MEDIA
BACKGROUNDER
Vietnam War (1962–1975)
Australians who served
The Vietnam War began in 1962
following requests from South
Vietnam’s president, Ngo Dinh Diem,
to the United States and her regional
Allies, including Australia, for military
and civil assistance.
» Over 60,000 Australians served
during the Vietnam War, including
more than 15,000 National
Servicemen
Major Units
» Royal Australian Navy Destroyers,
clearance divers and the Royal
Australian Navy Helicopter
Flight Vietnam
» Royal Australian Air Force
No. 9 Squadron, No. 35 Squadron
and No. 2 Squadron
» 1st Armoured Regiment
» RAR Battalions 1st- 9th
» Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam
» Special Air Service
Casualties
» 521 Australians died, including
200 National Servicemen
» More than 3,000 Australians were
wounded
Specific Medals
» Four Australians received the
Victoria Cross for their actions
in the Vietnam War
Major Battles
» 18 August 1966; Battle of Long Tan
» 12 May-6 June 1968; Battle of
Coral/Balmoral
» 6-8 June 1969; Battle of Binh Ba
Cemeteries
» 25 Australians are commemorated
overseas—24 at the Terendak
Military Cemetery in Malaysia;
and 1 at the Kranji War Cemetery
in Singapore
» 317 are commemorated at civil
cemeteries and crematoria and
a further 174 at Gardens of
Remembrance across Australia
» Four Australians are commemorated
at the Perth War Cemetery and one
is enclosed within the Alice Springs
War Plot
More information
P02472
March 2013
»
»
»
»
Vietnam-war.commemoration.gov.au
www.awm.gov.au/atwar/vietnam.asp
www.vietnamroll.gov.au
Estimated number of surviving
Vietnam veterans is available
from table 1A in the DVA Annual
Report www.dva.gov.au/
aboutDVA/publications/corporate/
annualreport/2011-12/Documents/
annrep.pdf
Australia’s involvement in the war
commenced in July 1962 with the
arrival of the first members of the
Australian Army Training Team
Vietnam (AATTV) in South Vietnam.
By 1965 the communist forces
in South Vietnam had proved
themselves able to prevail against
the South Vientamese Army and
its Allies. In response, the United
States increased its military presence
to over 200,000 personnel by the
end of the year and also requested
additional assistance from countries
such as Australia.
Australia’s commitment to the war
increased when the AATTV was
joined by the 1st Battalion the Royal
Australian Regiment (1RAR) which
served with the US 173d Airborne
Brigade in Bien Hoa Province.
In March 1966, a specialist Taskforce
was dispatched to Phuoc Tuy
Province as Australia’s commitment
grew further. The Task Force
comprised two infantry battalions
and support units. All nine RAR
battalions served with the Taskforce
during the war.
The Battle of Long Tan took place in
August 1966, Australia’s single most
costly engagement of the Vietnam
War. As a result of the battle 18
Australian soldiers were killed.
In May-June 1968, Australian
forces were positioned at Fire
Support Bases Coral and Balmoral
where they came under a series
of strong Communist attacks. The
area was on the route used by the
North Vietnamese and Viet Cong
to infiltrate South Vietnam and
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approach the capital, Saigon. Having
had all of their attacks repulsed with
heavy loss the communist forces
conceded this area to the Allies.
On 6-8 June 1969, the Australian
Taskforce was involved in heavy
fighting at Binh Ba. The battle
resulted in the destruction of much
of Binh Ba village and was one of the
few occasions when Australians
were engaged in house to house
fighting in Vietnam.
The following year, the Australian
Government ordered the scaling
back of the nation’s military presence
in Vietnam and most of the troops
were withdrawn by the end of 1972.
Australia’s participation in the war
was formally declared over when
the Governor-General issued a
proclamation on 11 January 1973.
Some soldiers received a hostile
reception upon their return but those
coming home as part of a battalion
received welcome parades that were
generally greeted with warmth and
enthusiasm. Sadly, many who served
still bear the physical or psychological
wounds they suffered in Vietnam.
The Vietnam War officially came to
an end in 1975, when Saigon fell to a
North Vietnamese offensive and the
South surrendered.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day
Australia commemorates Vietnam
Veterans’ Day each year on 18 August.
Vietnam Veterans’ Day falls on the
anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
In 1966, while patrolling the Long Tan
rubber plantation, Australian troops
primarily from Delta Company,
6th Battalion, the Royal Australian
Regiment, were attacked by a large
force of North Vietnamese and Viet
Cong troops. By the end of the battle,
18 Australians had been killed and a
further 24 wounded.
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