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Long Tan CrossPrint Page Print this page

May-2013
May-2013

Photographs supplied by Peter F Williams / Graeme Saunders

The Long Tan Cross commemorates the 18 men who were killed in the Battle of Long Tan on the 18th August 1966. It also remembers the contribution of all Australian Service personnel who served in the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1973. The memorial cross was unveiled on the 18th August 2006, the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

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.

Note: The Long Tan Cross is a memorial which was erected by the 6th battalion, Royal Australian Regiment on 18 August 1969 to mark the site of the Battle of Long Tan, which was fought three years earlier during the Vietnam War. While the cross was removed following the Communist victory in 1975 and used to commemorate a priest, it was recovered by the Dong Nai Province Museum in 1984 and placed on display. A replica cross was also erected on the battlefield during the 1980s, and is frequently visited by Australian Vietnam War veterans.

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:Murray Street, Memorial Park , Rutherglen, 3685
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -36.054829
Long: 146.458193
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Cross
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:Vietnam
Actual Event Start Date:03-August-1962
Approx. Event End Date:1973

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Friday 18th August, 2006
Front Inscription

Plaque :

"Long Tan" Memorial Cross

This Memorial Cross is dedicated on the 18th August 2006, the 40th Anniversary of the battle of "Long Tan" and honours the eighteen Australian soldiers who were killed in this decisive battle of the Vietnam War.

This memorial also recognises the contribution made by all Australian Service personnel  who participated in the Vietnam War from 1962 - 1973

Plaque :

Those Australians who paid the supreme sacrifice in the battle of "Long Tan "

[ Names ]


 

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