By David Day
Canungra RSL Sub Branch will host a service at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Kokoda Barracks, on Tuesday August 18, starting at 11am, to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and the 58th Anniversary of the Battles of Coral and Balmoral.
This Service is being jointly organised by Canungra and Runaway Bay Sub Branches and ably supported by Kokoda Youth Foundation.
These two battles were considered to be the most intensive battles in the Vietnam Conflict, every unit that served in Vietnam had their own accounts of their major battles.
The home of the Australian forces in Vietnam was situated in Nui Dat, some 25 kilometres from Vung Tau, where the logistic base was established.
The Battle of Long Tan took place not long after the establishment of Nui Dat and involved Forces from 6th Battalion RAR. This battle was furiously fought in a rubber plantation outside of the Wire, against an enemy force of Viet Cong, and North Vietnamese Regulars numbering in the vicinity of 2500 men,
In this battle, Australian Forces suffered 18 killed and 21 wounded. Enemy casualties were extensive and an estimation of their casualties was high.
Exact figures could not be confirmed as bodies and casualties were removed overnight.
It was in May 1966 that the first Conscripts in Vietnam as part of the new Australian Task Force, and it wasn’t long before the Task Force was in the thick of fight8ng, inflicting horrendous casualties on the Viet Cong in the decisive Battle of Long Tan.
Following the Memorial Service, a meal and comradeship will be held at the Canungra RSL Sub Branch
Visitors and community members are welcome to attend.
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