WHITEHOUSE, David Milne
| Service Number: | 6708825 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) |
| Born: | HOBART, TASMANIA, 22 March 1946 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Partner - lawyer |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 19 May 1967: | Embarked HMAS Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Oct 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 6708825 | |
| 3 Nov 1967: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 6708825 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Private, 6708825, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR) |
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Father George Whitehouse and Mother Nel Whitehouse (nee Hinman)
living at Sandy Bay, Tasmania.
Described on enlisting as Bank Clerk, Man about town.
2 RAR remained at Enoggera, Queensland, until it embarked for operational service in South Vietnam on 19 May 1967.
On that day the unit sailed on the troop carrier HMAS Sydney to relieve the 6th Battalion serving with the 1st Australian Task Force at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province.
10/10/1967 Australian Reinforcement Unit
2/11/1967 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
During this tour two companies of New Zealand Infantry were placed under command and 2 RAR became an ANZAC Battalion.
Soldiers of 2 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) took part in 23 operations in Phuoc Tuy and Bien Hoa Provinces and maintained constant patrols and ambushes throughout their area of operations. Nine of these operations were conducted wholly by the ANZAC Battalion. Others were staged with 3 RAR, 7 RAR with armour, artillery, engineer, aviation and SASR support.
Operation Coburg 24/1 − 1/3/1968
The Battalion's most successful operation was Operation 'Coburg' that took place in the area of the border between Bien Hoa Province and Long Kanh Province north west of Phuoc Tuy Province. This was a Task Force operation, the first in strength outside Phuoc Tuy Province. This Task Force relieved the 199th Inf Bde (US) with the aim of denying the Viet Cong (VC) access to the area and sites from which they could direct rocket fire into the huge American bases at Long Binh and Bien Hoa.
During the operation the enemy launched the Tet Offensive. The number of contacts with the enemy rose sharply and instead of local force VC the unit began to meet well trained main force troops of 274th VC Regiment. 91 VC or North Vietnamese were killed and over 80 weapons captured.
In this first tour the ANZAC Battalion killed 187 enemy, inflicted a further 60 confirmed WIA casualties, captured 12 prisoners and 190 weapons. The Australians and New Zealanders had 28 soldiers killed during the tour.
2/3 - 12/4/1968 involved in "Operation Pinaroo"
2/3/1968 wounded in action - mine at GR441575
4 RAR relieved the Battalion 1/6/1968. On its return from Vietnam on 13/6/1968 the Battalion again occupied an area of Enoggera Barracks prior to establishing itself at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville in June 1969.
1977 to 2012 David Whitehouse was a partner (lawyer - commercial law) of Murdoch Clarke in Tasmania.
He recently retired as a partner but continues to practise as a consultant.
He is the Honorary Solicitor of the Returned Services League, and a member of Legacy.
David is a past Chairman of the Veterans Trust, and a past director of the Tasmanian Cricket Association and Tilford Pty Ltd.
On behalf of Peter L Williams - bestfriend of 'Digger'.
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 2/12/2014. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.