The battle of Long Tan.

I watched the doco on Austar today. Missed the first half though.

God damn it!
Missed it myself ... Anyone record it ?

those blokes had guts, hard to understand how we (aust govt) have forgoten that it even happened?????
suppose it will not be untill all the diggers are dead and gone till we recognise there bravery.
greg

Yes i watched it here on the History channel,those guys fought very hard.

What will become of the West,if we keep going down the road we are now.

Thanks for The banner Don

Interesting to see an item on our TV news tonight showing the role the NZ Artillery played in the battle.

Situated some 5 kms away from the battlefront the NZ gunners laid down a four-hour barrage only metres ahead of the infantrymen and effectively held/decimated the enemy ranks as they charged . Which is not to denigrate the Aussie infantrymen at all - it was a combined effort , the guys on the ground were all Aussies .

Kiwi Viet Nam vets dont get much respect officially here either , but that is slowly changing .

Anzac was alive and well back then , shame that current government policies attempt to destroy that sense of togetherness .

From "The Battle of Long Tan, by Lex McAulay.

"Time and again the accuracy of the artillery impressed the infantrymen, so that it was averred that Maury Stanley (Captain, NZ 161 Battery) must have measured the distance in front of us!"

Buy the book, boys.

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:
Buy the book, boys.

Agree without hesitation! The book is a superb account of the battle and well worth tracking down. My copy has been read and re-read a dozen times.

Hard to fathom a handful of men facing an opposing force of some 2500 well trained enemy and managing to stop them in thier tracks

Muzza, the forward observer with the company was a kiwi as well. He did a bloody good job in keep the rest of the company alive.

Gidday Guys,

I may be wrong but I believe the FO was Willie Walker.

I know Willie was an FO with 161 Bty in country and was awarded an MID for his efforts and courage calling down fire missions on his own position while supporting Aussies.

I can't say it was at Long Tan with any certainty but maybe one of you guys with the book can shed some light on it.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:
From "The Battle of Long Tan, by Lex McAulay.

"Time and again the accuracy of the artillery impressed the infantrymen, so that it was averred that Maury Stanley (Captain, NZ 161 Battery) must have measured the distance in front of us!"



Buy the book, boys.

A fantastic book, well worth the read.

Here is a link:

Long Tan-Wikipedia Link

Hog Killer

As a Yank I would like to thank the ANZAC guys who fought in Vietnam.

I have never forgotten that you guys have always answered the call.

If someone can give me information about that book I would like to buy it.

LD

I think there were two Kiwi's, Walker the radio op and a Capt?

Maury Stanley was definately the FOO. I met him a few years back at one of the Long Tan memorial ceremonies while I was posted to 6 RAR. All the guys have nothing but praise for the Kiwi gunners who kept the human waves broken up before they got too close.
Of course, I expect when you are down to your last 2 rounds, you'll take help wherever you find it.
Interesting to note, the guys said the yanks offered Close Air Support, but that meant the guns had to stop. The men on the ground didn't think that this was a good idea, so the CAS was waved off, to let the gunners get on with the job of helping the grunts stay in the fight.

I have to stress, that all this is second hand info, but it is from the some of the guys who were at the scene.

From the little I know of ops, it sounds about right.
Thumbs up for the Kiwi Arty!

Gidday Guys,

Have just checked it out with some of the guys and yeas it was Willie along with Maury Stanley and Murray Broomhall from 161 Bty.

I knew Willie as a WO2 when we were on the staff at School of Armour together. He was a Tankie (as all good gentlemen are lol) but did a tour with the gunners in RSVN as they make such great signallers for some strange reason.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

Muzza A Vet once told me that our blokes wouldn't go anywhere that was out of range of the NZ guns we might take the piss out of one another but in a fight we sure want you blokes on our side

I watched the docco on history channel I sat alone while hubby sat on the puter and the kids played thier games.
It left me amazed, emotional and numb at the same time. (as did the changi gaol memorial)

I have not really known much about the Vietnam war, let alone 1 battle. I find myself wanting to know more.

Sam
There a a few good books on Viet Nam by a bloke called Gary McKay (a soldier in it himself) good reads. Also a good book on tracker dogs used by the Australian Army called Trackers by Peter Haran. I've meet some of the blokes in the trackers book (and had a few to many bourbons with them, was very sick for awhile ) nice blokes all.