Brits in the Vietnam war
Discussion
I've been doing some Google trawling to see if the old rumours about UK forces being covertly involved in the Vietnam war have been settled either way. It seems pretty clear that any official involvement would have become public knowledge by now, but rumours persist and I was wondering if any PHers had heard anything interesting or even vaguely plausible.
There seem to be 3 types of rumour:
That UK forces attached to US/Australian/New Zealand forces who were supposed to stay clear of Vietnam perhaps didn't always.
That some of the combatants (especially with the Australian army) who did have British passports and accents had formerly been in the UK forces and perhaps hadn't actually transferred.
That British soldiers legitimately attached to the British embassy in Saigon may have got more involved than they were meant to.
What confuses the issue is that not only would any UK troops who did get involved probably keep quiet about it, but any Soldier of Fortune style fantasist anywhere near SE asia cannot resist claiming they were involved. Add to this the difficulty Americans have in distinguishing Australian and British accents and you can imagine the scope for wild rumours. My favourite (which I nearly put in the celebrity urban myths thread) is that a recent leader of a UK political party saw covert combat in Vietnam.
There seem to be 3 types of rumour:
That UK forces attached to US/Australian/New Zealand forces who were supposed to stay clear of Vietnam perhaps didn't always.
That some of the combatants (especially with the Australian army) who did have British passports and accents had formerly been in the UK forces and perhaps hadn't actually transferred.
That British soldiers legitimately attached to the British embassy in Saigon may have got more involved than they were meant to.
What confuses the issue is that not only would any UK troops who did get involved probably keep quiet about it, but any Soldier of Fortune style fantasist anywhere near SE asia cannot resist claiming they were involved. Add to this the difficulty Americans have in distinguishing Australian and British accents and you can imagine the scope for wild rumours. My favourite (which I nearly put in the celebrity urban myths thread) is that a recent leader of a UK political party saw covert combat in Vietnam.
I found this - I suspect you have seen it though
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Vietnam/index.ht...
http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Vietnam/index.ht...
Weren't most of the SAS regiment somewhere else during the vietnam years (possibly afghan) and I think the SAS regiment was a bit sketchy during this time (It was under threat of being disbanded during the 50s and 60s iirc)
eta - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhofar_Rebellion
eta - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhofar_Rebellion
Edited by Odie on Friday 23 April 13:04
a guy who works in the same industy as my dad (off shore oil contacting) spent the last 30 odd years telling people that he limped due to his big toe been shot off whilst he was in a Huey during the vietnam war.
the legend was only spoilt in the last few years when his wife innocently let slip that he had actually chopped it off whilst cutting the grass!!!!
he hasnt lived it down yet!
the legend was only spoilt in the last few years when his wife innocently let slip that he had actually chopped it off whilst cutting the grass!!!!
he hasnt lived it down yet!
Their will have been a few SAS attached to SASR (maybe even delta etc) during the vietnam war but thats just usual for them kind of units lots of exchanges happening etc as for a full UKSF presence (DSF nowaday) its possible but highly unlikely due to the political situation with regards to the sas regiment.
The commissionaire/doorman/security guard bloke at my last work claimed to have had some involvement in Vietnam while he was in the army.
The subject was only raised when I was chatting to him on my return from a holiday there. I've no reason to doubt him. He came across as very sincere when he was telling me all about it and I got the impression it was somewhere he'd rather not have been.
The subject was only raised when I was chatting to him on my return from a holiday there. I've no reason to doubt him. He came across as very sincere when he was telling me all about it and I got the impression it was somewhere he'd rather not have been.
guru_1071 said:
a guy who works in the same industy as my dad (off shore oil contacting) spent the last 30 odd years telling people that he limped due to his big toe been shot off whilst he was in a Huey during the vietnam war.
the legend was only spoilt in the last few years when his wife innocently let slip that he had actually chopped it off whilst cutting the grass!!!!
he hasnt lived it down yet!
It's possible the original story was truethe legend was only spoilt in the last few years when his wife innocently let slip that he had actually chopped it off whilst cutting the grass!!!!
he hasnt lived it down yet!
Some oil types were attatched to UK forces to protect/destroy some oil fields if it was considered neccessary. Or so I heard over a beer.
No I can't remember who told me
Some Brits served in the US forces i.e. this chap who had previously served in the British paras.
http://www.rickrescorla.com
http://www.rickrescorla.com
Edited by Ayahuasca on Sunday 25th April 18:59
Odie said:
(maybe even delta etc)
Delta didn't exist during the Vietnam era. They were created in 1979.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Force
Odie said:
Their will have been a few SAS attached to SASR (maybe even delta etc) during the vietnam war but thats just usual for them kind of units lots of exchanges happening etc as for a full UKSF presence (DSF nowaday) its possible but highly unlikely due to the political situation with regards to the sas regiment.
I'll go with that - in fact, I'd be surprised if there weren't some - either as above, detached personnel - deliberately or otherwise, or at least a few 'advisers'.I know one chap who served in Vietnam. He was in the British Army but on secondment to the New Zealand armed forces. He recalled to me a story of being flown into a jungle clearing in a New Zealand Air Force Bristol Freighter - with bullet holes appearing in the fuselage floor as the Viet Cong took pot shots at them.
A friend / drinking buddy of mine was a radioman with one of the SBS unites and he certainly did a vew trips into Vietnam in the early 70's with the rest of his regiment (correct term??)
He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
TBH he may be in his 60's now but is still fitter than the rest of the crowd so we generally don't push the point too much if ya know what i mean
He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
TBH he may be in his 60's now but is still fitter than the rest of the crowd so we generally don't push the point too much if ya know what i mean
XJSJohn said:
A friend / drinking buddy of mine was a radioman with one of the SBS unites and he certainly did a vew trips into Vietnam in the early 70's with the rest of his regiment (correct term??)
He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
Which ties in with the recent-leader-of-a-UK-political-party rumour.He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
eyebeebe said:
Odie said:
(maybe even delta etc)
Delta didn't exist during the Vietnam era. They were created in 1979.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_Force
As for a full SBS unit going in to vietnam I could see them working alongside the newly formed Navy Seals.
Also SBS where in and around indonesia on more official ops anyway in the 60s so it could be that he wasnt actually in vietnam but borneo but who knows what was really happening. I find it quite interesting though.
The SBS have an interesting history not a regiment passe but the last S has changed meaning multiple times, Section, Squadron & Service, they where formerly part of the SAS and then part of RM, no idea what they are attached too now as they are part of DSF, its interesting that the motto has changed from "not by strength by guile" iirc to "By Strenght and Guile", my dad worked along side M squadron during the mid 80's hence my slight interest.
Edited by Odie on Monday 26th April 11:35
Dr Jekyll said:
XJSJohn said:
A friend / drinking buddy of mine was a radioman with one of the SBS unites and he certainly did a vew trips into Vietnam in the early 70's with the rest of his regiment (correct term??)
He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
Which ties in with the recent-leader-of-a-UK-political-party rumour.He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
XJSJohn said:
Dr Jekyll said:
XJSJohn said:
A friend / drinking buddy of mine was a radioman with one of the SBS unites and he certainly did a vew trips into Vietnam in the early 70's with the rest of his regiment (correct term??)
He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
Which ties in with the recent-leader-of-a-UK-political-party rumour.He doesn't say much about it (and other places that, as he so tactfully puts it "was not officially visiting" ) other than a comment in passing if something comes up in conversation.
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