Russell James Copeman

The funeral of the First Australian soldier to die on Australian soil after being wounded in Vietnam took place yesterday in Wollongong, accompanied by full military honours.
It was the first full military funeral held in Wollongong for more than 30 years.
The funeral was that of 20 year old Private Russell Copeman, elder son of Major and Mrs J Copeman, of Jenner Ave, Towradgi. He was wounded in action against the Vietcong on January 18.
He was treated at a base hospital in Vietnam and was then bought to Australia at the beginning of March. He was admitted to the military hospital at Ingleburn where he died on Monday morning.
Men and women wept at the service in St Michael's Church of England, at the Crematorium, and among the large crowds who lined the streets transgressed by the funeral cortege.
The service was conducted by the rector of St Michael`s Canon B. Williams. The lesson was read by Archdeacon E.A. Pitt, a former Air Force chaplain, and the address was delivered by the Rev. R. Gray, of Fivedock, formerly of St Mark's, West Wollongong an army chaplain.
The Mayor, Ald. Bevan, wearing his chains of office, led the 350 mourners at the service.
Representatives of Army, Police, industry, commerce, ex-serviceman's associations, and a wide cross section of the community were present.
The chief mourners were Russell's parents, his brother Darrell and sister Anne, His father is on leave from the United Nations Middle East.
The General Officer Commanding the Eastern Command was represented by Major Campbell, and the Special Air Service Regiment with which Russell had served, was represented by Captain I. Gollings. The military escort, firing party and underbearers were drawn from the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. During the service two hymns with Army traditions "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" and "Fight the Good Fight" were sung. The organist, Mr I. McLeod, played the Funeral March as the coffin was borne from the church to be placed, covered with the Australian Flag. on the waiting gun carriage. It was drawn by an Army vehicle piled with flowers, led by a platoon of the 1st Battalion, with drummers beating a slow march on muffled drums. At the Crematorium, after the brief committal service conducted by Mr Gray, the firing party fired a volley of 36 rounds, and the Last Post and Reveille was sounded by Army Buglers.
Speaking during the service, Mr Grey said that Russell came from a family with a fine and distinguished military record.
"We are of the Armed Service and the people of the City of Wollongong are proud to be associated with the family in this last tribute to their son", He said.
Mr Grey recounted how Russell had joined the CMF and later had transferred to the highly specialised Regular Army, 3rd Special Air Service, paracommando unit of specially picked men. "This unit in Vietnam has the dangerous job of leading patrols or being "tail end Charlie", covering the patrol`, he said. It was while being "tail end Charlie" that Russell received his wounds. The patrol into enemy held country, had no water for two days and was making towards a river.
Voices were heard, and the patrol took cover. Investigating the position of the enemy, Russell received 16 bullet wounds", Mr Grey said. Yet his only thought was for the men with him.
Serviceman John Matten, who was with him, and who is attending this service today, ran to his aid. He told me that Russell`s only plea was for his mates to leave him and to save themselves. (Pictures of casket procession from church and Gun Carriage procession accompanied editorial.) ("Honors" American (US) spelling of the word "Honours")
Russell James Copeman was born at Camden. NSW on the 24th.January, 1947 the eldest son of Jim and Pearl Copeman. Russell started school at Picton, in 1952 and then when the family moved to Towradgi, he attended Towradgi Public School to 6th grade before attending Hurlstone Agricultural High School as a boarder student for two years. He returned to Towradgi and Corrimal High Schools for his third year (Then the intermediate level) of secondary school. Both his sister Ann, and his brother Darnel attended Towradgi and Corrimal Schools.
Russell's short working life commenced as an assistant green keeper at the Bellambi Bowling Club and he enlisted in the CMF in September, 1963. Russell then enlisted in the Regular Army in September, 1964. Following recruit training at Kapooka he elected to join the infantry and completed his Corps training at the Infantry Centre, Ingleburn. He was posted to 6 RAR at Enoggera which was then Commanded by Colonel Townsend who had previously served as Adjutant of the 34 Battalion, Wollongong. Russell Copeman transferred to the Special Air Service (SAS) and completed his specialist training with 3 Squadron. SAS prior to their embarkation to Vietnam in June, 1966.

"From the point of view of the history of the SAS the most significant operation I conducted during this period was the four man patrol commanded by Sergeant Norm Ferguson, which was dropped by helicopter into an area about 9 kilometres north west of Binh Ba, late in the afternoon of the 17th January 1967. The vegetation was variable, ranging from secondary jungle to large open areas (areas covered by vines and or thorny bamboo and dry vegetation which made movement difficult. Before last light they discovered a small building under construction and heard voices. Next morning they saw an armed VC dressed in black pyjamas, and two women, one wearing a white blouse and the other wearing a blue blouse, who were sitting around a cooking pot preparing a meal. The Australians searched the surrounding area listening to the VC activity which included the firing of an automatic weapon and the sound of a vehicle.
