Long Tan remembrance DPR/TV/1164

Helicopters flew in equipment for the Australians when they moved back in to Long Tan to prepare for the memorial service. Later, after the area was cleared and the site prepared, the nine-foot high reinforced concrete cross itself was flown in. The day before the anniversary, two companies of the Sixth Battalion located the battle site, secured it from enemy incursion and prepared it for the ceremony. With them were nine soldiers who took part in the battle three years ago. Litter left from the clash marked the area. It had already been decided to erect the memorial in the centre of Eleven Platoon's former positions. This platoon bore the brunt of the fighting and lost thirteen killed and eight wounded. Eighteen Australians died and 26 were wounded in the battle - from D Company and from supporting units. But 245 enemy bodies were counted. When all was in readiness on the anniversary, the remainder of the Battalion, led by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel David Butler of Townsville, Qld, deployed into the area with representatives of other units involved in the battle, the 1st Australian Task Force Commander, C. M. I. Pearson of Deakin, ACT, and the Commander, New Zealand Force, Vietnam, Lieutenant-Colonel K. C. Fenton. The simple remembrance ceremony recalled the details of the battle. D Company, on a routine fighting patrol, encountered massed enemy forces later reported to have been preparing an attack on the Task Force base in retaliation for its early achievements. In a monsoonal downpour, the company stood and fought, aided by Task Force artillery and air support. For their action, the men of Long Tan were awarded the United States Presidential Citation. Also identified: Sig Paul Beraldo of Ivanhoe, Vic; Cpl Brian Halls of Stafford, Qld; Cpl Brian Reilly of Auchenflower, Qld; Cpl George Richardson, 39, of Townsville, Qld, formerly UK; Sgt Neil Rankin of Wollongong, NSW; Cpl Rod Hogan; 2IC of Delta Coy, Capt Kevin Leadbetter of Townsville, Qld; Coy Commander, Maj Iain "Jock" Stewart; Sgt Allen McLean of Townsville, Qld; RSM WO1 J. A. Cruikshank of Brisbane, Qld.