Melbourne Stars Share Poignant Vietnam War Image To Honor Anzac Day Remembrance
Historic cricket moment captures Australian soldier teaching orphaned Vietnamese boy during war
Nisha Bharatan is a writer with six years of experience. After completing her engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, she did content marketing courses to complement her interest in writing. Nisha discovered her passion for writing in 2016 when she started documenting her journey into motherhood.
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The Melbourne Stars cricket team has shared a moving historical photograph from the Vietnam War era as part of Anzac Day commemorations, highlighting the human connections formed during one of Australia’s most controversial military engagements.
The black and white image, shared from the Australian War Memorial archives, shows an Australian soldier identified as Lieutenant Stevenson teaching a young Vietnamese boy named Hue how to hold a plank of wood as a makeshift cricket bat. The caption accompanying the post reveals the heartbreaking context – Hue’s parents, who were Viet Cong members, had been killed just three months prior to when the photograph was taken.
The Human Side Of Conflict
The powerful image serves as a reminder of the complex human stories that exist within larger geopolitical conflicts. Moments like these highlight how individual soldiers often formed meaningful connections with local civilians, particularly children caught in the crossfire.
The Melbourne Stars’ caption simply states “Lest we forget” – the phrase traditionally used during Anzac Day commemorations to honor fallen service members. By sharing this specific image, the team draws attention to both the sacrifices made by Australian military personnel and the devastating impact of war on civilian populations.
Cricket As A Bridge Across Cultures
The photograph powerfully illustrates how cricket, Australia’s national sport, became an unexpected bridge between cultures during wartime. Lieutenant Stevenson’s impromptu cricket lesson represents a moment of normality and connection amid the chaos of conflict – teaching a game that represents Australian identity to a child who had lost everything.
Cricket has long played a role in Australian military history, with soldiers often organizing matches during deployments to maintain morale and create brief escapes from the realities of war. This tradition dates back to World War I, when Australian soldiers reportedly played cricket matches at times even within earshot of enemy fire.
Melbourne Stars: Champions On And Off The Field
The Melbourne Stars, one of Australia’s premier T20 cricket franchises competing in the Big Bash League (BBL), have recently been celebrating success on the field while also acknowledging important national moments like Anzac Day.
The team recently claimed victory in the 2025 T10 Melbourne Invitational Championship, defeating the Adelaide Strikers in the final. Campbell Kellaway was particularly instrumental in their tournament success, scoring an unbeaten 54 in a crucial match leading up to the final.
Sam Harper and Kellaway both reflected on their T10 experiences in a recent team post, emphasizing the educational value and growth opportunities provided by the tournament. The Stars’ social media has been active in recent weeks, sharing both their competitive achievements and lighter moments with fans, including Easter celebrations.
Anzac Day: A Solemn Tradition
The timing of the Vietnam War image post aligns with Anzac Day (April 25), Australia’s national day of remembrance to honor all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.
Originally commemorating the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landing at Gallipoli during World War I, the day has expanded to recognize service members from all conflicts. The Vietnam War, which saw approximately 60,000 Australians serve between 1962 and 1975, remains one of the nation’s most divisive military engagements.
By sharing this particular image, the Melbourne Stars contribute to the broader conversation about remembrance, encouraging fans to reflect not only on the service of Australian military personnel but also on the profound human cost of war, particularly for children like young Hue who lost his parents to the conflict.
The post serves as a reminder that behind the statistics and political narratives of war lie countless individual stories of loss, resilience, and unexpected moments of connection – even through something as simple as a cricket lesson with a makeshift wooden bat.
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