Mr Foster said the recognition was well-deserved. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. "Even though there may be some people who are no longer around to acknowledge the recognition, the veteran community certainly will recognise the fact that it's a long overdue award," he said. Until honour is fulfilled on this point the military awards system has no integrity to defend. Despite this, he continued to direct his men and call for artillery support. Three men will receive a Medal for Gallantry and another seven will receive a Commendation for Gallantry. The weapons included rocket launchers, heavy machine guns, recoilless rifles, and scores of rifles and carbines. HARRY SMITH is again leading his soldiers from the Battle of Long Tan, ... 1966, is particularly passionate about the case of Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp. As the fighting intensified, the Australians of 11th Platoon found themselves pinned down, with machine gunfire whizzing overhead, mortar shells exploding all around them and rifle fire ricocheting from the trees. The song is a soft, mournful hooting “ooaaH coo coo coo” often mistaken for an owl although it is usually heard only during the day. 9. Before being called up he had worked as a television cameraman. One of those receiving a Commendation for Gallantry is Tamworth's Gordon Sharp, the only Australian officer killed in the battle. “Long Tan Action” by Bruce Fletcher. Popular at school, a keen athlete and with an active social life, the 21-year-old should have had his whole life ahead of him. In August 1966, in a Vietnamese rubber plantation called Long Tan, 108 young and inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers are fighting for their lives against 2500 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers. Both lived to ripe old ages. Long tan, Vietnam. Major General Peter Abigail, Major General Steve Gower and Brigadier Gerry Warner, writing in the 2008 Long Tan Recognition Review, state: ”both awards (Jackson’s and Townsend’s DSOs) relate to their entire periods of command”. Sharp's platoon was pinned down by the intense fire and suffered several casualties. They killed one. The second name commemorated on the memorial is that of 2LT Gordon Sharp who died at Long Tan on 18 August 1966 and I shall shortly relate a little of his story. Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia president Ken Foster said unfortunately, some family members of those recognised would no longer be around to witness the awards. At the end of … The recognition was recommended in August thanks to the tireless efforts of D Company commander, retired Lieutenant Colonel Harry Smith, who approached the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal in a final attempt to get recognition for his men. If the cost of appropriately honouring Sharp and the others who were denied the awards they were nominated for is a re-examination of the factual accuracy of the awards to senior officers who weren’t at the battle then so be it. This, according to Harry Smith and Adrian Roberts, falls far short of the standards of accuracy expected for citations for bravery and makes a mockery of claims by subsequent reviews they had to deny individual awards to men present at the battle in order to preserve the ”integrity” of the honours system. Either Townsend and Jackson received their DSOs as a result of their connection with Long Tan or else the awards were made inappropriately there is no middle ground. In the early stages of the battle, aware his platoon was being cut off, Sharp rose to his knees to direct artillery fire and was shot through the neck. 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 … The 108 soldiers of D Company held off a large enemy force for over three hours during a tropical downpour. Temporary Redirect. The Battle of Long Tan is the most publicised Australian battle of the Vietnam War. Lt Sharp was killed leading his troops in the battle against the VC in The Battle of Long Tan on 18th August 1966. The greatest impediment to an honest assessment of the way honours were allocated after the battle of Long Tan is a concept that dates back to Roman times. The Fallen of Long Tan. The platoon was pinned down by the intense fire and suffered several casualties. long pointed tail. We made contact with Tony Sharp, the brother of Gordon Sharp, and conducted a graveside service at which two other 6 RAR Veterans, Allan Parr (Long Tan) and Ces Bayliss attended. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. There has been an apparent reluctance by some of those charged with making tough calls on these issues to dig too deeply. 2781465 Second Lieutenant Gordon Cameron Sharp, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Age 21 from Tamworth NSW. "It just highlights the difficulties and the frustrations caused by the system that was in place when there was a quota of how many awards could be given at any one time.". Townsend’s personal courage is unquestioned. Commenting on Townsend’s citations, Smith said ”these citations, written by his seniors, could be considered as tantamount to perjury”. Medals of Gallantry have been awarded to Lieutenant Adrian Roberts, Sergeant Frank Alcorta and Lance Corporal Barry Magnussen. Fellow 1/65 Graduate John O’Halloran grew up and attended school with Gordon in Tamworth and subsequently served with him in 6 RAR. Troops in a clearing in the rubber plantation examine some of the Viet Cong weapons captured by D Company, 6th battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), after the Long Tan battle. There have been subsequent attempts to deflect criticism of Jackson’s and Townsend’s DSOs by claiming they were not for gallantry at Long Tan but for ”overall service”. During the Battle of Long Tan he made a determined effort to join Harry Smith at Delta company headquarters in the middle of the rubber plantation where the action was fiercest. He has been strongly criticised by the battlefield commanders for failing to disclose intelligence reports indicating the North Vietnamese may have been present in force and for delaying the dispatch of the relief force because he feared a major attack on the base at Nui Dat. 