A conscript in a “hidden” conflict: Harvey RSL member Trevor Roberts reflects on his Vietnam War experience

It is one of the most solemn days of the year for many Australians and New Zealanders. On Tuesday, residents across the Harvey and Waroona Shires will pause to reflect and commemorate the sacrifices of all servicemen and women for Anzac Day. For Harvey RSL member Trevor Roberts, it is a day to remember those who were left behind on the battlefields. “The two days you look forward to most is Anzac Day and our Vietnam Veterans Day or Long Tan Day, in August,” he said Drafted in the third round of conscription for the Vietnam War, Mr Roberts spent 10 months in the conflict zone in 1967. He admits it is hard to talk about his experiences, but counts himself lucky within his cohort. “We have reunions every two years and it hasn’t really affected me like it has some of the other blokes,” Mr Roberts said. “We lost three blokes over there — 30 of us went over and only 27 of us came back.” Mr Roberts recalls the strong sentiment against the war, stating he and his fellow servicemen would often be greeted by demonstrators after returning from week-long training exercises prior to his deployment. “It was a war that the Australian public didn’t want to be involved in and the soldiers were hidden really — we were not allowed to wear the uniform in public,” he said. “It was a strange thing, but now people are recognising it more and we are sort of more acceptable, but it was a hidden thing when we were involved. “It was very hard.” About 10 years ago, Mr Roberts returned to Vietnam for the first time since his deployment. While there, he went back to “The Horseshoe”, a hill he lived in for six weeks while it was a fire support base in the Phuoc Tuy Province. While not being allowed full access because they were mining it as a quarry, it was on a footpath nearby that he had a remarkable encounter. “An old bloke comes peddling up on a pushbike and he stopped and said ‘what’s going on here?’,” he said. “This Vietnamese translator said ‘this is an Australian soldier — he was over here in 1967’ and he said ‘oh, we love Australian servicemen. When I was a 10-year-old boy, we used to run down for tea and any food they had left over, they gave to us’. “For one person to come along and for it to be someone who got something from us, it is amazing really.” While decades may have now passed since the Vietnam War, it seems Australia’s military service in the country has not been forgotten.