(Reuters) — The remains of 32 fallen Australian soldiers, many of whom were casualties of the Vietnam war, were repatriated from Malaysia on Tuesday (May 31) in one of the largest such exercises in Australia’s history.
The remains of Australian servicemen buried at Malaysia’s Terendak Military Cemetery were handed over to Australian officials during a repatriation ceremony held at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Subang.
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the Terendak Military Cemetery is inside the Terendak Camp in Malaka, which was used by soldiers from Commonwealth countries, before being handed over to the Malaysian army in 1969/70.
Most of the fallen soldiers were victims of the Vietnam War. Others buried in Singapore’s Kranji cemetery, including an Australian said to be the war’s first casualty, will also be repatriated.
A formal military repatriation ceremony will be held at the Richmond Royal Australian Air Force Base in Sydney on Thursday (June 2).