The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1730941) Private Kenneth Howard Gant, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Vietnam.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (1730941) Private Kenneth Howard Gant, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Vietnam.

1730941 Private Kenneth Howard Gant, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
KIA 18 August 1966
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 17 August 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Kenneth Howard Gant.

Known as “Kenny”, Gant was born on 6 January 1945 in Brisbane to Harold and Beryl Gant. He grew up on the family property at Belmont and attended school locally. Later, he went to work as a butcher. Gant was popular in town. He was a good singer, entertaining at local parties, and his friends gave him the nickname “Bing”.

Gant was called up for service on 30 June 1965. His mother later recalled that he did not like the idea of conscription, as there were already so many regular soldiers around, but “he was not a coward” and did his duty. At that time he had not heard of Vietnam.

Gant underwent training at the 3rd Training Battalion in Singleton and the infantry centre in Ingleburn before being posted to the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He joined 11 Platoon, D Company.

The men undertook exercises at Canungra and Shoalwater Bay training areas. During one exercise at Tin Can Bay, local trawler men invited the men of D Company to a dinner at a nearby hotel. A local band was playing, and Gant was invited to take the stage, singing Roy Orbison’s “Leah”. His performance apparently brought the house down, and the band had some trouble getting their stage back.

The battalion arrived in Saigon in mid-1966. The main Australian base at Nui Dat had recently been established and the 1st Australian Task Force, to which 6RAR was attached, had been raised. Immediately after arriving the battalion was deployed on a search-and-clearance operation
in a nearby village, followed by a five-day search-and-destroy. During the second operation 6RAR first came into contact with the local Viet Cong D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion.

Gant wrote weekly letters to his family describing his impressions of Vietnam, which were not favourable, the actions in which he had taken part, the food, and his mates.

In the early hours of 17 August, Nui Dat was hit by mortar and rifle-fire. The Australians suffered 24 casualties. Patrols were sent out and located the enemy firing positions, though the Viet Cong had withdrawn.

The following day D Company moved its search into the Long Tan area. Shortly after 3 pm it came into contact with the Viet Cong in the Long Tan rubber plantation. As 11 Platoon began following up the enemy, 5 Section, in which Gant was a machine-gunner, was on the right. Around 4 pm, the enemy opened fire with machine-guns and small arms.

The men of 5 Section took cover, and during the first probing attack by the enemy, Gant was shot and killed. The platoon was now engaged on three sides and was in danger of being wiped out entirely.

At this point monsoonal rain deluged the area, reducing visibility and turning the ground into slick red mud. In the hours that followed, the larger Vietnamese force attempted to overrun D Company. Close artillery support was crucial in breaking up several enemy attacks and allowing the beleaguered Australians to bring the scattered sections into a cohesive perimeter. As D Company ran low on ammunition, Australian helicopters flew through torrential rain to deliver desperately needed supplies.

At 7 pm a relief column of armoured personnel carriers from 3 Troop, 1 Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, arrived with A Company, 6RAR, on board. As they entered the rubber plantation they encountered members of the Viet Cong’s D445 Battalion, forming up for another
attack. The APCs attacked quickly, stopping the enemy advance. They linked up with D Company and, as night fell, the enemy withdrew.

Next morning the men of D Company returned to the battle site. They recovered two of their badly wounded comrades. Gant and many of the fallen were found still lying at their weapons, as if defending their positions. It was a sight that chilled the blood of those who witnessed it.

The Australians also recovered three wounded Vietnamese soldiers and buried more than 245 enemy dead.

Gant’s family found out about his death two days after the event. His mother reported feeling numb, and couldn’t cry for weeks afterwards.

Gant’s remains were returned to Australia and his funeral was held at the Mount Gravatt Cemetery. Many people from the local area and surrounds attended the service.

Private Gant’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among more than 500 Australians from the Vietnam War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Kenneth Howard Gant, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section