General News
5 May, 2025
Anzac Day: a Vietnam vet's perspective
Vietnam veteran Martin Wettenhall was this year's guest speaker at Dimboola's Anzac Day commemorative service.
Read his speech in full:
It's my honour to speak at this Dimboola Anzac Day memorial, particularly following the recent devastating bushfires the community had endured.
My name is Martin Wettenhall, 3796484.
As a rifleman I served in South Vietnam with the Second ANZAC Battalion of the Royal Regiment in 1970.
As an aside, my grandfather Marcus Edwy Wettenhall was the state Member for Lowan for 15 years.
No other MP has beaten this record so I partially belong here.
This Anzac Day there will be people like us all around Australia standing at the schools and memorials of those who have served our country, and particularly those who were killed in action, held as prisoners of war and/or suffered intolerable wounds and memories.
All around Australia we will be saying thank you for your service and for the service of your mates.
Despite my reference earlier to my grandfather, I like to think that Anzac Day is a day when the people matter more than politics.
When family, mates, friends and friends we haven't met yet can reflect on where our way of life comes from and I can proudly turn to my children and grandchildren and say "I was an Australian solider and every single day you all make it worthwhile".
Whilst we reflect on the notion that Australia survives and thrives on the indelible values demonstrated by our military forces over the last 125 years of courage, sacrifice, mateship and teamwork, I seek your indulgence to recall at a more personal level the loss of an acquaintance in the war that some RSL personnel at the time considered "was not a real war".
As a prelude to what I am about to deliver, I recall when at state school during Anzac Day or Rememberance Day week, School of the Air on ABC would run a small play depicting the heroics of someone like Albert Jacka or Simpson and his donkey.
There were sounds effects and the story told was full of excitement.
To a nine-year-old it was the stuff heroes were made of.
I have to apologise but my story is far from exciting and is about a common, run-of-the-mill young man called up by his country to do his duty, like the many thousands of Australians who made the supreme sacrifice in the name of Australia.
No Victoria Crosses or mentions in despatches, simply a letter to a parent to inform of the loss.
John Wallace Holloway, 3794544, arrived in South Vietnam as a reinforcement on July 8 1969, exactly one year before I hopped off the bus at Puckapunyal.
John transferred to the 9th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, July 30, and was killed in action on October 26 1969 in Bien Hoa Province in South Vietnam.
I wish to acknowledge John's ultimate sacrifice by giving his life whilst doing what his country had asked of him and to thank him for his service to Australia.
John and I attended Croydon High School in the early 1960s, John being a couple years in front of me.
We were also members of the 1st Croydon Rover Scout crew.
John, being a carpenter, was significantly involved in the construction of our Rover Lodge, a hunt at Clifford Park, east of Melbourne, by the village of Wonga Park on the Yarra River.
There were several members of the building trade in the crew, which resulted in friendly competition when it came to the fastening of weatherboards.
I recall John gleefully nailing another mate's fingers between the weatherboard planks.
I think three or four of the crew were called up, but only John and I saw active service.
To illustrate the ferocity of the Vietnam War, I would now like to read an extract from the commanding officer's diary that was sent to Canberra each month and is now lodged in the Australian War Memorial, that relates to John Holloway's sacrifice.
It is among thousands, including uncles and cousins of mine and no doubt grandparents of some of those among the gathering here today.
9 RAR continued ops in AO STUART. At 0800H at YS218869 7 P1 C Coy contacted 1 VC with negative results.
Ops continued in AO STUART. At 0915H at YS242894 10 P1 D Coy contacted group of 4 VC.
Result: 1 VC KIA, 1 x AK 47 and 3 x full mags, 251bs uncooked rice and qty clothing and equipt. recovered. At 1607H at YS 261848 2 P1 A Coy was patrolling from South to North when they came under heavy automatic fire. 1 P1 and 2 P1 subsequently assaulted the contact area and withdrew at 1910H owing to failing light. During the contact three helicopters and JADE. All helicopters being hit with one crashing into the jungle. All crew members were rescued successfully. Results to date: 1 Aust KIA and 2 Aust WIA9dustoff). Locs: A Coy Ys265848; B Coy Ys677784; C Coy YS227819; D Coy YS242898; 217643 Pte. R. Smidt WIA; (A Coy); 3794544 Pte. j.W Holloway A Coy KIA.
Ops continued in AO STUART. At 1320 H YS261848 3 P1 A Coy located 14 bunkers, part of a complex where a contact occured 27 October, also a carbe cntaining 20lbs Chicon explosive, 2 anti-tank mines. 1 anti-tank grenade, 50lbs rice; qty 7.62 ammo; blood soaked clothing and webbing perforaied with bullet holes. At 1745H at YS242898 one solder from D Coy was killed when the Clarmore mine he was carrying exploded on being struck by lighting.
Locs; A Coy YS261847; B Coy YS227776; C Coy YS252843; D Coy YS242898.
John was the forward scout for 2 Platoon A Company, the most dangerous position in an infantry formational.
He was killed by heavy machine gun fire.
So you can see from this report that this war was no picnic, with heavy machine gun fire and a chopper brought down.
Some of us here may know those who have similarly made the supreme sacrifice, others may not, but we all join on this day, in remembrance, to say thank you and to give thanks for the lives that were laid down so many years ago.
We feel privileged to be here and we bow our heads in remembrance and acknowledge our gratitude from our hearts and the hearts of our nation to all who have lost their lives for their country.
The world is a better place for the actions of every sailor, soldier and airman from pre-Anzac times right through to today.
Today we can shed tears, we can share smiles, share bets.
Have a wager over a coin flip or show gratitude with a hat tip.
Treat yourself and make someone's day by telling them they matter and they made it worthwhile.
Let's greet all those in uniform or proudly displaying their medals with a smile.
Today and every day, we will remember them.
Lest we forget.
