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The plaque commemorates the Royal Australian Navy (R.A.N.) personnel who were killed in action during the Vietnam War.

The Royal Australian Navy's role in the Vietnam War is sometimes overlooked by comparison with the Army's larger numerical involvement. As well as serving in ships deployed to Vietnam naval personnel served in clearance diving teams, the Navy helicopter flight, in logistic support roles and in medical teams.

Australian destroyers sailed nearly 400,000 miles in the course of the war and fired more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition. The converted aircraft carrier HMAS SYDNEY carried about 16,000 Australian troops as the famed `Vung Tau Ferry'. Australian Clearance Divers carried out several thousand ship searches looking for bombs and other explosive devices.

A total of eight officers and sailors of the R.A.N. were killed and nearly 50 injured in the 10 years of the Navy's involvement in hostilities.

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.

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