By Gordon Taylor
Introduction
104 Sig Sqn
had both Regular (Reg) and National Service (Nasho)
soldiers serving with the unit in Vietnam. All
received the same training, wore the same uniforms, ate the
same crap food, did the same crap tasks and all received the
same punishment (if caught).
Photo Left: D8
Dozer on fire at FSPB Hague after being hit with a RPG.
Photo Right: CP on the first day at FSPB Hague. 104
Sig Sqn radio operators at work. Both photos taken by
nasho Gordon Taylor.
As a general comment, the Nasho was one or two years
older than the Reg soldier and better educated academically,
as most had completed career training before being call up,
like the police force, teachers, banking, etc.
On the other hand, the Reg soldier generally was a little
more savvy in the ways of the world, having left home at an
earlier age to join the Army.
Being a
Nasho and having a little time on my hands, I set
myself the task of finding out the numbers of Nasho's that
served with 104 Sig Sqn in its five and half years of war
service in Vietnam.
The Stats
- 832 soldiers
served in Vietnam with 104 Sig Sqn
- 431
(51.8%) soldiers were
Reg's (Including all SNCO and Officers)
- 401
(48.2%) soldiers were
Nasho's (a number were promoted Junior NCO's)
- 110
(27.4%) from
NSW
- 104
(25.9%) from
Vic
- 85
(21.2%) from
Qld
- 40 (10.0%)
from SA
- 53
(13.2%) from WA
- 9
(2.3%) from Tas
We lost three
soldiers (two Nasho's and one Reg) on active service -
Lest We Forget
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