Australia's Involvement in the Vietnam War

What important function might the parade fulfill for the soldiers themselves?

• Boost morale

• Show off their uniforms

• Protest against the war

• Celebrate Anzac Day

For whom else would this parade probably be an important, meaningful event, and why?

• The Prime Minister, to show support for the troops

• The families of the soldiers, to say goodbye

• The Vietnamese people, to show solidarity

• The media, to capture the moment

As they depart for a war zone, what range of thoughts and feelings might the conscripted soldiers have?

• Pride and excitement

• Fear and uncertainty

• Indifference and apathy

• Relief and gratitude

What would be the challenges in bonding the regular army troops and the conscripts?

• Different training and experience

• Language barriers

• Generational differences

• Lack of trust and respect

Why do you think the army insisted that there be no conscript-only companies within the battalion?

• To prevent discrimination and division

• To ensure equal distribution of workload

• To maintain discipline and hierarchy

• To avoid protests and mutiny

Is the subject of the song 'I was only 19' the perspective of a regular soldier or a conscript? How do you know?

• Regular soldier, because he volunteered

• Conscript, because he was randomly selected

• Regular soldier, because he mentions previous deployments

• Conscript, because he expresses resentment towards the war

Find evidence from the song 'I was only 19' that suggests many Australians reacted positively to the soldiers departing for Vietnam.

• References to cheering crowds and well-wishers

• Mentions of protests and anti-war sentiment

• Expressions of doubt and regret

• Accounts of soldiers being shunned and isolated

What does the song 'I was only 19' indicate about the nature of the Vietnam War and the conditions under which Australian soldiers fought?

• It was a just and noble cause

• It was a futile and unwinnable war

• It was a necessary sacrifice for freedom

• It was a profitable venture for the military-industrial complex

According to the song ' I was only 19', what problems plague this Vietnam veteran?

• Physical injuries and disabilities

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Alienation and disillusionment

• Financial hardship and unemployment

Is it clear what the songwriter thinks and feels about war, the Vietnam war, the Anzac legend, and the Australian soldier? Do you think he made the song ambivalent or ambiguous and, if so, why? Could various Australians have different feelings about the song?

• The songwriter is strongly against war and the Vietnam war, but supports the Anzac legend and the Australian soldier

• The songwriter is ambivalent and ambiguous about war, the Vietnam war, the Anzac legend, and the Australian soldier

• The songwriter is patriotic and glorifies war, the Vietnam war, the Anzac legend, and the Australian soldier

• The songwriter is critical of war in general, but supports the Vietnam war, the Anzac legend, and the Australian soldier