Community
15 August, 2024
Service this weekend to honour fallen veterans
THE Terang Returned and Services League (RSL) sub-branch will this weekend host a service to remember those who served during the Vietnam War.
This Sunday, August 18, the Terang RSL sub-branch will host a service from 5pm at the RSL hall on Shadforth and Baynes Street as part of Vietnam Veterans’ Day.
The commemoration will honour the veterans who lost their lives in battle or since returning home, those who were wounded and those who carry the physical and emotional scars of war to this day.
The commemoration is held on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
The battle, in 1966, saw Australian soldiers fighting one of the fiercest battles of the war.
Delta Company was tasked with holding ground near the Long Tan rubber plantation in monsoon conditions during a blood-soaked battle against more than 2000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong Troops.
The battle resulted in the deaths of 17 Australian soldiers, and left a further 25 wounded.
Terang RSL sub-branch secretary-treasurer Pam Bell said this year the service had been moved to the RSL hall due to poor weather and heavy traffic at the High Street memorial in previous years.
“If we have inclement weather the service can be moved inside the hall, otherwise it will be held in the courtyard beside the memorials,” she said.
“Then we will serve some light refreshments afterwards.
“We invite anyone at all who wishes to come along to this commemorative service – we always stress this is not a celebration, but we commemorate those who served and died.”
The Vietnam War was Australia’s longest military engagement of the 20th century, during which 60,000 Australians served – 523 of which died, and more than 3000 were wounded.