The Battle of Long Tan

[pardus]

The defining battle the ANZACs (mainly Aussies) fought in the Vietnam War

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ4txHAK6g4"]YouTube - The Battle of Long Tan--Part 1[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXsTirmxHGw&feature=related"]YouTube - The Battle of Long Tan Part 2[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5wb9ni77jI&feature=related"]YouTube - The Battle of Long Tan Part 3[/ame]

 

[digrar]

Thanks for that Pardus.
6RAR was my Battalion. I actually served with Laurie Drinkwater's son in Delta Company 32 years after the battle.

The docco got a bit inaccurate towards the end, Australian medals were awarded to deserving Diggers and Officers, but they were too few and down graded, the dolls that were mentioned (and cigarette and cigar cases that were not mentioned) were in lieu of the Vietnamese medals that were to be awarded and were denied by the government at the last moment.

D445 battalion continued to cause trouble in the province, they were no where near as formidable a force after the battle however. Also a Battalion Commander of my first Battalion had a fused shoulder from wounds he received in battle in late Sept 71, so the claim that you could walk around the province unarmed in 72 is a bit of a reach.

 

[QC]

A question dig; how do you think it compares to Fire Base Coral?

 

[digrar]

Coral and Balmoral were a different kettle of fish, fought over 26 days, outside of the Task Forces AO, 2 battalions with tank and artillery support, a combination of defensive actions in prepared positions and combined arms attacks on enemy prepared defensive positions.
Long Tan was fought over an afternoon, a Company of men who got in the road of a Regiment + attack on the task force firm base, who were unprepared to fight the defensive action, out of position, not carrying sufficient ammunition and with no QRF to back them up.
Coral/Balmoral was without a doubt the biggest battle Australian troops had in Viet Nam, but Long Tan was the defining battle, if the VC and NVA had got into the Task Force base in August 1966, it would have had massive ramifications back home, same goes if if the APC's and Alpha Company hadn't been able to rescue Delta Company, although I don't think Delta Company were ever going to be wiped out, as long as they could keep comms open with the Kiwi arty.
Then there is also the 100 against 1000 factor, over coming all odds etc, Long Tan is set up as one of those battles for the ages.

 

[pardus]

It really was a fucking magnificent action, I dont beleive there has ever been better jungle fighters than the ANZACs (Gurkhas maybe...).

 

[QC]

It really was a fucking magnificent action, I dont beleive there has ever been better jungle fighters than the ANZACs (Gurkhas maybe...).

Fijians do ok. Brits have grabbed a few over the years.

Oh, and thanks dig for the insight.

 

[pardus]

I would be proud to serve in an Aussie unit FWIW. :2c:

 

[Rabid Badger]

I would be proud to serve in an Aussie unit FWIW. :2c:

Wow!! Watched all three and for a Brit to say he would have been proud to have been an Aussie during that battle.....quite impressive young men.

I'm proud that I probably know some of them.......

Much respect out to the Aussie soldiers that survived.

:)

 

[pardus]

One guy back home who showed up to all the Vietnam reunions/ANZAC day was in the battle with the Kiwi Arty.
I told him I was going on a course that the Aussie Sargent Major of the Army would be attending, he told me to tell the SMA that he was a thieving bastard as he'd stolen a bottle of whiskey from the Kiwi while he was out on a mission in Vietnam.

When I repeated that to the Ausie SMA he was :uhh: WTF? lol

 

[digrar]

Knowing Kiwi servicemen, I imagine he pilfered it from some poor unsuspecting digger in the first place.

 

[QC]

I'm on the floor.

 

[pardus]

Damn, you're onto us! :doh:

I heard that when the ANZUS unit was together in the early days in Vietnam, some of the thickest wire entanglements were between the Kiwi section and the Aussie/Yank sections to try and stop us stealing all your fancy gear

We used to go on exercise with shopping lists

 

[digrar]

Long Tan and Viet Nam Veterans day today. A pretty big day back in the Battalion.

Rest in peace boys.

​

2Lt Gordon Sharp
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Tamworth, NSW
Civ: Television cameraman; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, NSW
Buried at: Tamworth Memorial Park, NSW

​

L/Cpl Jack Jewry
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: St Mary's NSW
Civ: Apprentice electrician; Married
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, NSW
Buried at: Pine Grove Memorial Park, NSW

​

Pte Richard A Aldersea
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 20; Regular Army enlistee
Born: Perth, WA
Civ: Lube attendant; Married
KIA - Chest wounds
Commem: Karrakatta Cemetery, WA

​

Pte Glenn A Drabble
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Brisbane, Q.
Civ: Blinds installer; Single
KIA - Gunshot wound to head
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q
Buried at: Pinnaroo Cemetery, Q

​

Pte Kenneth H Gant
Unit: D Coy6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Brisbane, Q
Civ: Butcher; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q
Buried at: Mt Gravatt Cemetery, Q

​

Pte Ernest F Grant
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 20; Regular Army enlistee
Born: Thurgoona, NSW
Civ: Farm hand; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Albury Cemetery, NSW

​

Pte Victor Grice
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Ballarat V
Civ: Storeman; Single
KIA
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q
Buried at: Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery, Q

​

Pte James M Houston
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 22; Regular Army enlistee
Born: Wallsend, NSW
Civ: Station hand; Married
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q
Buried at: Mt Thompson Crematorium, Q

​

Pte Paul A Large
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 22; National Serviceman
Born: Wellington, NSW
Civ: Manager; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, NSW
Buried at: Coolah Cemetery, NSW

​

Pte A F (Lionel) McCormack
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Launceston, Tas
Civ: Clerk; Single
WIA - Died at hospital

​

Pte Dennis J McCormack
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Adelaide, SA
Civ: Labourer; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q
Buried at: Pinnaroo Cemetery, Q

​

Pte Warren D Mitchell
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Dalby, Q
Civ: Clerk; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q
Buried at: Mt Gravatt Cemetery, Q

​

Pte Douglas J Salveron
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 20; National Serviceman
Born: Brisbane, Q
Civ: Student; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, Q
Buried at: Mt Gravatt Cemetery, Q

​

Pte David J Thomas
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; Regular Army enlistee
Born: Bendigo, V
Civ: Skilled labourer; Single
KIA - Chest wounds
Commem: Kangaroo Flat Cemetery, V

​

Pte Francis B Topp
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 19; Regular Army enlistee
Born: Toowoomba, Q
Single
KIA
Commem: Helidon Cemetery, Q

​

Pte Maxwell R Wales
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 22; Regular Army enlistee
Born: Goondiwindi, Q
Single
KIA
Commem: Moree Cemetery, NSW

​

Pte Colin J Whiston
Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman
Born: Sydney, NSW
Civ: Postman; Single
KIA - Gunshot wounds
Commem: Garden of Remembrance, V
Buried at: Crib Point Cemetery, V

​

Cpl Peter E Clements
Unit: 3 Tp 1 APC Sqn;
Age: 21; Regular Army enlistee
Born: Cunderdin, WA
Single
WIA - died at hospital
Commem: Moora Cemetery, WA

 

[7point62]

RIP, Thanks, and hand salute to these brave men.


A strange sight as I was cleaning my gear at a tiny ARVN compound at Thanh Quit (SW of Danang) one morning when in through the wire comes this huge guy with a red beard, a German Shepard on a leash and about 12 ARVNs with M1 carbines. WTF? He asked one of my buds where he could find the CO...and he was speaking Australian. He went into the CO's hooch for about 10 minutes, came out, took the dog's leash away they went.

An endearing memory. ;)

 

[digrar]

Australian? That would be the Queens English.