I Was Only 19

Here is our special ANZAC Day video, ‘I Was Only 19’ by Redgum / John Schumann. This song is featured in our movie DANGER CLOSE.

The music video was edited by Producer Martin Walsh and the last piece of music in this clip is called ‘In Remembrance’ by Caitlin Yeo from the DANGER CLOSE movie soundtrack.

60,000 Australians and 3,000 New Zealanders served in Vietnam; 521 Australians and 37 New Zealanders died as a result of the war, and over 3,000 Australians and 187 New Zealanders were wounded.

17 young Australians from D Company, 6th Royal Australian Regiment died in the Battle of Long Tan and 1 Trooper from 1 APC Squadron died nine days later from wounds he sustained in the battle. 11 of those who died were conscripts / National Servicemen.

► 804,286 20-year-old Australians were forced to register for national service between 1964 and 1972
► 63,735 Australian National Servicemen served in the Army
► 15,381 Australian National Servicemen served in Vietnam
► 202 National Servicemen were killed in Vietnam
► 1,279 National Servicemen were wounded in Vietnam

Lest We Forget.

About the song

This iconic protest song written by John Schumann was released as a single in March 1983, hitting number one on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart.

The song presents a soldier’s experience of war and reflects on Australia’s attitude to involvement in the Vietnam conflict.

The song helped Australians to better appreciate the plight of soldiers that returned from the conflict and its lyrics were inscribed on the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in 1992. In 2001 APRA listed this song as one of the top 30 Australian songs of all time.