Important picture of courage and sacrifice
Coinciding with its 50th anniversary, 8th/9th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (8/9RAR) has acquired the Bunker Assault painting, which marks a seminal moment in the battalion’s history.
CAPTION: Lieutenant Colonel Ben Watson appreciates a painting of the 9th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, in Vietnam with veteran Dan Penman, right, at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera. Photo by Private Andrew Shaw.
The painting, donated by the 9th Battalion Association, serves as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of soldiers who fought in Vietnam.
Commanding Officer of 8/9RAR Lieutenant Colonel Ben Watson said every soldier marching into the battalion would learn of the feats of gallantry displayed by the soldiers in the painting, which commemorates a defining moment in 9RAR’s tour in Vietnam.
Dan Penman, Treasurer and Editor of 9RAR Association Queensland, said after returning home, the soldiers unanimously agreed that the most significant part of their experience was the number of lives lost during the bunker assaults.
“We commissioned a local painter to depict the bunkers because it was our most pivotal point and where we lost most of our guys,” Mr Penman said.
The painter was guided through a series of sketches before settling on the final design, capturing the intensity and sacrifice of the assaults.
The timing of the gift coincided with the 50th anniversary of 8/9RAR.
The battalion’s leadership has also linked key competitions to historical events, including the inaugural Chad Sherrin, Military Medal for Bravery Cup to honour the best soldier and the Bunker Assault Competition to identify the top section and section commander.
“Competition is a cornerstone of soldiering,” Lieutenant Colonel Watson said.
He emphasised the importance of Private Cruz Cleary’s achievement in winning the Chad Sherrin MM Cup, named after a Vietnam platoon sergeant and former battalion second-in-command.
“You need to know the past to help you see the future,” he said.
“The soldiers in the Bunker Assault painting had hard feet, strong backs, and were able to shoot straight.
“Those requirements haven’t changed.”
Later this year, the battalion plans to reopen its museum to further preserve the legacy of 8RAR, 9RAR, and 8/9RAR, ensuring veterans, young and old, have a place to reflect on their shared history.
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This is an interesting “Re-Gifting” of the ‘Bunker Assault’ painting. The painting originally hung in the Commanding Officer’s office, in 1988/89, having been presented then by the 9 RAR Assn. The Bn made a qty of reproductions, at a much smaller scale, to be used for presentations and purchase by Bn members and ex-members. Great to see it back where it belongs. Hoi.