Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Birth: Sep. 23, 1947
Katanning
Western Australia, Australia
Death: May 21, 1970, Vietnam

5716239 Private Noel Valintine Crouch was born in Katanning, West Australia, on the 23rd September 1947. He was a 14th intake National Serviceman. Private Noel Crouch ‘marched in' to 7RAR's Finschhafen Lines at Holsworthy around mid January of 1969. Fresh from Christmas leave which had followed recruit training he was about to commence Corps training within 7RAR, followed by specialty training and training exercises, Canungra and then overseas service in Vietnam. He served in Vietnam with the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, from the 16th February 1970 until his death on the 21st May 1970.
We were lucky people as we were all in some way wounded, some seriously. In many respects we were extra lucky, as when we assaulted the position we were confronted by bunkers which we didn't use for cover for some reason, because of a sixth sense. I have since reasoned that we didn't use them because they were unoccupied by the VC. We found later that these bunkers were rigged with trip wires and instantaneous grenades".
The Australian force withdrew to evacuate its casualties. As this was occurring, 3 platoon and A Company Headquarters, led by Major Chris Thomson, were moved by armoured personnel carriers from the Horseshoe to the contact area. When they arrived, Major Thomson called for helicopter gunship support. Three Australian Bushranger helicopters pinned down the estimated 50 man Viet Cong force in bunkers within 100m of the company until the A Company group re–assaulted the position. During the battle the Hoi Chanh shouted out to his mates in the bunkers, waited for them to appear and very happily blazed away at them. The entire position was secured by 1600 hours. The enemy casualties were five killed and three prisoners of war. A large quantity of food, documents and stores were captured. A Company suffered one soldier, Private Noel Crouch, killed in action. When Corporal Powell saw that Private Crouch had been killed, in a retaliatory act of bravery, he charged the bunkers and was wounded himself. There were twelve Australian soldiers wounded in this action.

Information from Find a Grave Memorial

Service Record
Name
Crouch , Noel Valentine
Service Army
Service Number 5716238
Rank Private
Date of Birth 23 09 1947
Place of Birth Karanning W.A.
Date of Intake 0/10/1968
NS Training 2 RTB
Follow Up Training 7 RAR Royal Australian Infantry Corps
Basic Training Puckapunyal
Next of Kin at time of Service Mr & Mrs Crouch
Operational Service Vietnam
Medals AASM / Vietnam Campaign Medal / ADM / ANSM / South Vietnam Star

Information from Nashos Nominal Roll