John Geoffrey Fairley, a highly acclaimed war photographer, provides his unique perspective as an Australian during the Vietnam War. Now, with the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaching, he looks back at how that chaotic era’s effects continue to echo today. Fairley was born in Wollongong New South Wales in 1946. He found his love of photography when he learned how to print photos in the darkroom at his elementary school. This early interest would soon lead him to a career that captured some of the most poignant moments of a tumultuous period in history.
Still, in 1969, Fairley was only 24 years old when he was drafted to go fight in Vietnam. He became one of a small handful of photographers who captured an intimate portrait of that conflict for an Australian audience. His deployment took him to Southern Vietnam with the 1st Australian Task Force for 12 months. There, he experienced the brutality of war firsthand, but the uplifting spirit of those who endure.
Journey to Vietnam
This is what brought Fairley’s journey to the center of this conflict’s heart began well before he ever stepped foot in Vietnam. He only found his love for photography after being sent to a boarding school in Sydney. To develop his skills further, he interned with a professional commercial photographer. That foundation had certainly prepared him well to face a hostile, war zone. Rather than own a gun, he’d be armed with a camera—a rarity among his colleagues.
When stationed primarily at Nui Dat in 1970, Fairley worked with two other photographers at a time. Together, they brought laser-like focus to each soldier’s lives as well as the fast-paced and brutal reality of modern combat. With orders to photograph whatever unfolded around him, Fairley’s lens captured scenes that would become iconic representations of the war.
From little to big, while serving in Vietnam, Fairley traveled through the humid countryside. He kept his guard up, deftly dodging the land mines that would eventually take him and many of his comrades down. Until today, he remembers clearly marching through the dangerous Long Hai mountains. Thousands of Australians were injured or killed by these lethal instruments in that theatre of war.
Reflections on War and Service
Fairley’s experiences in Vietnam changed him forever. Returning home in December 1970, just a year before Australia withdrew its troops, he carried not only memories but thousands of photographs that tell the story of courage, sacrifice, and the human experience amid conflict.
As the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaches, Fairley takes time to look back. He’s joined by other veterans from Australia and Vietnam to discuss experiences both during the war and after returning home. Their candid fond recollections underscore the indelible impact that war had on all those who experienced it. It also largely shows the legacy that still echoes today.
Fairley is recognizing the service of Australia’s Vietnam veterans by donating thousands of his photographs. He is donating these images to the Australian War Memorial. This somber act pays tribute to the lives of all those heroic fighters. It acts as a memorial and reminder to future generations about the complexities and consequences of war.
The Legacy of Photography
Fairley’s dedication to telling the story of our past goes far beyond the photos you see here. It embodies a tale of courage and perseverance. His photographs serve as a visual record of soldiers’ lives, capturing not only battle scenes but moments of camaraderie and humanity amidst chaos.
He recalls thrilling days as he and Sergeant Chris Balis hiked across parched rice fields. They packed their still and cine cameras, documenting the unfolding action on and around them. These illustrations are examples of what war looks like in real terms and what is the individual story behind the narrative that we sometimes forget.
Fairley is now preparing to install his work at the Australian War Memorial. He lifts up the importance of honoring those who have served. Like Schwartz, Tyner believes that photography is an incredibly powerful medium. It has a unique ability to set moods and develop narratives that language can’t always do.
