nd world war in the Pacific. Beginning on 1 May 1945 and continuing through to August, the campaign comprise...

Today, we have the honour of talking to 102-year-old 2nd World War veteran Jim Brooks about his WW2 memories. We talk to him about his time he spent during the 2nd World War in Darwin, Papua New Guinea, and Borneo. The Borneo campaign was considered the final major Australian operations of the 2nd world war in the Pacific. Beginning on 1 May 1945 and continuing through to August, the campaign comp...

The Vietnam War would have a significant impact on many young Australian lives. In this audio, Russell Jackson shares his experiences based in the 17 Construction Engineers in Nui Dat in Vietnam. The Vietnam War would have a significant impact on his life. Pulled from civilian life for two years where his life would be put on hold, Russell talks about how he coped with being away from home and wha...

In this audio, we interview volunteers at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Victoria, Australia. The museum is restoring a C-130A Hercules cockpit nose, which was used primarily for transport of troops, ammunition and supplies between Vung Tau and Australia during the Vietnam War. This is a great video highlighting the importance of preserving history and honouring those who served. With tha...

The Rhodesian SAS (Special Air Service) was a special forces unit that served in the Rhodesian Bush War, which took place from 1965 to 1979. In this audio, we speak to Ian Mackenzie, who fought for the Rhodesian SAS. Ian speaks frankly about preparing for combat and his first combat experience. It is an intimate and powerful account of military courage in the face of great danger. Through the stor...

In this video we hear from Lt Col Wilfred Moore who describes one of the most successful ambushes in Angola where they would destroy 21 vehicles full of supplies coming to reinforce their comrades at Ongiva.. The Angolan Bush War was a complex and often confusing conflict, but what is clear is that it was a gruelling affair. We follow the men of 1 Special Service Battalion an armoured reconnaissan...

We interview volunteers rebuilding a bird-dog at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Victoria Australia. During the Vietnam War, the Bird Dog was used primarily for reconnaissance, target acquisition, artillery adjustment, radio relay, convoy escort and forward air control of tactical aircraft including bombers operating in a tactical role. Its quieter noise footprint, lower speed, tighter man...

The Angolan Bush War was a complex and often confusing conflict, but what is clear is that it was a grueling affair. In this video, we follow the men of 1 Special Service Battalion an armoured reconnaissance unit fighting in the Angolan Bush War. Lt Col Wilfred Moore(Ret) tells the story of the attack on Cuvelai and through pure circumstance how a herdsman would save his life. It is a story of fea...

Captain John Methven is a veteran of the Vietnam War. In this audio, he talks about conscription for the war and how numbers were drawn out of a barrel and matched to birth dates. He also speaks about the first Australian national serviceman who would be killed in Vietnam, and tells the story of six Australians who would go missing in action and how their remains were brought back to Australia. Jo...

The Vietnam War was a tragic conflict that left countless soldiers with lifelong scars. In this audio, Captain John Methven shares his experiences as a platoon commander and Regiment Signals Officer with the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment that was stationed at the Australian base at Nui Dat. Captain John Methvan gives an emotional account of the traumas of war. The unfairness of the Austr...

The Vietnam War would have a significant impact on many young Australian lives. In this video, Stephen Costelow shares his experiences as a Lance Corporal based in the 2nd Advanced Ordnance Depot at Vung Tau in Vietnam. While the unit was based in a relatively safe area in the South of Vietnam and away from the fighting, the War would still have a significant impact on his life. Pulled from civili...

We're excited to release the first video in our Vietnam series: Captain John Methven's Unforgettable War Stories as Platoon Commander and RSO. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s participation in the Vietnam War, and we wanted to offer our viewers an intimate look at what it was like for a young soldier thrown into the jungles of Vietnam. John Methven served with 7th Bat...

In the early 1980s, the Angolan Bush War was raging. Against insurmountable odds, soldiers from 1 Special Service Battalion fought against the communist regime in cross border raids into Angola. In this video, we follow the men of 1 Special Service Battalion as they share what it was like as young soldiers going into combat for the first time. "When We Were Young Soldiers" tells the story of an ar...

In the early 1980s, the Angolan Bush War was raging. Against insurmountable odds, soldiers from 1 Special Service Battalion fought against the communist regime in cross border raids into Angola. In this video, we follow the men of 1 Special Service Battalion as they share what it was like as young soldiers going into combat for the first time. "When We Were Young Soldiers" tells the story of an ar...

In the early 1980s, the Angolan Bush War was raging. Against insurmountable odds, soldiers from 1 Special Service Battalion fought against the communist regime in cross border raids into Angola. In this audio, we follow the men of 1 Special Service Battalion as they share what it was like as young soldiers going into combat for the first time. "When We Were Young Soldiers" tells the story of an ar...

In this video, we follow the men of the 1 Parachute Battalion as they fight in the Angolan Bush War during the 1970s. Paratrooper Combat Jump tells the story of Skillie Human who would be killed in combat at Cassinga. Paratrooper Combat Jump is a powerful account of military courage in the face of great danger and how paratroopers band together to go and find their comrade missing in action and lo...

In this audio, we share the history of the Battle Cry of the Royal Welsh. The men of the Welsh 24th Regiment (later became known as the Royal Welsh) would fight at the battle of Rorkes Drift. This is a captivating story about fear and courage and how this resulted in the Battle Cry for the Royal Welsh. Robert Caskie a Professional Speaker and Tour Guide gives a passionate recount of the battle cry...

In this audio, we follow the men of the Rhodesian SAS as they fight in the Rhodesian Bush war during the late 1970s. Courage and fear is an intimate and powerful account of military courage in the face of great danger. Through the stories of real SAS soldiers, the video explores the depths of human fear and the heights of human courage. We follow the real story of what it was like to be a special...

In this podcast, we explore the life and legacy of Ernest Shackleton, one of the most famous and successful explorers in history. From his daring crossing of the Antarctic continent to his dramatic escape from an iceberg trapped in ice, we learn about this inspirational leader and his extraordinary feats of endurance. Shackleton was a brilliant leader and an impressive physical specimen - great ex...

In this audio, we follow the men of the Rhodesian SAS as they fight in the bush during the 1970s. Ambush: Rhodesian SAS is an intimate and powerful account of military courage in the face of great danger. Through the stories of real SAS soldiers, the audio explores the depths of human fear and the heights of human courage. We follow the unit as they fight against rebel forces in what is now Zimbab...

In this audio, we follow the life of New Zealand Spitfire Pilot Sgt Henry Roberts of the New Zealand air force during WW2 and how he would participate and fight at the siege of Malta. This is an intimate and powerful account of military courage in the face of great danger when he would come up against one of Germany's top fighter aces and be shot down. This video explores the depths of human fear...

In this audio, we take a look at men from the South African army in an armoured reconnaissance unit, 1 special service battalion, who were sent into the South West African and Angolan bush war during the 1970's and 1980's. This unit was made up of conscripts, who were to fight against the insurgency as well as play often a more conventional role against Russian, Cuban and Angolan forces in Angola....