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Vietnam 'Diggers' finally win gallantry medals



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Published Date: 15 August 2008
By Frank Thorne
FORTY-TWO years after one of the most remarkable battles of the Vietnam war, retired Major Harry Smith's long campaign for recognition for his men is over.
Some 18 Australians died and 21 were wounded in the Battle of Long Tan. Outnumbered 20 to one, the courageous "Diggers" fought for 18 hours in monsoon rain on a rubber plantation on the outskirts of their base in Phuoc Tuy province.

But the exploits of the unit were never officially recognised. Now Major Smith and two fellow officers will finally receive top gallantry awards for the 100-odd men who, on 18 August, 1966, battled against the Viet Cong.

The "Diggers" inflicted hundreds of casualties as they kept 1,500 North Vietnamese regular troops and guerrillas at bay.

Major Smith will personally be offered the Star of Gallantry, the equivalent of the Imperial Distinguished Service Order, and second only to the Victoria Cross. "I am extremely pleased justice has finally been done for my men – it's been a long battle," he said.



The full article contains 176 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 14 August 2008 10:51 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

zorba,

airdie 15/08/2008 09:06:56
well done, brave men honoured at last, when does the movie come out
2

Jacqueline Hyde ,

On the shelf 15/08/2008 11:34:28
A stirring story and I am glad such courage and gallantry has finally been recognised.

However, it remains a scandal that so many of our true heroes who sacrificed everything for us never receive recognition because of political expediency. This is particularly true of Bomber Command in WW2, the veterans of Malaya, Korea, Kenya and Borneo and, of course, the British troops who served in Vietnam.

Today's conflicts are often waged in the full glare of the media but we owe much of our current existence to brave men and women who simply did what they had to do in exploits that have never been made public and who are far to modest to make a song and dance about it.
3

Dan,

Englandshire 15/08/2008 16:26:07
Zorba,
If only - the blokes deserve recognition for what they achieved.
I've got a rather slim book on the Battle of Long Tan at home, if I get a chance I'll dig it out and give you the title and Author - well worth a read.

Jacqueline Hyde,
The only British troops to officially serve in Vietnam was an RAF quadron flying Belvedere transport aircraft as the USAF didn't have anything that big at the time. They weren't there for long and never took an active part in combat operations.
There may have been the odd British person there, either as part of the CIA mercinary groups fighting there or it is possible that the odd member of British special forces units may have been there as part of an attachment to either US or Australian special forces units in Vietnam at the time however this was never official policy, (attachment to Delta Force, SEALs and Australian or New Zealand SAS is well documented thanks messers McNab, Ryan, Connor et al).
4

Dan,

Englandshire 15/08/2008 16:26:56
Quadron - kind of like a squadron but used by those who have made a silly typo.

 

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