Australian troops destroy Viet Cong camp DPR/TV/715

Operation Kenmore kicked off to an early start for 7th Battalion's Alpha Company in an area being searched for the first time to the north-east of the 1st Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. Alpha Company moved along the sandy beach for several miles in armoured personnel carriers of "A" Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment. After disembarking on the South China Sea beach they halted on the scrub verge and watched air strikes clear a landing zone for other battalion troops. Later, they moved out through high swamp grass to search their operational area. On the move, a Platoon Commander, 2nd Lieutenant Wayne Bannon of Skipton, Vic, passed information to his section commanders. Soldiers moved across sandy patches and forded several creeks while patrolling through scrub country. Following a contact with Viet Cong, near the beach, a platoon moved to cut off the fleeing enemy. From a high vantage point, they watched artillery shells fall along the suspected escape route of the VC. Soldiers later thoroughly searched the VC camp before destroying it. Beds were searched and overturned, and the kitchen area checked for booby traps. Equipment and clothing left behind by the fleeing VC was examined and a fine, hand-made nylon fishing net was taken as a prize. Demolition charges were then prepared by Lance-Corporal Barry Heard of Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, Vic, Private Philip Archer of Hobart, Tas and Corporal Harry Spradbrow of Gunnedah, NSW. Cpl Spradbrow was the first into the camp, and, without being seen, withdrew to tell his platoon of the find. The charges were set and the fuses lit by Private Graham Docksey of Gosford, NSW, a battalion assault pioneer. After the explosions, a soldier examined the remains of a bunker.