THOMAS GEORGE LONG TAN BROCHURE inside.qxp 4/07/2016 4:00 PM Page 1
“
Cpl Peter E
CLEMENTS
Age 21
Cunderdin WA
Pte Glenn A
DRABBLE
Age 21
Brisbane Qld
Pte Kenneth H
GANT
Age 21
Brisbane Qld
Pte Ernest F
GRANT
Age 20
Thurgoona NSW
It was eerie. The VC weren’t running and diving
behind trees like you'd expect them to. They
were just walking toward us like zombies and
every one you knocked down there were two to
take his place. It was like shooting ducks in a
bloody shooting gallery. I would have killed at
least forty blokes that day.”
Pte Victor R
GRICE
Age 21
Ballarat Vic.
Pte James M
HOUSTON
Age 22
Wallsend NSW
Pte Paul A
LARGE
Age 22
Wellington NSW
Pte Albert F
McCORMACK
Age 21
Launceston Tas.
Pte Dennis J
McCORMACK
Age 21
Adelaide SA
Pte Warren D
MITCHELL
Age 21
Dalby Qld
Pte Douglas J
SALVERON
Age 20
Brisbane Qld
Lt Gordon C
SHARP
Age 21
Tamworth NSW
Mates forever: A speecial bond in battle
Allen May, on the Battle of Long Tan, in Stuart Rintoul’s, Ashes of
Vietnam: Australian voices, William Heinemanne, Richmond, 1987, p.90
BATTLE OF LONG TAN
Pte Maxwell R
WALES
Age 22
Goondiwindi Qld
Pte Colin J
WHISTON
Age 21
Sydney NSW
In 24 hours we had gone from a war to our
families. I was in the same uniform that I
thought looked really good in South Vietnam
which now was crumpled, soiled and stained at
home. My friends had gone their ways without
a murmur and I was back in the world of flush
toilets and women. God, it was a shock!’
years. I’d never like to impose that on another soldier
or person.”
“The mates I lost over there – I think of them all the
time,” Ken said. “Those of us who caame home – we’re
mates forever. They’re a very very special mob of
blokes. We can sit down and talk to
ogether when we
catch up and it’s like it just happened yesterday.”
“Just imagine observing a group of men fighting for
survival and then suddenly they’re not there anymore,”
he said.
VIETNAM WAR 1962-75
“I went over to aid the wounded, and comfort the
dying as that was my job, and that’s when I was
wounded myself. The immediate effect on taking that
round as I recall, was that all of a sudden for no clear
reason I found myself in the air and looking down on
the battle all around me … next thing I remember is
being evacuated in a chopper and wondering how I
got there also.”
The first Australian troops committed to the Vietnam War
arrived in Saigon on 3 August 1962.
As the conflict escalated, Australia’s commitment grew to involve
Army, Navy and Air Force as well as civilian support. By the time
of the final withdrawal of the Australian Embassy Guard on 1 July
1973, approximately 60,000 Australian men and over 500
Australian women had served. Australian forces were withdrawn
in 1972. The war ended in 1975 when the North Vietnamese
captured Saigon. A few members of the Australian Army Training
Team remained until 1973 and there was also a small army guard
detachment in the Australian embassy until the end in 1975.
A total of 521 Australians died in the Vietnam War:
 Australian Army 496
 RAAF 17
 RAN 8
 3,131 wounded
These include three Australian servicemen who were declared
“missing in action”. These three are in fact believed to have been
“killed in action” but have no known graves.
Australia’s commitment, although significant for its military
capabilities, was small in comparison to the United States.
 Over 3 million Americans served in the War and the total
number of American personnel in Vietnam reached a peak of
over 540,000 in 1968.
 About 58,000 Americans died and over 2,000 were listed as
Missing in Action.
Vietnamese losses on both sides were enormous.
 About 224,000 South Vietnamese military personnel and
over 415,000 South Vietnamese civilians were killed.
 Over 1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were killed
and more than 300,000 were declared Missing in Action.
