The Battle of Long Tan

The Battle of Long Tan

          The Battle of Long Tan

Fifty years ago in a rubber plantation in the Asian country of Vietnam,

D company of the 6^th RAR were forced to take a stand.

Engaged by small arms fire and rocket propelled grenades on the flank,

Outnumbered nearly 25 to 1, not the odds you would take to the bank.

108 Aussie diggers against up to two and a half thousand Viet Cong,

If the enemy thought the Aussie’s doomed they were soon proved wrong.

Pinned down they called for artillery as the monsoon rains began,

Anzac soldiers fought what would be known as the battle of Long Tan.

Heavy fighting with poor visibility and nearly surrounded, their ammo low,

When two RAAF choppers arrived to resupply them with its precious cargo.

The Aussies fought hard till near on dark when vital reinforcements arrived,

Nowhere in military history against such odds had a small force survived.

Eighteen Australians died a further twenty-four needed medical attention,

Anyone thinking the Aussies had suffered defeat was under a misapprehension.

A major setback for the Viet Cong with at least 245 of their number dead,

This was not an ANZAC defeat but a major Australian victory instead.

Remember these brave men, who fought as ANZACS have fought before,

The 18^th of August is a date no Australian or historian should ignore.

We pay our deepest respects to the these men of some 50 years ago,

Our servicemen always ensure that the ANZAC legend will forever grow.

                                      

                                                                   `Lest We Forget`

                                                            © Corin Linch 17/08/16