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Battle of Long TanPrint Page Print this page

16-May-2016
16-May-2016

Photographs supplied by Chris McLaughlin

The "Long Tan Bar" commemorates the Battle of Long Tan which occurred on the 18th 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.

Note: The Alice Springs RSL Club closed indefinitely in 2017. 

Location

Address:Schwarz Crescent, Alice Springs R.S.L. Club, Alice Springs, 0870
State:NT
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -23.693056
Long: 133.879167
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

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

Dedication

Front Inscription

Lest We Forget

Long Tan Bar

Dedicated to Tom Newall to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan

August 18th 1966

 

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