Anyone know this Dundee war hero?

Military historians are desperate to trace relatives of a Scottish soldier who died in the Vietnam War to get their permission for his name to be added to a new memorial.

Lance Corporal Robert Buchan fought with Australian forces and died, aged 22, in a hail of AK47 bullets after ordering his men to take cover as he scouted an enemy position.

Now officials in the U.S. want to recognise his sacrifice in a new 'Wall Of Faces' memorial to be erected next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, DC.

But his name can only be added with the permission of his relatives, none of whom have so far been traced.

L/Cpl Buchan first emigrated with his family to Australia in 1951, when he was 13. His family returned to Scotland nine years later, but he decided to return to Australia alone in 1966.

Two years later, he signed up for the army and was assigned to the 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment.

The machine gunner from Dundee was a piper but refused to join the army’s band, preferring to serve in a combat unit, where he was known to comrades as 'Jock'.

The regiment began its tour of duty in Vietnam in May 1969. In December of the same year the battalion located and destroyed a large cache of Viet Cong explosives at Phuoc Tuy.

It was there that L/Cpl Buchan died.

'Robert was commanding his section along a well-used track when his forward scout signalled the location of a bunker 15 metres in front,' said Richard Cousins, an Australian military historian.

'He went forward to investigate and directed a second forward scout into position on either side of the track.

'The enemy opened fire from a distance of 10 metres, hitting Robert with small arms fire.'

Historians believe that had it not been for L/Cpl Buchan’s decision to stop his platoon, many of his men would have been killed.

His father, also Robert, told a reporter after learning of his son's death: 'He sent home "signing on" papers two years ago and little did I think I would be signing his life away.'

Mr Cousins said: 'In November 2012 the US defence secretary Leon Panetta made special mention of the contribution made by Australia to the Vietnam war.

'In recognition, a centre is being constructed adjacent to the Vietnam Wall of Remembrance in Washington DC. This memorial will be opened in 2015.

'The central feature of this will be a Wall of Faces, a digital display of the images of those who died, including the images of the 521 Australians.

'Following a request from the the Office of Australian War Graves, Barney and I have researched and made contact with Robert’s infantry platoon, providing us with photos and details on this highly regarded and brave soldier.'

A memorial to L/Cpl Buchan in Australia: His name and face will be added to a new 'Wall of Faces' memorial planned to be erected in Washington DC, but only if his relatives can be found to give permission

In 1987 - 12 years after the conflict ended - a 'Welcome Home' Parade was held in Sydney, with flags presented to the families of the 521 Australian soldiers who died during the conflict.

L/Cpl Buchan’s flag was never presented to his family, and Mr Cousins would like to see his family receive this poignant token.

Mr Cousins believes L/Cpl Buchan’s family lived in Perth, central Scotland, and efforts to track relatives are concentrated on that area.

The Vietnam War was one of Australia’s longest and most controversial conflicts. The country sent 30 military advisors in 1962 but more than 7,600 troops were eventually committed.

Five hundred Australian soldiers never returned, while more than 3,000 were wounded. The Vietnamese government has estimated that the war's total death toll - including civilians and soldiers on both sides - amounted to as many as 3.1million.

Do you know any of L/Cpl Buchan's living relatives? Send an email to reporter Damien Gayle at damien.gayle@dailymail.co.uk

Anyone know this Dundee war hero?

Last updated : 27 June 2014 By Shaded

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