 Some 4 million Vietnamese civilians (10 per cent of the total
wartime population) were killed or wounded.
Graeme Davis was closer to the acttion – a Infantry
combat medic with 12 Pl D Company and caught in
the thick of a fire fight he will never forget.
“They threw everything they had at us, and more,”
Graeme said. “It was so penetrativee. We were 108
strong outnumbered at least 10 to 1.
“It’s a day I’ll never forget … like no
o other day in my 71
SOLDIERS from D Company, 6th Battalion, The Royal
Australian Regiment (6RAR), including Murwillumbah’s
Private Ian Campbell. The soldiers display the dolls and
cigarette-cases presented to them by the South Vietnamese
Government for their part in the Battle of Long Tan. The
South Vietnamese knew the significance of this battle and
wanted to award decorations to the Australians. However,
with the ceremony organised and those attending it already
in place, word was received from Australia that the
traditional policy of non-acceptance of foreign awards was
to be observed. A compromise was quickly reached and the
ceremony went ahead. The Australians paraded and were
instead presented with dolls in Vietnamese national dress,
and also cigarette-cases and lighters.
6RAR members pictured (Back from left) Second Lieutenant Geoff Kendall of
Underdale, SA; Sergeant Bob Buick of Brisbane, Qld; Pte Geoff Peters of Yagoona,
Sydney, NSW; Corporal Bill Moore of Stafford Heights, Qld; LCpl Barry Magnussen
of Aspley, Qld and Pte Ian Campbell of Murwillumbah. (Front from left) Private (Pte)
Noel Grimes of Stuart Town, NSW; Pte Allen May of Wynnum, Qld; Pte Bill Akell of
Townsville, Qld; Pte Neil Bextrum of Perth, WA; Lance Corporal (LCpl)
Bill Roche of Narrandera, NSW.
Graeme was wounded – shot in the arm – about one
hour into the battle. He was on his way to provide
medical support to 11 Platoon which had been
slaughtered in the initial barrage of gunfire.
Graeme said Battle of Long Tan Day – now also
recognised as Vietnam Veterans’ Day – is a special
commemoration in the history of Australia’s military.
“We lost 18 good men that day – it was a high price to
pay,” Graeme said. “I carry survivor’s guilt with me every
day. I survived and probably shouldn’t have … there
were plenty more worthy than me.
“I think about it every day. It’s important we never
forget our mates.”
David Clifton, A Squadron, 3 Cavalry Regiment (National Serviceman),
April 1967, after leaving the Army. AWM collection.
VIETNAM VETERANS’ DAY ✦ LISMORE ELECTORATE ✦ 18 AUGUST 2016
A3_18
Picture courtesy AWM
“
Pte Francis B
TOPP
Age 19
Toowomba Qld
Long Tan is never far from the thou
ughts of local
Vietnam veterans Graeme Davis an
nd Ken Jolley, both
Regular Soldiers from Goonellabah
h.
The famous battle in that rubber pllantation was fought
and won 50 years ago, but rarely do
oes a day pass for
these two without some reminder of 18 August, 1966.
Ken was an engineer – one of the original
o
“tunnel rats”
who performed extremely dangero
ous jobs which
included clearing booby traps – and was based at Nui
Dat when the Battle of Long Tan erupted only
kilometres away. He said the effortss of 6RAR in winning
this battle saved the Australian Task Force from
imminent attack by thousands of h
heavily armed
enemy.
Vietnam veterans Graeme Davis OAM (right) and Ken Jolley
OAM with Hon. Thomas George MP at the Vietnam Memorial
in Lismore. The Battle of Long Tan and its anniversary on
August 18 is a special day for veterans across Australia.
Pte David J
THOMAS
Age 21
Bendigo Vic.
FRONT
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan,
arguably the most famous battle involving the Australian Army
during the Vietnam War.
The battle was fought in a rubber plantation near the village of
Long Tan, about 40 kilometres north-east of Vung Tau, South
Vietnam, on August 18-19, 1966. The action took place when the
hopelessly outnumbered D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal
Australian Regiment (6RAR), part of the 1st Australian Task Force
(1ATF), encountered the Viet Cong 275 Regiment and elements of
the D445 Local Forces Battalion.
