News

Your Anzac Day service times

By Ian Johnson

Apr 22, 2026

Major Neville Wiggins shared his story of Vietnam with the Rutherglen Historical Society last week.

Major Wiggins recalls Vietnam War for Rutherglen Historical Society

Major Neville Wiggins RFD was thrust into the Vietnam war in 1970, performing ‘hot ‘extractions’ for the SAS as a helicopter gunner with No 9 Squadron, RAAF within a month of setting foot in the war-torn country.

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By the end of it all, when Australia withdrew its troops in 1973, he was left with the lasting memory of a child who had been shot and was being evacuated to a Vietnam hospital.

“I remember during the trip holding this young boy’s hand, just so he had human contact,” Major Wiggins said.

“There’s no reason why a human, particularly a child should have to go through that.

“I decided then that I needed to do something to give back to children.”

That lasting impression of the young boy fighting for his life helped guide Major Wiggins towards his post air force career as a teacher.

“When I came back from Vietnam I still had three years to serve in the air force,” he said.

“And at the end of that I had the opportunity to become an instructor.

“My choice, however, was to remain with my family.

“My time in the air force had given me the confidence that I could go into teaching.”

Major Wiggins served at Vung Tau, surviving more than 1,000 sorties and 24 operational missions to make it back home alive.

Last Friday, at the Rutherglen Museum, he recalled his time in Vietnam at a special presentation by the Rutherglen Historical Society to honour the Australian Flying Corp and the Royal Australian Air Force and Rutherglen’s rich contribution to the two.

He spoke frankly about what it felt like to be in Vietnam absorbing their culture, serving as an air force helicopter gunner, working with Americans, his exposure to Agent Orange, ambushes, and much more in a vivid retelling of the war.

“My first impression of Saigon was quite interesting,” he said.

“When we dropped below 1,000 feet in the air we could smell it.

“The swampy water around people’s refuge was appalling, and it was crowded.”

For many years after the Vietnam War Major Wiggins didn’t attend ANZAC Day services as it was too strong a reminder of the atrocities he witnessed during his deployment.

However, at the request of his wife Nyree, he eventually began attending the services and quickly realised the benefit of the occasion.

“The main reason I do it is for my wife,” Major Wiggins said.

“She’s very aware that it’s good for me to be involved.

“I realised that I wasn’t going for me, I was going for those who couldn’t.”