As we moved into the port of Saigon it was nothing less than a chaotic mess both on the river and on the wharves. Ships were being unloaded alongside wharves and in the stream. Normal Vietnamese shipping was relegated to the far Southern end of the Port and here one saw just about any type of vessel flying any flag and in any condition. It was in this bunch of shipping some weeks later that we saw a 300 tonner flying a Singapore Flag, It was good to see of one our ships still plying around SE Asia. We berthed at the Vietnamese Navy ramp in the Navy Yard and to meet us was "Skinny" Truslove, Movements WO at HQ AFV. Unloading was undertaken by Vietnamese and as we were carrying some Plant equipment as "Aid to South Vietnam from the Australian people", there were Aust. Embassy people present. The first thing that was removed from the Plant equipment was the small brass plaque fixed to each, item which stated that it was a gift from the Australian people. I asked one of the Embassy people what was going to happen to the Equipment and he replied "I don't know - probably go to the black market" and I asked if the books would be used and he replied "I doubt if they would even be used as toilet paper". There was neither Public relations presence nor official handover ceremony - just equipment and books being dragged off the ship while Australian Embassy staff stood there with bored looks on their faces Since I was not on the Duty Watch I went with "Skinny" to a restaurant, the "DON KANH" in Cholon for a very good meal and then to the BOQ where he was staying. We h ad a f ew beers and as it was past Curfew I slept on the floor of his room. His roommate was a US Army Captain and being new to Vietnam I wanted to know what was going on.
As we moved into the port of Saigon it was nothing less than a chaotic mess both on the river and on the wharves. Ships were being unloaded alongside wharves and in the stream. Normal Vietnamese shipping was relegated to the far Southern end of the Port and here one saw just about any type of vessel flying any flag and in any condition. It was in this bunch of shipping some weeks later that we saw a 300 tonner flying a Singapore Flag, It was good to see of our ships still plying around SE Asia. one We berthed at the Vietnamese Navy ramp in the Navy Yard and to meet us was "Skinny" Truslove, Movements WO at HQ AFV. Unloading was undertaken by Vietnamese and as we were carrying some Plant equipment as "Aid to South Vietnam from the Australian people", there were Aust. Embassy people present. The first thing that was removed from the Plant equipment was the small brass plaque fixed to each, item which stated that it was a gift from the Australian people. I asked one of the Embassy people what was going to happen to the Equipment and he replied "I don't know - probably go to the black market" and I asked if the books would be used and he replied "I doubt if they would even be used as toilet paper". There was neither Public relations presence nor official handover ceremony - just equipment and books being dragged off the ship while Australian Embassy staff stood there with bored looks on their faces Since I was not on the Duty Watch I went with "Skinny" to a restaurant, the "DON KANH" in Cholon for a very good meal and then to the BOQ where he was staying. We h ad a f ew beers and as it was past Curfew I slept on the floor of his room. His roommate was a US Army Captain and being new to Vietnam I wanted to know what was going on.
8_32%20Small%20Ship%20Squadron.docx