50th Anniversary - Battle of Long Tan

[Mike Jackson]

Retrospective gallantry awards -

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-0...awards/7696110

[Mark Corcoran]

Excellent news.

Thanks very much for posting this!

Regards

Mark

[slick_mick]

Well deserved.

I was lucky enough to have a good conversation (back in 2009) with one of the diggers who was wounded that day. He spent 5hrs lying in the mud after being hit by our own artillery.

Told some very interesting stories....including some very controversial ones.

Mick

[Hoot]

Originally Posted by slick_mick

Well deserved.

I was lucky enough to have a good conversation (back in 2009) with one of the diggers who was wounded that day. He spent 5hrs lying in the mud after being hit by our own artillery.

Told some very interesting stories....including some very controversial ones.

Mick

Come on then Mick, don't hold back!!.

[slick_mick]

Originally Posted by Hoot

Come on then Mick, don't hold back!!.

As much as I would love to share the controversial story, It's not something I would post in a public forum.

Mick

[Mike Jackson]

I shall be attending a commemorative service for Roo Rencher ex D Coy, 6 RAR in Buckfastleigh, Devon on Friday 19 August 2016 (50 years and one day after the Battle of Long Tan). Although he died in Oxford on 9 August 2016, he was born in Plymouth, Devon. His was a remarkable military career - from son of £10 Poms to Long Tan with 6 RAR to the Falkands as an Intelligencer attached to 22 SAS. Mike

[Mike Jackson]

The Final Chapter

On 10 August 2016, the Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs Dan Tehan announced that it had accepted the recommendations of the independent tribunal into Battle of Long Tan awards that 10 soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Tan be awarded a military honour or have their existing honour upgraded.

Mr Tehan today said he would recommend to the Governor-General that each recommendation from the independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal’s review into the actions of 13 individual soldiers during the battle be approved.

The Tribunal recommended Medals of Gallantry for Lieutenant Adrian Roberts, Sergeant Frank Alcorta and Lance Corporal Barry Magnussen (deceased) and Commendations for Gallantry for Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp (deceased), and Privates Neil Bextrum, Ron Brett (deceased), Ian Campbell, William Roche, Geoffrey Peters and Noel Grimes.

The Tribunal did not recommend a Victoria Cross for the late Warrant Officer Class 2 Jack Kirby (deceased).

The Tribunal found the Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to WO2 Kirby in 1966 was, “the appropriate award to recognise [his] distinguished conduct and leadership in the field during the Battle.”

For Corporal William Moore (deceased) and Private Allen May, the Tribunal recommended the Chief of Army’s original decision to not award an honour be affirmed.

Mr Tehan paid tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith (Retd) who was commanding officer of D Company 6RAR on the day and who made the application for the review in 2015.

[slick_mick]

Lieutenant Adrian Roberts led the APCs of 3 Troop, 1 APC Squadron who carried the 'A' Company, 6RAR reinforcements to the battle.

A well deserved upgrade as they also saw heavy fighting.

Mick