Long Tan CrossPrint Page 
The Cross commemorates those who were killed in action during the Battle of Long Tan on the 18th August 1966. The cross is an exact replica of the one which was erected at the site of the battle in Vietnam. It was erected by Barry McAvinue - the same Vietnam Veteran who built the original cross in Vietnam.
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: | 25 Veterans Drive, Garden of Reflection, National Vietnam Veterans Museum, Newhaven , 3925 |
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| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -38.521033 Long: 145.324317 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Cross |
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| 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: | Monday 18th August, 1969 |
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In memory of those members of D Coy 6 RAR and 3 Troop 1 APC Sqn who gave their lives during the Battle of Long Tan on the 18 August 1966.
Erected by 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Bn
18 Aug 69
The Long Tan Cross
The cross is an exact replica of the Long Tan Cross that was erected at the site of the battle of Long Tan in Phuoc Toy Province. South Vietnam.
The cross was made by Barry McAvinue, the same Vietnam Veteran who built the original Long Tan Cross.
This cross was the centrepiece of the 40th anniversary commemorations of the Battle of Long Tan at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance in August 2006.
