• A painting depicting the events of the Battle of Long Tan by Bruce Fletcher. Credit: AWM via Wikimedia Commons bit.ly/2beqa1e
    A painting depicting the events of the Battle of Long Tan by Bruce Fletcher. Credit: AWM via Wikimedia Commons bit.ly/2beqa1e
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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.

The Minister 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 task force base at Nui Dat and the arrival of reinforcements in APCs as night fell.

The Tribunal recommended Medals for 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 www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au

Summary of recommendations

 

Recipient

Birthplace
and DOB

What had
been awarded for service at Long Tan

DHAAT Review recommendation

Sergeant Francis Xavier ALCORTA OAM

Born in the Basque region of Spain in 1936

Nil

That Sergeant Alcorta be recommended for the Star of Gallantry

Private Neil Raymond BEXTRUM

Born in Carlton, Victoria on 21 May, 1945

Nil

That Private Bextrum be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

Private Ronald Howard BRETT (deceased)

Born in Gulargambone, New South Wales on 15 February, 1947

Nil

That Private Brett be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

Private Ian Martin CAMPBELL

Born in Brisbane on 9 June, 1945

Nil

That Private Campbell be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

Private Noel John GRIMES

Born in Brisbane 4 February, 1945

Nil

That Private Grimes be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

Warrant Officer Class 2 John William KIRBY DCM (deceased)

Born in Sydney on 11 February, 1935

Distinguished Conduct Medal

That the Chief of Army’s decision be affirmed

Lance Corporal Barry Eugene MAGNUSSEN (deceased)

Born in Brisbane on 15 May, 1945

Nil

That Lance Corporal Magnussen be recommended for the Star of Gallantry

Private Allen James MAY

Born in Home Hill, Queensland on 26 March, 1945

Nil

That the Chief of Army’s decision be affirmed

Corporal William Richard MOORE (deceased)

Born in St George, Queensland on 2 June, 1941

Mention in Despatches

That the Chief of Army’s decision be affirmed

Private Geoffrey Michael PETERS

Born in Sydney on 25 June, 1946

Nil

That Private Peters be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

Colonel Francis Adrian ROBERTS OAM

Born in Midland Junction, Western Australia on 11 October, 1939

Mention in Despatches

That Colonel Roberts return his Mention in Dispatches and be recommended for the Star of Gallantry

Private Willian Alfred ROCHE

Born in Nerrandera, New South Wales on 5 May, 1941

Nil

That Private Roche be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

Second Lieutenant Gordon Cameron SHARP (deceased)

Born in Tamworth, New South Wales on 17 March, 1945

Nil

That Second Lieutenant Sharp be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

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