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The funeral of General Trình Minh Thế and the Cao Đài badge debate
On 3 May 1955, while standing near his military jeep, Vietnamese army Brigadier-General Trình Minh Thế was killed by a...
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The Cao Dai and its Militia 1926 – 1956
One of my main areas of collecting interest focuses on the airborne, commando and unconventional auxiliary units relating to French...
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Dropping into the Cu Chi Tunnels
In January 1966, the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), which had been attached to the US 173rd Airborne Brigade...
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An unidentified French Indochina or 1950’s period Airborne unit badge.
This is an unusual and as yet unidentified early Vietnamese Airborne patch that I have in my collection. It is...
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A WW2 South African Veterinary Corps Medal Group
During a recent visit to my parents in Melbourne, I was given this group which belonged to my father’s uncle,...
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The Czech Police Museum (Muzeum Policie ČR) – Prague
The Czech Police Museum (Muzeum Policie ČR) is housed in the grounds of a former Augustinian monastery that was founded...
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The Army Museum of Western Australia Part 2
Last week, in Part 1 of my review of the Army Museum of Western Australia, I showed some of the...
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The Army Museum of Western Australia Part 1
This is the first of a two part review of the Army Museum of Western Australia. The Army Museum of...
![A selection of items related to the initial deployment of 1RAR to South Vietnam from May 1965 until April 1966 when they were attached to the US 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate). The WW2 era Australian Military Forces lighter which has been modified with the addition of the enameled 173 Abn and Viet Cong badges was issued to Corporal Lex McAulay, who was with 1RAR during this time. Collection: Julian Tennant](https://i0.wp.com/juleswings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/1rar-173-abn-lighters-01.jpg?fit=300%2C228&ssl=1)
An Australian souvenir from Operation CRIMP, South Vietnam, January 1966.
One of my collecting interests is Australian cigarette lighters from the Vietnam War. In recent years I have tended to...
![The Pioneer Parachute Co. Promotional pin for their revolutionary Para-Commander and Para-Sail canopy design. This was a promotional piece and should not be confused with the Caterpillar award badges. Collection: Julian Tennant](https://i0.wp.com/juleswings.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/pioneer-pc-pin-01.jpg?fit=300%2C217&ssl=1)
The Pioneer Parachute Co. pin. Not a Caterpillar!
The Caterpillar Club, started in 1922 by Leslie Irvin’s Irving Air Chute Company, as a way of recording the names...