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

Battle of Long Tan : 26-November-2011
Battle of Long Tan : 26-November-2011

Photographs supplied by Graeme Saunders

A tree commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan which occured 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:511 Burwood Highway, Grounds of Knox Civic Centre, Wantirna South, 3152
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -37.871439
Long: 145.245062
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Tree
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:Vietnam
Actual Event Start Date:18-August-1966
Actual Event End Date:18-August-2006

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Wednesday 16th August, 2006
Front Inscription

Plaque:

Presented to Knox City Council by the Victorian Vietnam Veterans Community

In commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan - 18th August 2006

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