(Thanks, Garfie. Garry and I go back a long way to Townsville prior to Vietnam, then SVN and then we were neighbours in Singapore with 106 Battery in 1972/73. We have kept in touch over the years and enjoyed many fishing trips together, especially up in the Blue Mountains and a memorable fly-fishing expedition up near the Styx River. Garfie – an A grade golfer in his earlier days - tried for years to teach me how to play golf and in doing so, showed the patience of Jobe. Unfortunately, all his expertise was lost on me, and I remain today ‘the hacker’.) Thanks to the following individuals who have supported our endeavours with messages of support: John Connellan, Dave Larter (who caught up with Mick and Pat Long, and Ian and Kay Johnson in Brisbane at the Woody Point's Belvedere hotel.) FIRE SUPPORT BASE BRIGID, SVN 1970 By Ray King In mid-1970, a small contingent of 106 Field Battery was assigned from The Horseshoe to a beach resort on the coast, otherwise known as FSB Brigid, positioned in the sand hills close to the coast. From a strategic viewpoint, Brigid was probably closer to the Long Hai Mountains, or access to them was easier. We were there to support a company from 7 RAR and those assigned included myself, as a forward observer, Cyril Cordory, signaller, Peter Hulett, signaller, under the command of Major Gilroy. We were to conduct surveillance of boats entering a nearby estuary and to carry out ambush patrols of the rice fields between the local villages and the Long Hai Mountains, all under the protection and with fire support from a couple of Centurian tanks, and from the 105s at the nearby Horseshoe FSB. In one overnight operation, after having been dropped off by APCs, we kept a low profile by bedding down on the side of a hill overlooking the rice fields. As we were standing too at dawn, a small group of Vietcong were observed entering a thicket on the edge of the rice field, and not far from our position. A detachment was sent down to flush them out and, hopefully, capture them. The Vietcong escaped into the tall rice crop, where they were well concealed. A helicopter was called in and, with directions from the ground, they were captured. A very exciting and successful mission. On another occasion, we were sent down to the beach to see what was happening. Not much, it turned out, so some stripped off and went for a swim. With the help from the APC driver, others took to wave boarding the shore break behind the APC as it drove up and down the beach. As luck would have it, a senior officer flew over in his light plane, and our fun was over. Those overnight ambush patrols were pretty hairy at times, particularly when we didn’t have the benefit of moon light, and a stealthy, light-footed Vietcong could be on top of you before you knew it. Luckily, they couldn’t see in the dark either, but it was still the stuff of nightmares. The scariest experience of all, however, was when Ray and Cyril (I hope you are doing well, mate) were attached to a small group of riflemen from 7 RAR to head out onto the dry rice fields, and another patrol was sent out in another direction. Map reading was always a challenge out there, where the only features were the distant Long Hai Mountains and the odd ruins noted on our very reliable contour maps. We were in radio contact with the other patrol around dusk, when they reported the sighting of an enemy patrol. We quickly found our positions and set up a defensive ambush
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