Community gathers to commemorate

ON Tuesday, August 18, approximately 80 veterans, guests, and families gathered at the Berri Vietnam War Memorial to honour the service and sacrifice of Australian servicemen involved in the Vietnam War, between 1962 and 1975. The commemoration paid tribute to the bravery, teamwork, and endurance of the more than 60,000 Australians who served, the nearly 3000 wounded, and the 523 who lost their lives.

This year’s Riverland ceremony held particular significance as the community marked the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. On August 18, 1966, 108 soldiers from D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, engaged a vastly larger force of 1500–2500 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops in a rubber plantation near Nui Dat. Fought in torrential rain for more than three hours, the battle ended with the enemy withdrawing after suffering heavy losses. Seventeen Australians were killed and 24 wounded. Today, Long Tan is remembered as one of the most significant actions in Australian military history
Cadets support the ceremony.