D Company was supported by other Australian units, as well as
New Zealand and United States personnel. The 1ATF’s Phuoc Tuy
operations base was at Nui Dat, high ground surrounded by
rubber plantations.
On the night of August 16-17, the Viet Cong fired a barrage of
shells into Nui Dat, wounding 24 Australians.
On August 18 D Company of 6RAR was patrolling in the area of
the Long Tan rubber plantation when, at about 3.15pm, the lead
platoon (11 Platoon, commanded by Second Lieutenant Gordon
Sharp, a 21-year-old National Serviceman) encountered a small
group of Viet Cong which fled.
The patrolling continued until, at about 4.08pm, the main body of
the Viet Cong 275 Regiment was encountered. The Viet Cong
attacked vigorously with mortars, rifle and machine gun fire. In
pouring rain, the Australians returned fire with platoon weapons
and artillery which was firing from the Nui Dat base, some 5km to
the west.
The combination of aggressive fire from D Company soldiers plus
devastating artillery fire from Nui Dat had swung the battle in the
Australians’ favour but the Viet Cong continued to manoeuvre to
gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, A Company of 6RAR had been
ordered to move to the support of the beleaguered D Company.
They did so, mounted in armoured personnel carriers from 1st
APC Squadron which forded a flooded stream and then shortly
afterward encountered a substantial enemy force. 2 Platoon of A
Company dismounted and advanced on the enemy who fled.
The next morning revealed that the enemy force, estimated at
up to 2500, had suffered heavy casualties with 245 Viet Cong
bodies found. Eighteen Australians lost their lives and 24 were
wounded.
L/Cpl Jack
JEWRY
Age 21
St Marys NSW
C M
Y K
Pte Richard A
ALDERSEA
Age 20
Born Perth WA
40327 40327 THOMAS GEORGE LONG TAN ANNIVERSARY BROCHURE
Tribute to the 18 Australian soldеrs killed in the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966
X_THOMAS GEORGE LONG TAN BROCHURE outside.qxp 4/07/2016 4:49 PM Page 1
40327 40327 THOMAS GEORGE LONG TAN ANNIVERSARY BROCHURE
VIETNAM VETERANS’ DAY ✦ LISMORE ELECTORATE ✦ 18 AUGUST 2016
MURWILLUMBAH’S Rex Budd
created his own piece of
military history in Vietnam. Two
records were established by
34-year-old Flight Lieutenant
(Flt Lt) Budd, who was an
Iroquois helicopter pilot with
No. 9 Squadron, RAAF,
stationed at Vung Tau. He was
the first RAAF helicopter pilot
to return to South Vietnam for
a second tour and was the first
RAAF helicopter pilot to log
1,000 flying hours in the war
zone. Flt Lt Budd had served 10
years in the RAAF and had
accumulated a total of 1,450
hours on helicopters. He was
awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for his services to
the RAAF on 22 May 1970. He
worked a property in
partnership with his brother at
Murwillumbah when not on
flying duty.


THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF A FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN BATTLE
VIETNAM VETERANS’ DAY ✦ LISMORE ELECTORATE ✦ 18 AUGUST 2016
KYOGLE’S Lieutenant Ann Hall (left) was one of 15 nurses attached
to the Anzac Sisters of the 1st Australian Field Hospital At Vung Tau.
Lt Hall, Lt Diane Lawrence of Killara, NSW, and Lt Ruth Page of
Parramatta, NSW (right), are pictured at the beach in December 1969
with a car which has an interesting history. The Citroen sedan,
featuring colourful flowers and three bullet holes in the rear
windscreen, was captured in 1968 from the Viet Cong by New
Zealanders of 4RAR/NZ. After repairs the car was given to the nurses
and was used as a transport between the hospital and beach.

village girl.
 Baria, South Vietnam, 1969. Sapper Eric Lynn of Legume unloads bricks for a local Scout hall
being built by soldiers.