By nightfall the Australians were 1,000 meters East of the VC camp. Next morning they could hear laughter 50 meters to their east and they proceeded south east through low scrub. Then at about 10-15AM the forward scout, John Gibson, came across enemy tracks and sent back the appropriate signal. Second in line of the march was Sergeant Ferguson and behind him came Private John Matten, the radio operator, while bringing up the rear was the "tail-end Charlie" Private Russell Copeman, the medic. Suddenly enemyfire broke out from the left (north) and the patrol went into ambush drill, returning fire with small arms and grenades. It was Matten's turn to give covering fire to Copeman so he could withdraw when he realised that Copeman was not there. Screaming out to the rest of the patrol that Copeman had been hit, Matten moved forward into the contact area to locate him. He found him in the same place as he had seen him last and furiously began shedding Copeman's equipment while at the same time trying to fire at the enemy. Copeman told Matten to leave him and get out himself, but Matten continued to engage the enemy. He then threw a white phosphorous grenade in the direction of the enemy, and under cover of the explosion and the drifting white smoke, lifted Copeman onto his shoulder and started to run back through the jungle and bamboo. The rest of the patrol provided covering fire and several enemy screamed as if hit.
As far as Matten knew, the only injury suffered by Copeman was to his right arm. But once they could safely stop to attend Copeman's wounds it was clear that there was a second wound to his middle section. After doing what he could for Copeman, Matten set up his radio and sent the appropriate code words asking for help and extraction. As he was packing up the radio the enemy were heard looking for them and Matten picked up Copeman and continued moving towards the winch site.
It was now over an hour since the contact but the helicopter arrived quickly and Copeman was winched first followed by Matten. Then two VC burst from the scrub into the clearing about 20 meters to the north. The helicopter pilot, Flight Lieutenant Hayes, swung his craft around to give the port-door gunner, Leading Aircraftsman Bloxom, a clear field of fire - while Matten also returned the enemy fire. The first enemy group disappeared from view but two or three more enemy ran into the clearing and Ferguson. dangling on the end of the rope being winched into the helicopter, engaged the enemy, who either fell to the ground hit or dived for cover.
The enemy had been very aggressive once they had located the SAS patrol and they had not been deterred from attempting to prolong the contact by the presence of helicopter gunships. That the SAS patrol could be extracted quickly and without further casualties was a tribute to the training and determination of the SAS and the close cooperation of the RAAF. Matten's prompt and brave action had been crucial. The helicopter flew directly to the hospital at Vung Tau and Copeman's life was saved by minutes as he had suffered massive internal bleeding. There was, however, a sad postscript to this story. Russell Copeman returned to Australia and appeared to be recovering from his wounds, but there were further complications, and he died on 10th of April, 1967. He was the first and only SAS soldier to die from enemy action. Russell was a capable and intelligent young soldier, who according to Murphy, should have been at the Officer Cadet School at Portsea.
That ends the official story of Russell Copeman's death, however there is still a bit to say. I was seconded to United Nations as a military observer in the Middle east and was Operations Officer of Tiberias Control Centre with the Syrian "Israel Mixed Armistice Commission" when I received the Casualty Report through the British Consular office in Jerusalem. This was the day our two younger children were flying out of Jerusalem to return to Australia for their new school year. I arranged an immediate flight for my wife, Pearl to accompany Ann and Darrell back to Australia where on arrival in Sydney, the Military Secretary of Eastern Command. Mr Richard's, arranged for Pearl to fly to Vietnam under the "AUSDIL" scheme. Pearl spent 7 weeks with Russell at the Vung Tau Hospital until Russell was evacuated by Hercules to Sydney and then Ingleburn Hospital. I requested release from my UN duties to return to Australia as it was obvious that he was slipping and I was able to see him for just a few days before he died.
Russell was laid to rest on the 12th April, 1967 and the "Illawarra Mercury", editorial of Tuesday 13th April, 67 precedes my notes. A most impressive Military Funeral.
Russell's grandfather, Cecil Copeman, was an Anzac and was wounded on the Somme in 1916. I was an original member of the 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion and served with the unit throughout their 5 campaigns over 8 years. I continued to serve in the CMF and the Australian Regular Army until my retirement at the rank of Major in December, 1974.
Close to our hearts
he will always stay,
Loved and remembered every day.