Vietnam War veteran Robert (Rob) Asquith opens up on harsh realities of service ahead of Byron Bay Anzac Day celebrations

A North Coast Vietnam War veteran has opened up on the dangers of guerilla warfare and tactics used to ensure survival. Upon returning home, he didn’t get the welcome party he was expecting.

Former president of Byron Bay RSL Robert (Rob) Asquith, 77, is now a welfare officer for the Byron RSL sub-branch.

It’s the height of the Vietnam War and Robert Asquith is throwing lollies to the local children from an armoured vehicle.

It’s all a test. If the kids don’t come out, danger is too close for comfort.

And by “danger” – Mr Asquith means the grenade kind that is propelled from a rocket launcher.

Looking back, the Broken Head-based veteran and former president of the Byron Bay RSL sub-branch, 77, says he has mixed feelings about his time in the service, but does not deny the importance of Anzac Day.

Mr Asquith enlisted for Vietnam in 1969, at the tender age of 21.

“There was some good times and there was some anxious times, we were constantly on the field,” he said.

Robert Asquith as a troop carrier driver in Vietnam. Look closely on the radio antenna and you can see the Byron Bay flag he flew the whole time he was in Vietnam. Picture: Supplied/Rob Asquith

“We were trained to do a job and we did it with the best ability we had.

“I was driving an armoured personnel carrier and one of the biggest threats was rocket propelled grenades.”

He said when he was overseas it was his job to watch out for danger on the road or tracks – and sometimes there would be signs.

“We used to drive through villages and we’d throw lollies out for the kids. If they weren’t out looking then you had to keep your head down because that was obviously a threat,” he said.

“I’d also look for signs (of danger) on the side of the road or tracks, like little piles of stones or broken sticks which would indicate to the locals that there was a mine somewhere nearby.”

Rob Asquith when he was President at the Byron Bay Services RSL Sub Branch, Det Inspector Luke Arthurs (Tweed-Byron Police District) and Vi Hill, Vice President Byron Bay Services RSL Sub Branch.

Mr Asquith said when he and other veterans returned to Australia, it was “isolating”, claiming he was treated poorly by the Australian Government.

“It was a sad time for us because we felt rejected,” he said.

“The 18 years after I came home from 1969 until 1978, I didn’t communicate with any of my mates or catch up with people – or especially talk about Vietnam.

“In fact we were advised not to talk about Vietnam because if people knew you fought you might get spat on or punched, so to avoid any conflict we just kept quiet.

“It wasn’t until 1987 that we (the soldiers) all started to get together again and I was very close mates with some of the guys I served with.”

He said it look him a long time to seek support for his mental health.

“It wasn’t until the late 90s when I started having some issues with my mental health and being able to cope with the things I experienced,” he said.

“Seeing a psychologist helped me a lot.”

Mr Asquith said another thing which helped him was living in Hanoi, Vietnam for four months in 1978 helping to build the embassy while he was working for the government.

“I’m probably the first Vietnam veteran to go back and live in Hanoi, having said that the Federal Government didn’t know I had been in the south,” he said.

“Living there and working with the people made me understand the political issues of why we were there in the first place.”

ANZAC TRIBUTE: Robert Asquith when he was President of the Byron Bay RSL Sub Branch. Picture: File

Mr Asquith said it was important for the Anzac legacy to continue.

“It’s important to involve the schoolchildren and tell the story to them … to make sure the world is continuing to remember those who paid the supreme sacrifice,” he said.

“Everyone needs to continue to remember our veterans that served, those who did and didn’t come home.

On Thursday Byron Bay RSL will be holding a Dawn Service on at the war memorial on the Cnr Marvel and Tennyson St, Byron Bay at 5.30am.

There will be a breakfast held at the Byron Services Club on Jonson Street at 6.15am before the march, which starts at 10.30am.

The second service will begin at 10.45am at the war memorial.

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