David John BANFIELD

BANFIELD, David John

Service Number: 6709107
Enlisted: 1 May 1968, Puckapunyal, Victoria
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR)
Born: Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia, 25 December 1947
Home Town: Ulverstone, Tasmania
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Not yet discovered
Died: Killed in Action, South Vietnam, 21 August 1969, aged 21 years
Cemetery: Carr Villa Memorial Park, Tasmania
Monumental D6 No 138,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Devonport Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Grafton Clarence Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Kallangur Vietnam Veterans' Place, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour
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Vietnam War Service

1 May 1968: Enlisted Puckapunyal, Victoria
3 Feb 1969: Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), 6709107, 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (5RAR)
3 Feb 1969: Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 6709107

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Biography

6709107 Private David John Banfield was a farmer near the northern city of Devonport before being drafted in May, 1968.
On the 21st August 1969, during 'Operation Camden', his platoon and one other, were in contact with a heavily defended bunker system. As both platoons assaulted the position they came under heavy machine gun and RPG and 61mm mortar fire, forcing a withdrawal. At this time an mortar round exploded close by killing Pte Banfield and wounding his Platoon Sergeant Garth Wheat. The contact continued for some time with the majority of soldiers in both platoons being wounded.

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