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The third, the junior officer Gordon Sharp, received no honours even though he was one of the first to die in the firefight almost 45 years ago. This was despite the fact the citation, published in the same edition of the London Gazette as the citation for the Military Medal awarded to Harry Smith for his courage and leadership under fire, reads ”in one action (Long Tan) on August 18, 1966, he personally directed the engagement which accounted for 254 enemy dead by body count with very light comparative losses to his own troops. On 18 August 1966, 2781465 2nd Lieutenant Sharp was in command of 11 Platoon, D Company when they encountered a large enemy force in the Long Tan rubber plantation. Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan will recommend 10 soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Tan be awarded a military honour or have their existing honour upgraded. Scene clip - with 50% casualties, including the death of their 21 year old Platoon Commander 2LT Gordon Sharp, the 28 young men of 11 Platoon, Delta Company 6RAR, is surrounded by hundreds of North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers and running out of ammo, Sergeant Bob Buick (Luke Bracey) requests artillery on their own position. The night before Long Tan, Sgt Buick had a serious altercation with his platoon commander— Lt Gordon Sharp, which had not been resolved when 11 Platoon moved into the Long Tan rubber plantation on the 18th August. 2Lt Gordon Sharp OC 11 Platoon, D/6RAR KIA Long Tan 18 Aug 1966 The two choppers were still at the 1ATF helipad but the crews A/6RAR was placed on standby to board the APCs for Long Tan; 3 Troop 1APC was placed on standby and told to go to A/6RAR; had moved to Task Force HQ to find out what’s happening. Buried Under the Flag Pole at the Tamworth Cemetery, Taminda Showground Road, Tamworth, NSW. In the background is the body of another unidentified Australian soldier from 11 Platoon, 6RAR. 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. ... Long Tan will be remembered alongside Kapyong, Tobruk, and Gallipoli. At least three of the soldiers covered by the court action are dead, including one - Gordon Sharp - who died at Long Tan. At the time he arrived in Vietnam, Jackson was one of Australia’s most respected and experienced commanders. Mention in Despatches (MID) for Second Lieutenant Sharp. The citation for Townsend’s DSO states: ”As soon as the initial heavy contact with the enemy was made by his company (Delta) on patrol he moved immediately with a relief company in armoured personnel carriers to join his company and took firm and effective control of the battle”. Jackson’s subordinate and fellow Long Tan DSO recipient died on June 10, 2006, at the age of 79. The man who led Australian soldiers to victory at the bloody Battle of Long Tan 44 years ago is taking his fight for medals justice to the Federal Court. L/Cpl Jack Jewry. "Not that this isn't important, particularly for the individuals and the families, but it would have had more meaning … under the old system. The average rental rate for downtown Class A office space was $24.32 at the end of the first quarter of 2003, Trione & Gordon said. He was posted to Vietnam with the 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) in June 1966. On 10 August 2016 the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal announced that it had reviewed the actions of 13 soldiers who fought in the battle of Long Tan, including Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp, who was recommended for the Commendation for Gallantry. Three figures central to this debate are Brigadier Oliver David Jackson DSO OBE, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Townsend DSO and Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp, a platoon commander with Delta company. In 1966 the guidelines for the Distinguished Service Order were clear cut it was for gallant leadership in the field; not to be confused with an award for good service. "It's a great recognition to these men of the actions that they did. With Travis Fimmel, Toby Blome, Alexander England, Aaron Glenane. This was to have repercussions during the early stages of the battle. That was followed by a story here in March 2011 headed Star of Gallantry medal for Long Tan hero Harry Smith but fight for justice goes on: On 18 August 1966 D Company of 6RAR was patrolling in the area of the Long Tân rubber plantation when, at about 3:15 pm, the lead platoon (11 Platoon, commanded by 2Lt Gordon Sharp, a national serviceman) encountered a small group of Viet Cong who fled … With the tension unresolved, it was unfortunate for all concerned that the platoon found itself caught up in the Long Tan stoush the next day. That finding, like much that was published under their imprimatur, is open to question. The platoon was pinned down by the intense fire and suffered several casualties. ‘Danger Close’, directed by Kriv Stenders, is an extremely well-made movie about a relatively minor, but very contentious, Australian battle from the Vietnam War — the battle of Long Tan. A famous photograph taken the following day shows him dead on the battlefield, his M16 still clutched in his hand. Directed by Kriv Stenders. The images came from many sources, to name a few, Australian War Memorial, Harry Smith, Ron Eglinton, Denis Gibbons and 6RAR Pictorial History of the 1966-7 Viet Nam tour. This page is a postcard type site with images and comments that takes time to load-up. The others to receive a Commendation for Gallantry are Privates Neil Bextrum, Ron Brett, Ian Campbell, William Roche, Geoffrey Peters and Noel Grimes. On the way to Canberra, the Vetride Qld Group had a rest day in Tamworth, where Gordon Sharp (KIA at Long Tan 18 August 1966) is buried. The third player in this account is Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp, a National Serviceman from Tamworth who had survived the accelerated officer training course at Scheyville and been sent to Vietnam as a platoon commander. The body of 11 Platoon Commander Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp on the battlefield of Long Tan. That did not change until the mid- 1990s. Bob Buick's Viet Nam Page. According to the Australian War Memorial, the then-20-year-old television cameraman was called up as part of the first national service ballot in March 1965. The bird is generally gray brown overall with large black spots on the wings. 