Albany RSL honours servicemen and women as Vietnam veterans service remembers 60th anniversary of Long Tan

The three simple white crosses at the Princess Royal Fortress, set in front of the South East Asia Memorial, was the sombre setting for Albany’s annual Vietnam Veterans’ Day service on Sunday.

The service focused on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, fought on August 18, 1966 in a rubber plantation in South Vietnam, and in which 106 Australian and New Zealand troops from Delta Company 6RAR fought off an attack by more than 2000 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers.

Albany resident Harley Webb, a young national serviceman who served with Delta Company 6RAR, was wounded in the battle while fellow locals Peter Aspinall and Murray Martin were members of Alpha Company 6RAR who were dispatched to help their under-fire colleagues.

With 505 Army Cadet Unit providing the flag orderlies and catafalque party, the well-attended service got under way with the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand, sung by Dione Nesbitt.

Albany RSL president Warren Taylor gave the address and the Rev. Canon Karen Cave said the prayer.

Among those who left wreaths were Albany MLA Scott Leary, city mayor Greg Stocks, Shirley Martin of the Nurses Remembrance Association and Liz Quartermaine of Albany Legacy.

Veteran Mr Aspinall and Mr Webb’s widow Jean also laid tributes at the crosses which mark the sacrifices of Albany men Pte Ron Bell, Sapper Alan Duncuff and Pte John McOuat who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.

Steve Edmonds, a member of Albany RSL read the Ode before the keynote address, which was given by Mal Simpson, a former Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RA Sigs) member, South Vietnam.

August 18 is the official commemoration date for remembrance of the war in South Vietnam and the Battle of Long Tan.

Services are held each year on the closest Sunday to the official date.