Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Peter Warwick Mules “Flipper” was born in Kalangadoo, South Australia on the 22nd November 1944, being the second son of Henry and Eilleen, with siblings Robert, Patricia, Ian and Neil (Bill).
Peter attended the Kalangadoo Primary School from 1951 to 1960, along with his siblings.
Peter upon enlistment in 1964 was posted to Kapooka near Wagga Wagga N.S.W. Training Camp for basic training followed with further training at Puckapunyal, Victoria. Part of Private Mules training consisted of training on amphibious vehicles for re-supply operations of Australian Antarctic Bases.
When the call up for Vietnam came Private Mules was deployed to the 87 Tipper Platoon.
In early 1966, the unit received it’s orders to prepare for Vietnam. Private Mules on the 5th May as part of the advance party departed by air to South Vietnam ahead of the arrival of the HMAS Sydney. The early part of his tour in Vietnam was establishing the base of the 1st Australian Logistic Support Group (1ALSG) at Vung Tau. as part of the deployment of the 1st Australian Task Force to Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province, east of Saigon.
1 ASLG encountered a number of problems in setting up the base. Its location was a long strip of sand dunes and water supply was a problem as well as physical hygiene.
The Platoon duties included engineering work in the base areas, building roads and hard standing using the tippers. The build up of the Nui Dat & Vaung Tau Bases was very intense for the drivers. The vehicles were working long hours (sometimes 24 hour shifts) unloading resupply ships night and day. Maintenance convoys, stock piling of rations, ammo, engineer stores, defence stores and be available for operations with the task force.
As well as re-supplying the task force, 87 Platoon also had to send vehicles by landing craft to Saigon, then Bien Hoa to pick up supplies. Another duty was to offload the Japarit and other ships, bringing supplies from Australia.
Protection during convoys was by way of ‘possum’, a Cessna or Bell helicopter flying over and around the convoy, the observer being an NCO from one of the Transport Platoons.
Private Mules returned to Australia in early 1967 following medical issues with a hydatid cyst whilst on deployment.
Private Mules was issued with the following Medals
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Australian Active Service medal 1945 - 1975
Vietnam Medal
Peter met Gloria Smith whilst in Daw Park Repatriation Hospital where she worked as a nurse as he recovered upon his return from Vietnam.
Gloria and Peter were married in 1968 and Peter worked as a farm manager at several properties throughout the Adelaide hills for the next few years. Their first child, Nigel (1970) was born . Peter and Gloria moved to Adelaide not long after this, living in Oaklands Park.
Following the tragic loss of Gloria in 1973, Peter moved back into the transport industry, first as a driver and eventually becoming a transport contractor and operating his own business. Around this time, Peter moved to his home at Edwardstown, where he would reside through to his passing.
Around 1980, Peter met Zonia Zmuda, a Polish lady with a young daughter, Kasia in tow and they later married in 1985. The family travelled to Poland to share this chapter with extended family and friends from Zonia's life in Poland. This union was to last until 1990 before they decide to part ways. It was around this time Peter qualified for a TPI pension and essentially retired.
For the later part of Peters' years he was often travelling, including returning to Vietnam most years to 'winter' in the tropics, dropping in on his two granddaughters in Darwin and also venturing further afield to Japan and China at times.
Just prior to his 60th birthday, being an avid cyclist by now, Peter embarked on a cycling holiday around Europe and rode throughout France, Spain and Morocco over several months before returning to Adelaide. He also undertook a bike ride from Adelaide to Karumba, along the Birdsville Track and through to the Gulf Country of Queensland and fortuitously bumped into an old army mate in Karumba, John Parkinson. Not long after this, Peter was informed he had cancer in his bile duct and underwent a brave battle with the cancer over several rounds of chemo and radiation therapy over the following two years.
Peter Warwick Mules passed away on the 25th June 2009 aged 64 years at Daws House Hospice with his ashes interned at the Centennial Park, Adelaide.

Lest We Forget