Saluting Their Service: Victoria Police Officers Conscripted to Vietnam Tell Their Stories

These are the stories of ten Victoria Police officers who served in the Vietnam War between 1964 and1972. Plucked from policing the streets of Melbourne, they were expected to serve their mandatory period of national service before returning to Victoria Police with no support, psychological evaluation, or job retraining, often policing protests against the very war they never wanted to serve in, and had just returned from. Many of them rose to the highest ranks within Victoria Police, with some experiencing debilitating and life-long complications from their time in the military. In 2023, Victoria Police formally apologised to them and recognised their service in a series of events called ‘Saluting Their Service’. Guests: 1. James Stuart ARCHBOLD MMRetired Senior Constable VicPol 14923Corporal 3790920Military Police 2. Iain Mcculloch FINDLAYRetired Sergeant VicPol 15929Corporal 3796498Military Police 3. Gordon Kenneth BEACHRetired Superintendent VicPol 15138Corporal 3790002Military Police 4. Dr Raymond Neil SHUEY AM, APMRetired Assistant Commissioner VicPol 14696Lance Corporal 3790218110 Signals Squadron 5. Ivan William RAYRetired Inspector VicPol 14897Corporal 3791124Military Police 6. Brian Eric FOXRetired Senior Sergeant VicPol 17250Private 37943055 Royal Australian Regiment 7. Trevor Charles THOMPSONRetired Assistant Commissioner VicPol 15045Private 3790257Royal Australian Army Service Corps 8. Eric James HORNERetired Chief Inspector VicPol 11324Captain 3106899Command and Staff Training UnitCitizen Military Forces 9. Maureen Joy SMITH- widow of Ronald Wayne SMITHRetired Senior Constable VicPol 14881Lance Corporal 3788016532 Signal Troop 10. Ian Graham PAYNERetired Inspector VicPol 15150Corporal 3791889Military Police This project was produced with the assistance and support of: Community Advocacy Alliancehttps://caainc.org.au Australian War Memorialhttps://www.awm.gov.au Victoria Policehttps://www.police.vic.gov.au Vietnam Veterans Association of Australiahttps://www.vvaa.org.au Retired Police Association of Victoria Inchttps://rpavictoria.org