Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Brian Budden was a member of Charlie Company 5 RAR on the battalion’s first tour of duty in Vietnam in 1966-67. He was initially a member of 9 Platoon and then became the company intelligence NCO on company headquarters.

 On 13 February 1967, during operation Operation Beaumaris,C Company together with B Company deployed to a jungle area south of An Nhut as a ruse to indicate that operations were to be conducted in the nearby Long Hai Hills.  During the night of 13/14 February the two companies quietly moved into cordon positions on the south and western side of An Nhut village.  At about 9.00 AM, the officer commanding C Company, Major Don Bourne held an orders group to coordinate activities for the search of the village. When the group dispersed, a mine was detonated which killed Major Bourne, the company 2IC Captain Bob Milligan and the artillery forward observer ,New Zealand Officer Captain Peter Williams.

Peter was a member of 161 Battery, Royal New Zealand Artillery and joined C Company at very short notice as the artillery forward observer.  The usual forward observer had suffered an injury and could not participate in the operation.

 Five other members of C Company were wounded-in-action.  Brian Budden was very close by when this tragedy occurred. ^{-  Courtesy of Roger Wainwright then commanding 8 Platoon}