By JESSE GRAHAM
Vietnam War memorial M2A2 howitzer installed in time for Anzac centenary…
AN EXPLOSIVE new Vietnam War memorial was set up in Mount Evelyn earlier this month.
And although it is set to be opened in coming months, it has already drawn more than a few visitors.
The memorial comes in the form of an M2A2 howitzer 105mm field gun, which formed part of the allied artillery forces in the Vietnam War.
Though the cannon was installed in time for April’s centenary of Anzac Day, it will have plaques installed and be officially opened later in the year.
Mount Evelyn RSL secretary and historian, Anthony McAleer, said the organisation had been working to get one of the howitzers to the town for about four years
He said that colleagues at the Dandenong/Cranbourne RSL had purchased one of the cannons in the past and had helped the Mount Evelyn group to get the cannon trucked down from Bandiana, near Wodonga.
From there, the cannon was placed on an already-laid concrete slab and welded to secure its pieces in place.
The final touches will come in the form of a plaque explaining the cannon and another in dedication to Vietnam War soldiers.
“The howitzer is going to be a memorial to all of our Vietnam veterans who have lived in Mount Evelyn,” Mr McAleer said.
The significance of the cannons is that, during the war, no Australian army patrols went into the jungle without either air support or support from howitzers like the one in the memorial.
“It’s a strong connection, that these were there to protect Australian troops,” Mr McAleer said.
“It’s an ideal sort of object to be used as a memorial.”
Though he joked about the cannon being useful in intimidating rival football teams, Mr McAleer said it had been completely demilitarised, and was already drawing interest from passers-by.
“It’s on display, and people have been stopping by and are absolutely impressed with it,” he said.
Mount Evelyn RSL President and Vietnam War veteran, Roger Boness, said the new piece complemented the memorial garden, which also featured the town cenotaph.
Mr Boness said the memorial had already been well-supported in the community, including through a public ballot run through the Mail around two years ago determining where it should be placed.
With the RSL also teaming up with local contractors and the Yarra Ranges Council through the project, he said the entire affair had been community-based and community-run.
“It’s been a mammoth effort all-round,” he said.
“It looks quite at-place there.”
Mr Boness said the cannons were a “telling factor” in some of the larger battles through the Vietnam War and that his job as a forward observer involved troops were always covered by artillery pieces identical to the one installed in town.
“It wasn’t my job to fire the guns, but it was my job to ring them up and tell them where to fire,” he said.
“They had a significant contribution to winning battles.”
This version of howitzer can accurately fire on targets 10 kilometres away.
Though the Mount Evelyn cannon was constructed in the late 1960s, it was not used during the Vietnam War.
A date for the official opening has yet to be decided, but Mr McAleer said it would take place after the Anzac Day centenary celebrations.
