Nghe) a platoon of C/2 RAR contacted a large force of enemy in a camp. Under heavy fire, FO Assistant BDR Geoffery Webster brought fire from 108 Bty accurately and close to his own position causing the enemy to withdraw. Webster, for this was Mentioned in Despatches. Next came three TF operations. Op Kenmore aimed to search and destroy on the province's south-west border corner with TFHQ deploying near Ho Tram Cape. As there were insufficient 161 Recce Fit personnel to maintain air warning procedures in the forward area, the Regimental Command Post (RCP) accepted this task. M2A2 battery moves by US CH47 helicopters were now perfected at 14 sorties using two or three aircraft and both 106 and 108 deployed smoothly. 20 RPG were carried. Op Santa Fe was another 9 US Div combined search and kill operation in the north-east (Thua Tick) area of the province and again the TFHQ deployed forward. At midnight on 4 October 1967, the VC detonated two claymore mines within six metres of a 108 Bty gun, killing GNR B. Tregear. On subsequent nights Australian bases were mortared and probed, but without further casualties. 131 Div Loc's mortar-locating radars were regularly deployed in forward bases with varying successes in location reports. On 17 October 1967, the Government approved the deployment of a third battalion to Vietnam and an overall increase of the Australian commitment from 6300 to more than 8000 personnel. As 161 Bty RNZA was now an integral part of 4 Fd Regt, CO Gardner applied to have 'ANZAC' included in the unit's title. This was not approved, though surprisingly when 2 RAR accepted an NZ company, the title 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn was approved on 9 January 1968. The final TF operation for the year, Forrest, aimed to deny VC access to the rice harvest by aggressive patrolling and cordon and searching along Routes 15 and 23 across the south of the province. At FSB Bravo in the south-west on 10 December 1967, 106 Bty Sect Comd LT Robert. Birse was killed by a grenade rolled into his weapon pit. GNR L.E. Newman was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years' jail and a dishonourable discharge. A subsequent appeal had the sentence quashed. Birse was buried at the Terendak Cemetery in Malaysia, the then nearest secure allied soil. 4 Fd Regiment concentrated at the Nui Dat base on 23 December for the Christmas cease- fire till 27 December. On 11 December, MAJ Cape returned to Australia to attend Staff College and Capt P.C. Jones was promoted to command 106 Bty. 12 Fd Regiment's BC HQ Bty, MAJ A.J.C. Wells became BC HQ Bty 4 Fd Regiment. A third Australian battalion, 3 RAR arrived at Nui Dat during December. A two-brigade Op Duntroon (1 US Bde and 1 ATF) to destroy elements of 274 VC Regiment in the north-west of the province (Hat Dich area) commenced on 10 January 1968. This included a heavy programme of H&I tasks—over 350 rounds per night. 1ATF then crossed the border for Op Coburg in Bien Hoa Province (40 km NW of Nui Dat and 40 km NE of Saigon) and operated in strength for the first time outside their home Phuoc Tuy Province. This was part of a plan to deny VC/NVA (North Vietnamese Army) access to rocket sites within range of the huge American Bien Hoa / Long Binh complexes during the TET period (Chinese New Year). 4 Fd Regt 2IC MAJ G.M. Salom, the base local defence commander had heavy responsibilities at FSB Anderson which somewhat conflicted with his regimental duties. (In later years an infantry officer was appointed to command local defence.) On 31 January the enemy invaded about 40 provincial capitals and five other cities. FSBs were probed and mortared throughout February. On the 18th, for example, Anderson received 40 mortar rounds, 60 RPGs and a company attack which killed 8 (including Div Loc LBDR J.L. Menz) and wounded 25 Australians. TF Arty was effectively employed, firing more than 20 000 rounds during the month.
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