Photo: Geoff Vivian.
Veterans gathered with their families and supporters at Esperance Memorial Park on Monday to mark the anniversary of Long Tan and remember those who did not return from the 13-year conflict.
RSL Esperance sub branch president Glenn Churchland president gave a brief tribute to all Australian men and women who served in combat support and transport roles.
“We here in Esperance sub-branch of RSLWA are a small group, but we hold dear the memory of the 523 who paid the ultimate price and the thousands wounded, both physically and mentally, who suffered during their service or due to their service end of Vietnam War,” he said.
“At the end of the Vietnam war, it was the longest conflict that Australia had been involved in to that date.
“Australia had sent more than 60,000 personnel from all the defence services to the war zone with the army having the largest contingent in country.
“The navy had four ships sharing duties on the gun line: three DDGs, HMAS Perth, Hobart and Brisbane, and a Daring Class destroyer, HMAS Vendetta.
“Probably the best-known Australian ship to serve in the war was HMAS Sydney, also known as the ‘Vung Tau Ferry’.
“She did 25 trips in her role as a fast troop ship and logistic support vessel.
“The last battalion to be transported on Sydney was 3RAR in February 1973.
“On board for that trip, I believe, with three of our current members: Bernie Haberley, Mark Abbott, who were in 3RAR at the time, and George Starcevich, who was doing his eighth trip as a crew member of HMAS Sydney.
“The Navy also had diving teams and helicopters pilot serving in country.
“The RAAF also had many roles in the conflict: bombers, cargo planes, helicopters, and medivac teams.
“The late Brian Clayton was a member of one of those medic teams.
“As with all conflicts Australians have been involved in, we all had our roles during that war and without exception we did them well.”
He then asked all present to stand as he recited the Ode of Remembrance from Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen before all observed two minutes silence.
The New Zealand and Australian national anthems were then played before Glenn Churchland and Ingrid Smith laid wreaths.
All were then invited to drinks and finger food at the adjacent RSL clubrooms.
