By Alistair Gray
It was wonderful to see about 100 veterans, friends and family gather for the Bribie Island National Servicemen’s Association Memorial Service recently at the new memorial created on the grounds of the RSL. They wanted to acknowledge the 287,000 young men who had been called up to undertake compulsory military training in the army, navy, and air force between 1951 and 1972—the service part of the annual National Servicemen’s Day celebrations across Australia.
Wreaths were laid by Bribie Island Nashos president John Price on behalf of their members, Brian Cole on behalf of 6RAR, Ray Kreidermann on behalf of all Vietnam Veterans and Bribie Island Sub-Branch Inc. president Carol Steley. Wreaths were also laid by Member for Longman Terry Young, Member for Pumicestone Ariana Doolan and City of Moreton Bay Division 1 Councillor Brooke Savige.
The service acknowledged the passing of two local Nashos during the year, with presentations made to family members.
Rick Robinson – 6RAR- Vietnam Veteran
Richard Grosvenor Andrews- 9RAR/ RAR- Nui Dat Vietnam
A little history of national service
It is 74 years since Australia started National Service in 1951. Conscription had ended at the end of World War II, however in 1951 Australia faced the challenges of a war in Korea and the uncertainties of a Cold War. As a result, the Menzies Liberal Government decided to introduce compulsory military training. In the 1951 – 1959 National Service Scheme, servicemen had to complete six months of continuous service and five years in the reserves. About 500,000 registered, with 227,000 called up. You could select a service preference, which required mandatory overseas service for 7000 navy and 22,000 air force, but not the 198,000 army servicemen. The government discontinued the scheme on November 24, 1959.
The second National Service Scheme ran from 1965 to 1972 because of concerns about Australia’s security with various conflicts in Southeast Asia and Vietnam. Under the National Security Bill of 1964, the government introduced conscription allowing conscripts to be sent overseas. A birthday ballot was held twice a year for 20-year-old men and if your birthday was drawn, you were required to serve two years in the army. Later, in August 1971, army service was reduced to 18 months, followed by three years in the army reserve. More than 804,000 people were registered for national service during this time, with 63,000 called up to serve and 15,300 in Vietnam. Others served in support units in Australia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. The Whitlam Government abolished the scheme on December 5, 1972. During the 1965 - 1972 period, two died in Borneo, 210 were killed in Vietnam and 1479 were wounded. As we all know, the Vietnam War created a lot of social unrest within Australia and many of our Nashos returned after being selected by ballot, only to find an unfriendly reception on their return. No women did national service.
In 1987, Barry Vicary, a 1965 Nasho and Vietnam Vet, founded the National Servicemen’s Association to get a better deal for Nashos and petitioned for a medal to recognise their service. In 2001, the government awarded the “Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal” to recognise their service in time of need.
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