19 August 1966. Narrated by Sam Worthington of Avatar fame, and employing a mixture of veteran interviews, archival footage and dramatic reenactments, it tells the story of the events of 18 August 1966, when D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment fought a fierce battle with local Vietcong forces at the Long Tan … Secret Australian Army Intelligence – Battle of Long Tan. The Battle of Long Tan 3. "Even though these awards are significant, it would have been far more meaningful if the recognition had have been given within the first 12 months after the action, under the old awards system. You would be interested to know that this story is also being related this afternoon at the Australian War Memorial Last Post Ceremony in Canberra by Corporal Mark Donaldson V.C. Jackson’s obituary, published in the Australian Army Journal, made only a passing mention of his DSO and did not link it to the action at Long Tan. Buick admits in his autobiography (All Guts and No Glory) that the night before Long Tan, he had a serious altercation with Sharp, and this had not … I am saddened by the loss of life, and the tragic loss to all the loved ones, on both sides. As May 18 th this year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, it is fitting that 2 Lt Gordon Sharp (1/65) has been so honoured on that occasion. DANGER CLOSE is out now On Demand, Digital, DVD & Blu-ray. Long Tan is a special challenge in that many of those honoured as well as those denied honours are dead. In a decade-long war that, for the most part, consisted of small contacts with an enemy that was reluctant to engage in pitched battles, Long Tan was one of the exceptions. Second Lieutenant Sharp was in command of 11 Platoon, D Company when they encountered a large enemy force in the Long Tan rubber plantation. 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Long Tan is now remembered as an exemplar of Australian soldiers channelling the same attributes of bravery, teamwork and endurance that their forbears displayed in earlier conflicts. Buick’s actions the day after the battle of Long Tan brought him (and the Australian military) no glory either, and tarnished both his and the 6th Battalion’s reputation forever. Second Lieutenant Sharp was in command of 11 Platoon, D Company when they encountered a large enemy force in the Long Tan rubber plantation. And, significantly, by ordering the armoured personnel carrier-borne relief force to wait for him to catch up he caused its commander, Lieutenant Adrian Roberts, to divide his troop which could have had devastating consequences. *This article appeared in The Canberra Times on 15 January 2011 but as there is no online version it has been reproduced here. Smith has also consistently questioned the claim in Jackson’s citation the Brigadier ”personally directed” the battle. His Mentioned In Despatches was denied at the same time the same award was made to a postal officer at Vung Tau (a rest and recreation facility near Saigon) for ”good administrative procedures”. The Battle of Long Tan is a 2006 ABC documentary made by Red Dune Films. During the battle he reportedly spent much of the time in his tent, having delegated field command to Townsend. He was shot and killed when, during the monsoonal rain of the battle, he raised himself from the ground to better observe his position and direct gunfire. Harry Smith, Lieutenant Colonel retired, today confirmed he will be pursuing […] But, and it is a big but, by the time he arrived the battle was over and the Vietnamese had withdrawn. He was the commander of the Australian task force in Vietnam on August 18, 1966, when Long Tan was fought. Wikipedia. The awards were officially announced this week by the Governor-General. In 18 August 1966, D Company 6 RAR was engaged in one of Australia's heaviest actions of the Vietnam War, in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan. The men of 11 Platoon found themselves in an invidious position when Sharp died. Gordon was especially sharp, playing off Harden and Paul in D'Antoni's small-ball, three-guard attack and scoring a team-high 14 points during the first half. True story of ordinary boys who became extraordinary men. Here is a 2006 story by Australia’s 60 Minutes providing a good summary of the Battle of Long Tan. Jackson died aged 85 in 2004. Shortly after, eight VC walked nonchalantly right into the middle of 2nd Lieutenant Gordon Sharp’s 11 Platoon. ”De mortuis nil nisi bonum” effectively translates as ”of the dead, (speak) nothing but good”. He was one of three Australian platoon commanders involved in the relief of an American parachute battalion at the Battle of the Apple Orchard in Korea in October 22, 1950. Ten men who fought in the Battle of Long Tan during the Vietnam War, including the only Australian officer to die in the battle, have been recognised with gallantry awards 50 years on. Unit: D Coy 6RAR; Age: 21; National Serviceman Born: Tamworth, NSW Civ: Television cameraman; Single KIA - Gunshot wounds Commem: Garden of Remembrance, NSW Buried at: Tamworth Memorial Park, NSW. The Battle of Long Tan took place on 18 August 1966. 2Lt Gordon Sharp. The first two, who were not physically present on the battlefield, received Distinguished Service Orders then second only to the Victoria Cross as an award for gallantry for their ”parts” in the battle. ”He (Jackson) certainly didn’t give any orders to me,” he said. It is among the largest of the native doves you are likely to see in your backyard in Texas. Within an hour, Lt Gordon Sharp received a bullet through the neck as he organised his platoon’s defence, and was killed. 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