 Mekong Delta, South Vietnam, 1969. Warrant Officer Class 2 Kevin “Rusty” Troy of Lismore,
on the firing range helping local villagers improve defensive systems.
 South Vietnam, 1970. 7RAR soldiers on patrol (from left) Lance Corporal Chris Montford of
Lismore, Pte Jim Donnelly (Mullumbimby) and LCpl Garth Gilbert (Ashgrove, Qld).


“The mates I lost o ver there – I think of
them all the time . Those of us who c ame
home – we’re mates forever. They’re a very
very special mob of blok es. W e c an sit
down and talk together … lik e it just
happened yesterday.”

Images courtesy Australian War Memorial collection
 Vietnam, 1966. Private Ron Presbury of Kyogle, 5RAR, enjoys a rice lunch prepared by a local
A message f Thomas
 Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, 1970. Pte Adrian Piper of Murwillumbah, a signaller with
D Company 8RAR, on guard as soldiers fill water bottles.
 Nui Dat, South Vietnam, 1970. Sgts Phil Grainger and Michael Jones, both of Lismore, help
out at a party at 1ATF for children from Baria Orphanage.
 Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam, 1971. 2RAR/NZ’s Pte John Hayden of Tenterfield brews
tea during a break in operations.
 Gulf of Tonkin, coast North Vietnam: Anti aircraft lookout on HMAS Hobart (l-r) Keith Sherwin
(SA), Able Seaman Allan Taylor, of Murwillumbah, and Brian John Morton (WA).


BACK
Contact HON. THOMAS GEORGE MP
A3_18
Electorate Office: 55 Carrington Street,
LISMORE NSW 2480
Phone: 6621 3624
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.thomasgeorge.com.au
Facebook: @ThomasGeorgeMP
Authorised by Hon. Thomas George MP. Printed by Lismore City Printery, 201 Union Street South Lismore NSW 2480, using Parliamentary entitlements.
JUNE 2016
I borrow this quote from local Vietnam Veteran
Ken Jolley, a “Tunnel Rat” with 1 Troop, 1 Field
Squadron, who served in the Australian Army and was
at Nui Dat in 1966 when the Battle of Long Tan was fought.
It is a strong reminder that men and women, in all wars and
conflicts, have fought and died for the freedom we have
today – and that mateship is one of the very important
components of the ANZAC Spirit.
Fifty years ago this year we remember the Battle of Long Tan.
A fierce battle in Vietnam fought and won by Australian
soldiers against all the odds. Long Tan is as much a part of
Australian military history as ANZAC Cove at Gallipoli and the
Kokoda Track in New Guinea. When 108 soldiers of 6RAR
confronted and overcame the overwhelming force of 2500
enemy soldiers, it was a victory built on pure ANZAC Spirit.
Mateship, courage, endurance and sacrifice. All these qualities
came to the forefront in that rubber plantation at Long Tan on
18 August 1966.
Eighteen good men lost their lives and another 24 were
wounded. Hundreds of enemy soldiers were killed.
That day has evolved to represent more than just a single
battle half a century ago. It is now also recognised as Vietnam
Veterans’ Day and it will again be commemorated across the
Lismore Electorate. We will remember the 521 who were killed,
the many thousands more who were wounded and injured, the
60,000 personnel who served, and most certainly all their
families and loved ones.
It is an absolute honour and privilege to be part of this day with
local veterans who deserve all the recognition bestowed upon
them in this special year of remembrance.
Hon. Thomas George MP
Member for Lismore
ABOVE: Member for
Lismore Hon. Thomas
George pays his
respects at the Long
Tan Cross.
LEFT: The Unit
Citation for Gallantry
awarded to D
Company, 6RAR, for
its role in the Battle
of Long Tan.
BELOW: A
Commemoration
Service at the
newly erected Long
Tan Cross in 1969
on the third
anniversary of the
battle.
A community information initiative
brought to you by Hon. Thomas George MP
C M
Y K