BYRNE, Robert Alan
| Service Number: | 2786525 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 9 November 1946 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carriage Builder |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia, 11 February 1969, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW Plot Niche 180 QE |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Grafton Clarence Valley Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Holsworthy 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment - Holsworthy Memorial, Kallangur Vietnam Veterans' Place, Port Pirie Vietnam Veterans Honour Wall, Seymour Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Roll of Honour |
Vietnam War Service
| 21 May 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 2786525, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (4RAR) | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 May 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Private, 2786525 |
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Private Robert Byrne, aged 22, from Sydney NSW was a carriage builder prior to being called up for National service in April 1967. He was posted to 4RAR and sailed with the Battalion for South Vietnam in May 1968.
On Operation LYRE BIRD in Phuoc Tuy Province on 31 August 1968, an armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stuck a large, improvised pressure detonated mine. The vehicle commander and five members of the Mortar Platoon including Robert were wounded. Within thirty minutes and at some risk to the evacuation helicopter, Robert was in the triage room of the 1st Australian Field Hospital at Vung Tau suffering severe head injuries. He unfortunately never recovered from his injuries and died at the Concord Repatriation Hospital in Sydney on 11 February 1969.
Robert was the only member of 4RAR who failed to survive after reaching a medical facility, a testament to the rapid casualty evacuation and efficient treatment systems available in South Vietnam.
information from 4RAR Associations of Australia
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