Description

Offered is a rare Vietnam War casualty medal pair to Private B.J. Thompson, who died as a result of wounds sustained at Nui Dat, whilst serving with the 5th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment on the 1st February 1970.

Vietnam Medal 1964, impressed named 2789920 B.J. Thompson; Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal (South Vietnamese issue), enamel flaking to two arms, retaining date clasp to ribbon, being un named as issued. Comes with copies photograph and research.

Barry John Thompson was born on the 13/9/1947 in Goulburn, N.S.W. He was working as a shearer/shed hand when he was called up for National Service at Dubbo on the 1/5/1968. After completing training, he was deployed to Vietnam 11/2/1969 to the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit, Nui Dat. Transferred to Headquarters’ 1st Australian Logistic Support Group at Vung Tau with the Defence and Employment Platoon 17/3/1969. Charged “fail to appear on parade” 9/6/1969 and posted to the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit 17/6/1969. 30/6/1969 posted to ‘C’ Coy, 5 R.A.R. where he was frequently the forward scout for his section. His tour in Phouc Tuy Provence included four weeks of night patrols in Operation Bondi II, the ‘Crookwell Gazette’ gives more detail: ‘According to his comrades he was a likeable larrikin and very good in this role. On February 1 in 1970 he was hit by an exploding hand grenade, dying in the arms of a comrade.’ It appears his death – which came a week before he was due to return home – was caused by a planted hand grenade secreted in an area of recently burned grass. Thompson was given a military funeral in Gunning, complete with gun carriage and his name is inscribed on several memorials including the Gunning Cenotaph and Seymour’s Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk.