Vincent Cosgrove

Vincent Cosgrove was born in Casino, NSW, in 1946. His parents lived at Tabulam, a village between Casino and Tenterfield. The Cosgroves had settled in nearby Bottle Creek before World War I.

As a teenager, Vincent attended St John's College Woodlawn near Lismore, where he joined the Army Cadets. The school was 100 km from home, so Vincent boarded there for 5 years. Then, he trained at Armidale Teachers’ College for 3 years, staying at a student hostel.

National service

At 20, Vincent was hoping for his first posting as a qualified teacher. Instead, he received a pivotal telegram. The Department of Labour and National Service had drawn his birthdate in the birthday ballot.

Vincent felt unconcerned about national service. He had some cadet experience and a family history of military service. He felt proud of his father being in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. In later life, Vincent reflected that 'a 2-year stint in the military was almost a birth rite, my turn to step up to the plate and do my duty for Queen and Country'.

Vincent trained for 3 months with the Regular Army at Singleton Army Base (now Lone Pine Barracks). He was one of about 20 'Nashos' who had been conscripted in the fifth intake from the north coast region of NSW. Some of them 'became mates for life'. After basic training, Vincent and many others volunteered for the Infantry Corps and later for active service in Vietnam. 'It seemed like a good idea at the time for a 20-year-old seeking some adventure in life; the word "ignorance" comes to mind now.'

In June 1967, Vincent was posted to the Jungle Warfare Training Centre at Canungra, in south-east Queensland. He recalled the training as 'gruelling and intensive' in humid conditions. Afterwards, Vincent was attached to the Reinforcement Wing at Ingleburn, NSW. He wasn't waiting long for a posting to Vietnam.

In July 1967, the Army granted Vincent pre-embarkation leave for a quick trip back to Tabulam. The local RSL held a small farewell party at the Country Women's Association (CWA) building. Vincent recalled it as 'a proud occasion in my life'. The community presented him with a leather compendium embossed 'V. COSGROVE' in gold letters. He was the only national serviceman from Tabulam who served in Vietnam.

Wartime experience

Farewelled by his mother at Sydney airport, Vincent boarded a Qantas flight to Saigon in August 1967. He recalled landing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base as 'the first inkling that I was now in a real war with real consequences'. The new arrivals were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of military activity, unusual tropical aromas, and oppressive heat and humidity.

The fifth intake reinforcements were transferred to the 1st Australian Task Force base in Nui Dat. They trained with the 1st Australian Reinforcement Unit throughout October 1967. Vincent recalled this as 'where the real camaraderie of active service began'. They felt as though they were all in it together to fight against the spread of communism.

Reflecting back on his training in Australia and at Nui Dat, Vincent concluded, 'I believe I was well prepared for active service in Vietnam, although others may disagree'.

Finally, in November 1967, the fifth reinforcements were assigned to one of 2 battalions. Vincent was assigned to C Company, 2RAR. He replaced the M60 gunner who was returning home. Vincent's No 2 gunner was a Queensland 'Nasho', Private Russell Scoffel. The men remained good friends after the war.

Vincent found his role as an M60 gunner in a rifle platoon emotionally and physically demanding. On Anzac Day, many years later, his platoon lieutenant said that Vincent had been 'one of his best soldiers'.

In March 1968, 3 Australian companies formed a battalion with 2 New Zealand companies – 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC). Vincent was a member of the new ANZAC Battalion.

Members of 2RAR and 2RAR/NZ (ANZAC) were involved in 16 operations during Vincent's tour of duty in 1967–68. They lost 28 infantrymen, who were either killed in action or died of wounds. Vincent said Operation Coburg 'drained us of our youth and earlier thoughts of adventure'.

Military combat against such determined enemy forces in Vietnam was transformative. Vincent said he became an experienced soldier with a different mindset and outlook on life. His personal drive and resilience would serve him well in later years.

Vincent's tour of Vietnam ended on 13 June 1968. He came home on the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney (III), nicknamed the Vung Tau Ferry. He was now a veteran, 'just like my dad'.

Coming home

After disembarking from Sydney, members of 2RAR spent 2 hours with family before a march through the streets of Brisbane. People clapped and cheered the Vietnam veterans as streamers and confetti flew. Vincent didn't notice any protesters in the crowd. He had a lunch of beer and prawns with his parents and then took 6 weeks off leave to visit Tabulam.

Back home, there was a party at the pub with speeches and hugs. Vincent felt like no one understood the war in Vietnam. He was struggling with the transition to civilian life. His personal hygiene had slipped, and his mother encouraged him to shower daily. He kept his well-worn, smelly army boots beside his bed 'in case the enemy attacked at night'. His mum confided to others, ‘He is not the boy I sent away’.

Vincent completed his national service obligation with 2 main activities: a goodwill tour of New Zealand and warfare training for officers graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon. On a bush block near Canberra, Vincent dressed in a black Viet Cong uniform to act the part of the enemy. He also caught yabbies in the creek to supplement their pack rations. In January 1969, Vincent discharged from the Army.

Post-war life

In August 1968, while still on leave from the Army, Vincent met the love of his life, Nancy Holzhauser from Kyogle. 'Nancy ticked all my boxes'. Nancy had a family history of military service and empathised with Vincent's experiences. They married in 1970.

When he left the Army, Vincent returned to teaching. His first position was at Londonderry Primary School on the outskirts of south-western Sydney. He boarded at Richmond's Royal Hotel. Nancy found a job in Sydney and stayed with her aunt in Richmond. Vincent later reflected that 'our lives fell together'.

Vincent worked for the NSW Department of Education for 35 years, including 13 years as a school principal. With Nancy's support, he gained a Bachelor of Education (Administrative leadership) and a Diploma in School Administration.

Nancy and Vincent had 2 sons and built their own home with the help of a war service loan.

Vincent was medically retired from the workforce in 2002. He was only 56, but the effects of wartime service had caught up with him. The Department of Veterans' Affairs granted him a pension.

Veteran advocacy

After the Vietnam War, Nancy and Vincent were both involved in Legacy, a non-profit organisation that supports the families of Australian Defence Force people who have lost their life or health in conflicts.

Vincent recalled the local Richmond RSL Club being 'indifferent to membership of Vietnam veterans'. However, he was welcomed into the Hawkesbury Legacy Group. Vincent said feeling accepted by these older veterans was 'a very significant factor in my being comfortable and appreciated as a Vietnam veteran'. Legacy members encouraged Vincent to raise service-related health issues with the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

With Nancy's encouragement, they both attended the 1987 Welcome Home Parade. It was the first national recognition of the service of Vietnam veterans since the war had ended. Vincent said it was a 'life-changing occasion'. The event highlighted emerging health issues for Vietnam veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and exposure to Agent Orange. Health issues in their own family were reflected in the stories of other veterans' families. They became aware of counselling and other support for Vietnam veterans.

In 2004, Vincent and Nancy worked with a local Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia (VVAA) group to develop the Outpost Education Program. They talked to Year 10 students at NSW schools about Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War and its impact on veterans and their families. In about 20 years, they delivered the program to over 1,300 school groups.

The Australian Government awarded Vincent the Order of Australia Medal in 2015 'for service to veterans and their families, and to education.' He acknowledged it was only possible with his wife's 'life-long support and involvement in all our endeavours'.

Commemorative journey

During retirement, Vincent and Nancy embarked on a personal journey of commemoration. They acknowledged their own Vietnam story while honouring family who had previously served Australia.

In 2003, they attended the Anzac Day service in Gallipoli. They had long wanted to visit the birthplace of the Anzac spirit. The experience fuelled a desire to visit other memorial sites. They visited the Western Front battlefields in 2016 and the Kokoda Track in 2017. Paying respects to the war graves of uncles and great-uncles who died in both World Wars highlighted the sacrifice of Australian families.

Vincent and Nancy joined thousands of others in Canberra in 1992 for the dedication ceremony of the National Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Vincent recalled it as 'a proud and memorable occasion'.

In 2016, they attended a solemn memorial service at RAAF Base Richmond for the repatriation of 32 Australian personnel and dependants who had been buried in Malaysian cemeteries. Many of the servicemen had been killed in Vietnam.

In 2018, they attended the unveiling of the Long Tan Cross at the Australian War Memorial. Vincent felt connected to the wartime relic because he'd been involved in military operations in the Long Tan area.

Vincent returned to his old hometown of Tabulam in 2022. The local memorial names local people who served in major wars. He was humbled to find his and his father's service recognised on a plaque. Vincent said, 'It is difficult to explain the pride and joy we experienced when visiting the Tabulam War Memorial ... I felt proud beyond belief'.

Another milestone in recognising Australia's Vietnam veterans occurred in Canberra in 2023. Vincent and Nancy attended the national service for the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. They joined thousands of veterans and families for the emotional event, where they enjoyed sharing their Vietnam stories.

Then Vincent's name was recorded on the NSW Department of Education honour board in late 2023, finally recognising its employees who served in the Vietnam War.