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| Airman Apprentice Marsh, 1967 |
Like me, you have no doubt heard of the young men - boys
really - who signed up for the 1st AIF, many of them lying about their age,
because they saw it as a big adventure and a chance to see some of the world
outside Australia. I can identify with that.
I was 16 when I joined the RAAF in 1967 - at the height of
the Vietnam war. The appy (apprentice) intakes of 65, 66 and 67 were the
largest in the history of the appy scheme (mine the smallest of the three with
184 enlisting for Wagga). We were boys supposedly between the ages of 15 to 17
at enlistment, although some were accepted that were a little younger. Towards
the end of my 2 1/2 years at Wagga I filled in my posting preferences. They
were designed to give me the best chance of getting overseas, and there were
only two places for a Sumpy (engine fitter) to go - Vietnam or Malaysia. Back
then, the idea of overseas travel was economically out of the reach of most.
I figured my best chance was Williamtown as that would
almost certainly lead to Butterworth. Richmond and Amberley I thought would
give a chance of Vietnam, depending on what unit I ended up in. Did I give any
thought to the fact that I could get shot? None whatsoever.
As it was I got 77 Sqn Willy and a little over 2 years later
75 Sqn Butterworth. There may have been a few off my Intake got to Vietnam, but
I do not know of any. I did have one mate who had his posting only to have it
cancelled when Whitlam pulled the last few out.
As I reflect on that time I wonder what my parents and
grandparents went through. I recall Mum on the phone once saying something to
someone on the other end about me joining the RAAF, that I could end up in
Vietnam, and if it was good enough for her son ...
And I remember Nana Marsh crying as I walked away after
saying my goodbyes. At the time I thought 'How nice, Nana is going to miss me'.
But now I wonder.
Nana's brother Roy served in France where he was gassed and
seriously wounded - but came home. Their uncle George Davis was killed in France. Sadly George's mother and Roy's grandmother was a native of Germany. Nana also had a cousin, a Nursing Officer who
died in a prisoner of war camp in Sumatra. Mum had two cousins, brothers, one
who is buried in the War Cemetery just outside Port Moresby, the other died on
the Burmese railway.
To their credit, my family let me go - they had to sign the
consent forms. Joining the RAAF was all I wanted to do as a boy and they let me
realise that dream, one that I have never regretted. But they must have had
real concerns.
As it worked out in 20 years’ service I never came under
fire. But given the volatility that was South East Asia at the time the outcome
may have been different. I consider myself one of the lucky ones.
Revised, August 2016
