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Site of the battle in 2005
Episode 3101 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about the Battle of Long Tan and its effect on the Australian troops who fought there. The featured story appeared on the T and F Website and was titled: Combatant grief and military mourning: 6RAR in the aftermath of Long Tan, 1966–1969. It was submitted by Kristen Alexander and Kate Ariotti.
They reported that the Battle of Long Tan, fought on 18 August 1966, stands as a defining moment of bravery in Australian military history. In the face of overwhelming odds, 108 soldiers from D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) fought valiantly against a vastly superior Viet Cong force in a rubber plantation near Nui Dat, South Vietnam. Despite the intense combat and chaotic conditions, D Company held their ground with the aid of artillery fire and a daring ammunition resupply. Reinforcements and armoured personnel carriers eventually turned the tide, forcing the enemy to retreat.
Eighteen Australian soldiers lost their lives, making it the costliest single engagement for Australian forces during the Vietnam War. Yet, their sacrifice was not in vain. The battle was hailed as a stunning victory and an “epic of courage” by American military leaders. However, behind the celebration lay deep grief and trauma. The survivors of 6RAR were bound to their fallen comrades through a shared sense of sacrifice and duty. In the days and years following the battle, these bonds were expressed in solemn military rituals, the respectful handling of the dead, and the erection of the Long Tan Cross as a permanent memorial.
The recovery of the dead was harrowing. Poor weather, darkness, and fears of enemy reprisals complicated the effort. Soldiers wrapped their comrades in groundsheets, carried them through mud and rain, and later shared emotional stories of mourning and unresolved grief. Their bravery did not end on the battlefield—it continued in their commitment to honour the fallen. The Battle of Long Tan remains a powerful symbol of courage, loss, and the enduring legacy of brotherhood among Australian soldiers.
Listen to Episode 3101 and discover more about the Battle of Long Tan and its effect on the Australian troops who fought there.
