| Accession Number | P06985.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Colour - Print |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Wagga Wagga |
| Date made | c 1971 |
| Conflict |
Vietnam, 1962-1975 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
|
Studio portrait of 5718195 Private (Pte) Brian Charles Beilken, 4th Battalion, The Royal ...
Description
Studio portrait of 5718195 Private (Pte) Brian Charles Beilken, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR), of North Fremantle, WA. A National Serviceman, Pte Beilken arrived in South Vietnam on 19 August 1971 with the 1 Australian Reinforcement Unit and was allocated to 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) on 10 September 1971. This was a battalion comprising of 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment and a component from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. On 21 September 1971, as part of Operation Ivanhoe, D Company, 4RAR/NZ fought an intense battle at Nui Le, Phuoc Tuy province, against elements of the 33rd Regiment, North Vietnamese Army who were occupying a bunker complex. During this battle Pte Beilken and four other Australian soldiers were killed. They were the last Australians to be killed in action in Vietnam.