![The Long Tan Cross – one of only two such crosses allowed in Vietnam
To commemorate the acts of bravery of 107 (Photo: The Piper’s Lament, dedication of the battlefield memorial, the Long Tan Cross, 18 August 1969, to those who died in the Battle of Long Tan, 18 August 1966. [AWM negative BEL/69/0556/VN]](https://www.laudafinem.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/screen-shot-2013-08-27-at-1-27-32-pm.png)
On 18 August 1966 some 47 years ago this month an Australian infantry rifle unit, D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment [6RAR], comprising mainly very young Australian conscripts, entered a relatively small rubber plantation at Long Tan in the Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam.
![The Long Tan Cross – one of only two such crosses allowed in Vietnam To commemorate the acts of bravery of 107 (Photo: The Piper’s Lament, dedication of the battlefield memorial, the Long Tan Cross, 18 August 1969, to those who died in the Battle of Long Tan, 18 August 1966. [AWM negative BEL/69/0556/VN]](http://www.laudafinem.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/screen-shot-2013-08-27-at-1-27-32-pm.png)
The Long Tan Cross – one of only two such crosses allowed in Vietnam
To commemorate the acts of bravery of 107 (Photo: The Piper’s Lament, dedication of the battlefield memorial, the Long Tan Cross, 18 August 1969, to those who died in the Battle of Long Tan, 18 August 1966. [AWM negative BEL/69/0556/VN])
The Phuoc Tuy province was only 40 kilometres from South Vietnams capital Saigon, and was a key area to be kept in Australian control as it was literally a road to victory for the enemy.
The Australians had no idea that a full strength battalion [D445] of North Vietnamese [2,500], supported by the Viet Cong 275th Regiment, were entering the same rubber plantation with the same mission – to locate and eliminate all enemy in the area.
It is unsure what would have occurred if the Vietnamese had been successful in conquering the 105 Australians [and 3 New Zealanders] in a battle area that was not much bigger than a couple of football fields. It is believed that the Vietnamese were ordered to attack and wipe out the Australian base at Nui Dat with complete loss of enemy life.
The battle commenced at 15.40 [local time] and the battle was constant without any real relief or stoppage for more than 3 hours. The Australians would have been wiped out but for the accuracy of artillery fire by the New Zealand 161st Royal New Zealand Artillery controlled a New Zealand artillery forward observer that was on the ground attached to D Company.
The battle was nearly lost when the company ran out of ammunition, but through the bravery of Australian helicopter pilots whom despite the danger and the fact that they had to breach standing orders, resupplied the company in the nick of time.
The battle was won when the Australians managed to support D Company with the arrival of the Australian Calvary in M113 Armoured Personal Carriers, from 3 Troop, 1st APC Squadron, but the fact that 108 men had taken on thousands of heavily armed enemy and held the attack for over three hours was nothing short of miraculous.
Forming a defensive position ready to repulse an expected attack the D Company remained overnight, enduring the cold and rain. The Australians returned in strength the next day, sweeping the area and locating a large number of Viet Cong dead. Although initially believing they had suffered a major defeat, as the scale of the losses suffered by the Viet Cong were revealed it became clear they had in fact won a significant victory. Two wounded Viet Cong were subsequently killed after they moved to engage the Australians, while three were captured. The missing men from 11 Platoon were also recovered; their bodies found lying where they had fallen, largely undisturbed.
Two of the men had survived despite their wounds, having spent the night in close proximity to the Viet Cong as they attempted to evacuate their own casualties. Due to the likely presence of a sizeable force nearby the Australians remained cautious as they searched for the Viet Cong. Over the next two days they continued to clear the battlefield, uncovering more dead as they did so.
18 Australians were killed and 24 wounded, while the Viet Cong lost at least 245 [confirmed] dead, which were found over the days that followed. From documents released by the Vietnamese the number of their dead and wounded was between 800 and 1200. The Australians were well aware that the Vietnamese took their dead from the battlefield to lessen the propaganda available to their enemy.
A decisive Australian victory, Long Tan proved a major local set back for the Viet Cong, indefinitely forestalling an imminent movement against Nui Dat and challenging their previous domination of Phuoc Tuy Province. Although there were other large-scale encounters in later years, 1 ATF was not fundamentally challenged again.
