Hundreds of thousands of young Australian men who served Australia are being honoured today, February 14th, with National Servicemen’s Day recognising the men who served through compulsory military service. 

The era is remembered by many as the infamous ‘birthday ballot’, where men were randomly selected by their date of birth to serve in Borneo, Vietnam, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Australia from 1951 to 1959, and again between 1964 and 1972. 

Bourke local and Vietnam veteran Victor Bartley was excused from National Service, after his Indigenous status rendered him ineligible, and forced him to lie on his application when he later went to elist. 

Fighting alongside men who were part of the National Service, however, he said that he never heard any complaint. 

“They never complained about being in Vietnam, there was no ‘Why me?’,” Mr Bartley said. 

“I applaud those young blokes who went and served. I detest the protests that happened in Australia when they came home…I think it really affected them,” Mr Bartley said.

“It’s different for us who signed up, we knew what we were getting ourselves into, but for Nashos, they went and served, and they weren’t thanked when they came home” he said. 

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said it was important to recognise those who stood up when called upon to defend our country. 

“Australia’s ‘Nashos’, as they are affectionately nicknamed, made a significant contribution to our nation’s defence forces and rightfully wear the title with pride,” Minister Gee said. 

“Around 227,000 men completed the compulsory six months’ recruit training during 1951-1959, but it was in the second period from 1964 when ‘Nashos’ were deployed in significant numbers.”

“More than 804,000 men registered between 1964 and 1972, with more than 63,000 called up to serve,” Minister Gee said. 

Victor Bartley has continued on his mission to locate Bourke war memorabilia, following the tragic fire that engulfed the Diggers on The Darling RSL club. Amongst the lost history was memorabilia that helped to narrate the 24 Bourke locals who served as ‘Nashos’.

If you have any memorabilia to add to the collection, contact the Bourke Shire Council.