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40th Anniversary of the Battle of Long TanPrint Page Print this page

03-May-2015
03-May-2015
Photographs supplied by Arthur Garland

The plaque commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in August 1966 during the Vietnam War.

The Battle of Long Tan (18 August 1966) took place near the village of Long Tan, in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The action was fought between Australian forces and Viet Cong and North Vietnamese units after the 108-man D Company, 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (6 RAR)  clashed with a force of between 1,500 to 2,500 men from the Viet Cong 275th Regiment, reinforced by at least one North Vietnamese battalion and D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion.

Eighteen Australians were killed and 24 wounded, while the Viet Cong lost at least 245 dead which were found over the days that followed. A decisive Australian victory, Long Tan proved a major local set back for the Viet Cong.

Australia's military involvement in the Vietnam War began with the arrival of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam during July and August 1962.  Australia's participation in the war was formally declared at an end when the Governor-General issued a proclamation on 11 January 1973.

However, the end-date of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War has officially been amended to 29 April 1975 to reflect Australia’s further involvement in the war during the fall of Saigon in 1975.  The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Australian War Memorial, in Canberra now recognise this new date.

Location

Address:Boundary Road, Bathurst & District Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park, Bathurst, 2795
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -33.425479
Long: 149.548781
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:Vietnam
Actual Event Start Date:18-August-1966
Actual Event End Date:18-August-1966

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Sunday 20th August, 2006
Front Inscription

Bathurst & Districts Vietnam Veterans` Association Inc

This Plaque Was Dedicated On The 20th Of August 2006
To Commemorate The 40th Anniversary Of
THE BATTLE OF LONG TAN
         18th August 1966
                 Unveiled By
           Mr Peter Andren M. P.
            Member For Calare

        "LEST WE FORGET" 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au