This episode is the first of a two-part series with retired LTCOL Gary McKay. Gary was conscripted in 1968 and deployed to South Vietnam as a Rifle Platoon Commander with 4 RAR. In September 1971, 4 RAR was part of Operation Ivanhoe and fought in the Battle of Nui Le. Gary was severely wounded at Nui Le and returned to Australia. For his gallantry during the battle, he was awarded the Military Cross. Gary stayed in the Army and went on to be a Lieutenant colonel and Commanding Officer of 8/9 RAR.
Gary discusses his training at Scheyville and the quality of the instructors posted there. Many instructors had multiple tours in the jungle, whether it was Borneo or Vietnam and were able to train the officer cadets from experience.
He talks about his time at Canungra and his preparation to live and operate within the Jungle, as well asto fight. Training in the use of Artillery and the conduct of ambushes were important parts of the training as they were key to the way that the Army fought in the jungle. Gary’s frank account of his time as a Platoon Commander highlights some important leadership lessons for Commanders in the field.
Our interview with Gary Mckay is a part of our series looking at the mobilisation of troops for the Kokoda Campaign. Compare and contrast the way in which 4 RAR was prepared for Jungle Combat, (with similarities to the training that D Coy, 6 RAR had) with that of the training the the 30th Brigade had before and during their time in Port Moresby and up the Kokoda Track.
During the interview, Gary says, “By the time we got to Vietnam, were pretty confident of being able to do the job that we needed to in the jungle.” This is the legacy of the soldiers of 30th Brigade and the Brigades who fought on the Kokoda Tracks and the Battles of the Beaches, hard won lessons that were turned into doctrine. Training establishments at Canungra and Tully were stood up so that the doctrine could be taught to troops before they fought in the Jungle.
