On 7 September 1966 at the Australian Task Force base in Nui Dat, South Vietnam, Australian soldiers took time out from the grim war to honour fallen comrades and men of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, were at the parade ground best for the ceremony. Eighteen of their mates had died in the brutal 3.5 hour engagement of the Battle of Long Tan which accounted for 245 enemy dead and has been described as the most brilliant allied victory of the Vietnam war.
For 3.5 hours, 105 men of Delta Company and a 3 man Forward Observer (artillery) party from 161 Battery, 16 Field Regiment, RNZA, fought and defeated 2,500 Main Force Viet Cong, Provincial Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers.
Chaplain R. Thompson of Brisbane, read the first Lesson and led the soldiers as they recited the Lord's Prayer. At the Memorial ceremony, hymn-singing was followed by the Commanding officer of the battalion, Lieutenant-Colonel C.M. Townsend. Delta Company platoon sergeant, Ron Buick, of Brisbane, Qld, read the Second Lesson at the service.
They were not alone. A group of United States artillerymen who share the Australian camp and add firepower to its strength attended to mourn the loss of their allied comrades. The soldiers presented arms in honour of the fallen men. The last post was played to the silent parade, followed by the lowering of the regimental flag and National emblem to halfmast. The faces of the parading soldiers clearly indicated their loss. The men they ate with, shared tents with and fought beside were gone.
The Vietnamese Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Van Thieu, told them their victory was "The most brilliant to date in Vietnam". He continued, "This outstanding victory was achieved not only because of your long combat experience and fine leadership, but it was also due to the valiant spirit of the armed forces of a valiant people who have always fought for world peace. In the face of this, communism can never win".
After his address he presented a plaque to the task force, which he handed to Brigadier Jackson. He then presented personal gifts of dolls and cigar boxes to the Commanding Officer of 6 RAR Lieutenant Col. C. Townsend, of Brisbane, Qld, and Officer Commanding Delta Company, Major Harry Smith, of Hobart, and to 17 other members of Delta Company, Alpha Company, the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, the 1st Field Regiment and 161 Battery of the Royal New Zealand Artillery.
