Spies in Vung Tau

In 1987 the author purchased a box of early glass slides. Therewas no explanation as to their origin or content. He was busyso he put them in his loft and forgot them. Thirty years laterin 2017 when he retired he re-discovered them. He found thatthey were over one hundred years old. At fi rst he thought theywere taken in South America as they showed natives with barefeet and ancient crossbows. After having the photographs processedinto digital format he realized that they related to amilitary mission by fi ve men connected to Australia and GreatBritain in the period of the 1st World War.They acquired one of the fastest yachts afl oat known as theG.L. WATSON RAINBOW in order to inspect and repair theunder-sea telegraph and radio systems that was tremendouslyimportant to shipping safety and military information andlogistics.The secretive journey took them throughout South-East Asiaand Vietnam with visits to the Cocos-Keeling Islands. Theyspent a long time in Vietnam taking photographs which tella story of why the French Military were building huge gunemplacements at Cape Saint Jcques (now called Vung Tau).