New and upgraded awards for Long Tan – but no VC

Ten soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Tan will be recommended for a military award or have their existing honour upgraded following a long-fought-for review.

Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan 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 Battle of Long Tan took place on 18 August 1966. It was the most costly single battle fought by Australian soldiers in the Vietnam War, involving 105 Australians and three New Zealanders from D Company 6RAR and more than 2000 enemy troops.

A total of 17 Australians were killed in action and 25 were wounded, one of whom later died from his wounds.

D Company were greatly assisted by an ammunition resupply by RAAF helicopters, close fire support from New Zealand’s 161 Field Battery, together with additional artillery support from the Australian task force base at Nui Dat and the arrival of reinforcements in APCs as night fell.

The Tribunal recommended Medals for 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 fought for improved recognition for his soldiers for nearly 50 years.

Speaking before this announcement, Lieutenant Colonel Smith, now 82, said he hoped the heroism of his men would finally be given the recognition they were robbed off so many years ago.

“I think the tribunal now understands that justice has to be done. I’m heading to Canberra with a great deal of expectation that the injustice will be set right,” he said.

“It’s time for this soldier and [my] men to put the battle behind us.

“I know that there are a lot of soldiers however that fought in other units, even in Afghanistan, who should have got awards and didn’t.

“But Long Tan has been put up on a pedestal by the Australian public and the ex-service public and it needs to be put to rest and I hope that it is done before the 50th anniversary.”

Speaking after the announcement to the Sydney Morning Herald, Lieutenant Colonel Smith said he was “a little bit disappointed about Jack Kirby … however, I accept the findings of the tribunal”.

Mr Tehan said the independent Tribunal was tasked with investigating the actions of 13 Australians during the Battle of Long Tan and to make a recommendation about awarding military honours.

“I thank the Tribunal members for their thorough research and considered recommendations.

“Awarding military honours is not something that is done lightly.

“It will be a great honour to write to the Governor-General and ask him to endorse the Tribunal’s recommendations in full.

“The gallant actions of those who fought in the Battle of Long Tan are among the stories of the 60,000 Australians whose service and sacrifice we will commemorate this year on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, which is also the 50^th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.”

The Tribunal’s full decision will be published online at www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au

 

 

Summary of recommendations

Recipient	Place + DOB	Past award	Review recommended
Sergeant Francis Xavier ALCORTA OAM	Born in the Basque region of Spain in 1936	Nil	That Sergeant Alcorta be recommended for the Medal of Gallantry
Private Neil Raymond BEXTRUM	Born in Carlton, Victoria on 21 May, 1945	Nil	That Private Bextrum be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry
Private Ronald Howard BRETT (deceased)	Born in Gulargambone, New South Wales on 15 February, 1947	Nil	That Private Brett be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry
Private Ian Martin CAMPBELL	Born in Brisbane on 9 June, 1945	Nil	That Private Campbell be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry
Private Noel John GRIMES	Born in Brisbane 4 February, 1945	Nil	That Private Grimes be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry
Warrant Officer Class 2 John William KIRBY DCM (deceased)	Born in Sydney on 11 February, 1935	Distinguished Conduct Medal	That the Chief of Army’s decision be affirmed
Lance Corporal Barry Eugene MAGNUSSEN (deceased)	Born in Brisbane on 15 May, 1945	Nil	That Lance Corporal Magnussen be recommended of the Medal of Gallantry
Private Allen James MAY	Born in Home Hill, Queensland on 26 March, 1945	Nil	That the Chief of Army’s decision be affirmed
Corporal William Richard MOORE (deceased)	Born in St George, Queensland on 2 June, 1941	Mention in Despatches	That the Chief of Army’s decision be affirmed
Private Geoffrey Michael PETERS	Born in Sydney on 25 June, 1946	Nil	That Private Peters be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry
Colonel Francis Adrian ROBERTS OAM	Born in Midland Junction, Western Australia on 11 October, 1939	Mention in Despatches	That Colonel Roberts return his Mention in Dispatches and be recommended for the Medal of Gallantry
Private Willian Alfred ROCHE	Born in Nerrandera, New South Wales on 5 May, 1941	Nil	That Private Roche be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry
Second Lieutenant Gordon Cameron SHARP (deceased)	Born in Tamworth, New South Wales on 17 March, 1945	Nil	That Second Lieutenant Sharp be recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry

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