Long Tan Missing in ActionPrint Page

Street names commemorate the six Australians who were missing in action at the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. 

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.

Six men from Australia were missing in action after this battle and while none of them came from Western Australia, the West Australian Vietnam Veterans Association held a special street name dedication service in their honour.
The names of those missing in action are :

Lance Corporal Richard "Tiny" Parker
Private Peter Gillson
Private David Fisher
Flying Officer Michael Herbert
Pilot Officer Robert Carver
Lance Corporal John Francis Gillespie

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

Details

Dedication