Commemorating the Battle of Long Tan and Honoring Australian Vietnam War Veterans

The annual Commemorative Service of the Bendigo Sub Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association will be held at the Bendigo RSL on the date of the Battle of Long Tan, marking the bravery and sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand soldiers. The service will honor the 521 Australian soldiers killed in action, including six from Bendigo, and recognize the suffering of those who survived and were wounded in the conflict. Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Bendigo branch secretary Graham Flanders will be the guest speaker, and President Paul Penno will preside over the ceremony, emphasizing the importance of remembering the sacrifice of those who served.

Key Takeaways:

• The Battle of Long Tan was a pivotal event in the Vietnam War, where 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought against 2500 Viet Cong and North Vietnam Forces, resulting in significant losses.
• Six Australian soldiers from Bendigo, including Private David Thomas, Private John Alexander Doherty, Private Bevan Maxwell Trimble, Private Lindsay Noel Brown, Private Paul Francis Reidy, and Private Allan Roy Brown, lost their lives in the conflict.
• A total of 521 Australian soldiers were killed in action during the Vietnam War, with the/service aimed to acknowledge and remember their sacrifice.
• The Commemorative Service at the Bendigo RSL will be led by Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Bendigo branch secretary Graham Flanders, with President Paul Penno presiding over the ceremony.
• The service emphasizes the importance of remembering the sacrifice of those who served, including those who were wounded in action and those who survived but suffered.
• The ceremony will take place on the date of the Battle of Long Tan, underscoring the significance of the event in Australian military history.

Statistics:

• 521 Australian soldiers were killed in action during the Vietnam War (Source: "The Vietnam War: Audacious to Irreverent", Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia).
• 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought against 2500 Viet Cong and North Vietnam Forces at the Battle of Long Tan (Source: Australian War Memorial).
• The six soldiers from Bendigo who lost their lives in the Vietnam War were: Private David Thomas, Private John Alexander Doherty, Private Bevan Maxwell Trimble, Private Lindsay Noel Brown, Private Paul Francis Reidy, and Private Allan Roy Brown.
• The Commemorative Service begins at 11am at the Bendigo RSL.

Sources:

• The Vietnam War: Audacious to Irreverent, Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia.
• Australian War Memorial.