New Honours for 10 Long Tan Veterans.

Ten of the 13 Long Tan veterans that Harry Smith has been fighting to be recognised for their actions in the battle of 1966 will be recommended for new or upgraded bravery awards. Defence Personnel Minister, Dan Tehan, made the announcement last week alongside LTCOL Smith (Retd.) who led D Coy into the battle on 18 August 1966. Below is the Minister’s media release with details of the awards.

Canberra 10 August 2016:  Minister for Defence Personnel, Dan Tehan, will recommend 10 soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Tan be awarded a military honour or have their existing honour upgraded.

Mr Tehan today said he would recommend to the Governor-General that each recommendation from the independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal’s review into the actions of 13 individual soldiers during the battle be approved.

The Battle of Long Tan took place on 18 August 1966. It was the most costly single battle fought by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War, involving 105 Australians and three New Zealanders from D Company 6RAR and more than 2,000 enemy troops. A total of 17 Australians were killed in action and 25 were wounded, one of whom later died from his wounds.

D Company were greatly assisted by an ammunition resupply by RAAF helicopters, close fire support from New Zealand’s 161 Field Battery, together with additional artillery support from the Australian taskforce base at Nui Dat and the arrival of reinforcements in APCs as night fell.

The Tribunal recommended Medals of Gallantry for Lieutenant Adrian Roberts, Sergeant Frank Alcorta and Lance Corporal Barry Magnussen (deceased) and Commendations for Gallantry for Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp (deceased), and Privates Neil Bextrum, Ron Brett (deceased), Ian Campbell, William Roche, Geoffrey Peters and Noel Grimes.

The Tribunal did not recommend a Victoria Cross for the late Warrant Officer Class 2 Jack Kirby (deceased).

The Tribunal found the Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to WO2 Kirby in 1966 was, “the appropriate award to recognise [his] distinguished conduct and leadership in the field during the Battle.”

For Corporal William Moore (deceased) and Private Allen May, the Tribunal recommended the Chief of Army’s original decision to not award an honour be affirmed.

Mr Tehan paid tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith (Retd) who was commanding officer of D Company 6RAR on the day and who made the application for the review in 2015.

“The independent Tribunal was tasked with investigating the actions of 13 Australians during the Battle of Long Tan and to make a recommendation about awarding military honours,” Mr Tehan said.

“I thank the Tribunal members for their thorough research and considered recommendations, awarding military honours is not something that is done lightly.

“It will be a great honour to write to the Governor-General and ask him to endorse the Tribunal’s recommendations in full.

“The gallant actions of those who fought in the Battle of Long Tan are among the stories of the 60,000 Australians whose service and sacrifice we will commemorate this year on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, which is also the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.”

The Tribunal’s full decision will be published online at https://defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au/.

Summary of recommendations