New Zealand participates in Battle of Long Tan commemorations

New Zealand Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Defence Attache Captain Brett Fotheringham, RNZN, after laying a wreath at the Long Tan Cross in Vietnam on Thursday, 18 August 2011 (Photo, Carl Robinson)

New Zealand’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mr Graham Sims, and NZ Defence Attaché Captain Brett Fotheringham RNZN, represented the New Zealand Government at this year’s ceremony to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan which took place on 18 August 1966.

Approximately 500 people attended this year’s ceremony, including a number of New Zealand veterans and other visitors. The battle resulted in the largest loss of Australian lives in a single ‘action’ during the Viet Nam War. A number of New Zealanders were also involved in the battle, although none were killed, and Long Tan is therefore commemorated jointly by both countries. Many hundreds of Vietnamese soldiers also perished.

The annual 18 August commemoration is an opportunity to remember all those who died during the War, including the many millions of Vietnamese men, women and children who died in their struggle to bring full independence to their homeland.