David Weigall (OM 1962)
This article was published in July 2025.
In his final year at Melbourne Grammar School, David Weigall (OM 1962) could not have known that six years later, he would be deployed to the jungles of Vietnam. Today, his 1968-69 tour of duty remains etched in his memory.
Continuing a family history of service
During the Vietnam War, Australian men could be called to serve in the armed forces from just 20 years of age if their birthday came up in the conscription ballot. While many people opposed conscription, David says he saw service as a necessary act, albeit one that involved personal sacrifice.
“I was the only child still living at home with my widowed mother,” David explains. “It was a huge shock to her that I had to leave home, join the Army, and probably be sent to war. But I grew up in a family where service to my country was expected – my grandfather and father had both served during WWI and WWII.”
A tank driver, and part of the first Australian tank squadron sent to Vietnam, David was immediately involved in operations against North Vietnamese forces. “Our 24 tank squadron saw heavy action against the enemy on a regular basis,” he explains. “There were certain moments when we were terribly afraid for our lives, but all that mattered was working in unison with your crew.”
David’s squadron, C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, ultimately received a Citation for Gallantry for their involvement in the Battle of Coral—Balmoral.
The shock of returning home
After a year of active combat, tent living, and just one week’s Rest in Country stay at relatively safe Vung Tau, and another week’s Rest and Recreation in Hong Kong, David’s return to Australia—where the war was increasingly unpopular—came with new challenges.
“I wasn’t even sure of when I would be sent home,” David explains. “One day, unexpectedly, mid-operation, I was flown back to our Nui Dat base by helicopter, then transferred to the ‘Wallaby Flight’. I’d only had contact with home via letters for my whole deployment. All of a sudden, within 36 hours, I was sitting having dinner with my mother. There was no such thing as a debrief. It was quite surreal.”
It would be 22 years before David felt comfortable attending his first ANZAC Day service. “I learned not to mention I’d been in Vietnam unless someone asked, because it was a taboo subject with many people,” he explains. “In the early years after the war, those who did march on ANZAC Day could face criticism from the crowds, and many felt alienated and rejected on their return home.”
At his first ANZAC Day Dawn Service, David recognised a number of old Army friends, exchanged details, and reconnected. “At that first service, a man I barely recognised ran up to hug me, and although I don’t really remember the incident, he recounted that I’d driven my tank to sit between his stranded tank and the enemy bunker,” David says. “I’ve marched or attended most years since then, and I always find it both moving and enjoyable.”
“I’m now a member of the Box Hill RSL, which has attracted a number of friends from my old tank squadron,” he adds. “We don’t dwell on the past, but there is great camaraderie going back over 50 years.”
David is now a retired architect and with his wife, Prue, has four children and ten grandchildren.
Ongoing family connections to the School
David’s family has a history of service to Melbourne Grammar School that spans generations. His great grandfather, Theyre Weigall, was the 18th member of our School Council, serving from 1872 to 1889.
His grandfather, Gerald Weigall (OM 1887), held the role of President of the Old Melburnians from 1934 to 1936 and his great uncle Theyre a’ Beckett Weigall KC (OM 1875) was President of the Old Melburnians from 1910 to 1911 and member of School Council from 1914 until 1920.
Gerald, Theyre and their brother William Weigall (OM 1888) donated a sizeable sum to the School in memory of their mother in 1924 to establish a set of prizes in her name. Today, Marian Weigall Studies Prizes are awarded annually to the top ten academic achievers in Years 7 and 8 at Wadhurst.
Continuing this family connection with the School, it is intended that David will read the Ode at the ANZAC Day Service at Melbourne Grammar School in 2026.