Lauda Finem remembers those killed on both sides, but wants to pay particular respect to the incredible bravery shown by each and every member of D Company 6RAR in holding a rubber plantation in what was an incredible display of “mateship” – of being at your mates side, and never ever leaving no matter the likely result. Those killed were;
| Pte Aldersea, Richard A. | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 20; Regular Army enlistee Born: Perth, WA Civ: Lube attendant; Married KIA – Chest wounds Commem: Karrakatta Cemetery, WA |
| Cpl Clements, Peter E | Unit: 1 APC Sqn; Age: 21; Regular Army enlistee Born: Cunderdin, WA Single WIA – died at hospital Commem: Moora Cemetery, WA |
| Pte Drabble, Glenn A | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Brisbane, Q. Civ: Blinds installer; Single KIA – Gunshot wound to head Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q Buried at: Pinnaroo Cemetery, Q |
| Pte Gant, Kenneth H | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Brisbane, Q Civ: Butcher; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q Buried at: Mt Gravatt Cemetery, Q |
| Pte Grant, Ernest F | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 20; Regular Army enlistee Born: Thurgoona, NSW Civ: Farm hand; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Albury Cemetery, NSW |
| Pte Grice, Victor R | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Ballarat V Civ: Storeman; Single KIA Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q Buried at: Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery, Q |
| Pte Houston, James M | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 22; Regular Army enlistee Born: Wallsend, NSW Civ: Station hand; Married KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q Buried at: Mt Thompson Crematorium, Q |
| L/Cpl Jewry, Jack | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: St Mary’s NSW Civ: Apprentice electrician; Married KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, NSW Buried at: Pine Grove Memorial Park, NSW |
| Pte Large, Paul A | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 22; National Serviceman Born: Wellington, NSW Civ: Manager; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, NSW Buried at: Coolah Cemetery, NSW |
| Pte McCormack, A F | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Launceston, Tas Civ: Clerk; Single WIA – Died at hospital |
| Pte McCormack, Dennis J | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Adelaide, SA Civ: Labourer; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q Buried at: Pinnaroo Cemetery, Q |
| Pte Mitchell, Warren D | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Dalby, Q Civ: Clerk; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q Buried at: Mt Gravatt Cemetery, Q |
| Pte Salverton, Douglas J | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 20; National Serviceman Born: Brisbane, Q Civ: Student; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q Buried at: Mt Gravatt Cemetery, Q |
| 2Lt Sharp, Gordon C | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Tamworth, NSW Civ: Television cameraman; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, NSW Buried at: Tamworth Memorial Park, NSW |
| Pte Thomas, David J | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; Regular Army enlistee Born: Bendigo, V Civ: Skilled labourer; Single KIA – Chest wounds Commem: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery, V |
| Pte Topp, Francis B | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 19; Regular Army enlistee Born: Toowoomba, Q Single KIA Commem: Helidon Cemetery, Q |
| Pte Wales, Maxwell R | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 22; Regular Army enlistee Born: Goondiwindi, Q Single KIA Commem: Moree Cemetery, NSW |
| Pte Whiston, Colin J | Unit: 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Sydney, NSW Civ: Postman; Single KIA – Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, V Buried at: Crib Point Cemetery, V |
Controversy has plagued the survivors of the battle as virtually none of the soldiers were medalled, with the highest gong going to a Commander that was not even involved in the battle on the ground.
The Americans many years later awarded the Australian Unit the highest military award and the Australians followed suit in 2011. However the D company survivors still believe that numerous single acts of bravery need to be recognized with the award of the highest number of VC’s for such an action when such impossible numbers were encountered an overcome.
One of the New Zealanders involved, the artillery fire control officer responsible for the incredible accuracy of the 105mm artillery fire, recently received a citation from the Australian military.
Morrie Stanley, unlike the current crop of Kiwi’s, a very brave man
Who would know what this man did for his mates on 18 August 1966, which is largely untold. He found the latent award very upsetting for obvious reasons. What about his mates?. Its about time that things were put right. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zntFL5KubU
Long Tan is only the second place where the Vietnamese have allowed an enemy remembrance cross to be planted. Every year short speeches are allowed to be given but access to the site is strictly controlled.
On 18 August this year Lauda Finem received this poem from a New Zealander who believes that the Long Tan battle involving the ANZAC forces was the greatest battle success involving Kiwi and Aussie troops, and should be rewarded with a number of VC’s, and other military medals, inclusive of a Long Tan Cross being awarded to all of those involved to remember the greatest acts of bravery completed by individuals to protect their mates.
Some allege that the reason for the lack of recognition is because most of the soldiers involved were conscripts and not professional soldiers.
This New Zealander wanted to remain anonymous, but penned this poem, which we feel encapsulates what occurred not only in the battle, but since with the lack of recognition.
Mate you there….
Mate, you there…..mate always..
Contact…
Magazine emptied at hundreds of black shapes.
Bullets slashing, shredding, mauling, killing,
Fuck….fuck…fuck…
Still they come
Mate you there…….mate always,
Mate you there…….mate always
Contact….
Hit the deck…too many to engage
Fear and friendship mingle.
Fuck…fuck…fuck
They pass…
Mate you there….mate always
Mate you there….mate always
Contact….
Artillery hits – it rains..
Water, shells, blood, body parts, brains
Enemy all around
Fuck..fuck..fuck
Who could live?
Mate you there…..mate always
Mate you there….mate always
Contact…
More enemy than ever…
20 to 1…impossible odds
Fuck…fuck…fuck
Last stand called
Mate you there….mate always
Mate you there….mate always
Contact…
Mayhem comes
Weakness appears
Fuck…fuck….fuck
Courage tested but ground held
Mate you there….mate always
Mate you there…mate always
Contact…
More mates arrive
Just in time
Fuck…fuck…fuck..
We will live
Mate you there………………
A rubber plantation held
Hundreds and hundreds enemy dead,
18 mates gone, 90 mates left
Fuck..fuck..fuck..
Mate…. we are going home to….
A country that doesn’t care
Mate….I still remember you
Young, tough as teak,
Always ready and steady
Fuck…fuck..fuck
mate… you will always remembered…
As my mate that was always there.
Is it not a shame that our Kiwi neighbours, their PM John Key and various other New Zealand politicians seem incapable of the same same courage?
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