He has conducted fieldwork in australia, europe, the middle east and asia. David camerons the battle of long tan brings to life blowbyblow the events of this famous battle as it unfolded, and reveals the deeds of heroism and mateship now part of australias vietnam war story. Through enemy eyes battle of long tan 1966 aust vietnam. He was officer commanding of d company, 6th battalion, royal australian regiment d coy, 6rar during the battle of long tan on 18 august 1966. Written in partnership with awardwinning journalist toni mcrae, long tan a lifelong battle is also harrys life story and portrays his many personal battles, from failed marriages to commandostyle killing. Danger close the book about the battle of long tan. Army helicopters bound for the australian task force base at nui dat, near long tan, vietnam. In the battle of long tan, caulfield takes us through that hellish day in the long tan rubber plantation, combining gripping firsthand accounts from eleven of the men who fought with an authoritative overview of the battle itself from headquarters to the men in the field. Battle of long tan by courtesy of graham rodger au long tan mud by courtesy of the bobkatz.
To be the focal point of their own remembrance of all matters viet nam. The australians had arrived at nui dat four months earlier to open up the province. Burstall argued this may have constituted a breach of the geneva convention. Allows for more independent work, a bonus for teachers. The book is endorsed by the australian defence force.
When filmink spoke to writerdirector, stuart beattie, upon the release of his 2014 horror action flick, i, frankenstein, the spectre of war rose. Death in the rain the battle of long tan 18 august 1966 the ferocious battle of long tan, fought during a blinding tropical downpour in a rubber plantation on 18 august 1966 was one of the most significant battles involving australians in the entire vietnam war. The action was fought between australian forces and viet cong and north vietnamese army units after the this is a book. Ironically, on june 26, 2004, 38 years after the battle of long tan, the australian government agreed to let the 22 veterans of battle of long tan to accept the medals of gallantry once offered by the south vietnam which now has ceased to exist click on white thumbnail pic for media release from aussie governor general. Aug 18, 2016 the battle over long tans memory a perspective from viet nam. This book is a great long afternoon read when you want to break away from the workshop. It contained a simple yet comprehensive account of the leadup, conduct and aftereffects of the battle and included accounts by many of the participants of all ranks. Praise for david camerons the battle for lone pine. The style manual used by the new york state law reporting. The battle of long tan, as told by the commanders by. Lieutenant colonel harry arthur smith sg, mc born 25 july 1933 is a former senior officer in the australian army, seeing service during the malayan emergency and the vietnam war. The viet vets themselves chose the battle of long tan to be the centrepiece of their day.
This is the first book ever written about the battle of long tan and it is a fantastic read and resource. Fyi there is a forthcoming book by harry smith, long tan. One late afternoon in 1966, in a vietnamese rubber plantation, 108 young and mostly inexperienced australian and new zealand soldiers held off a. Harry can still hear the gunfire and smell the blood spilt at long tan. The start of a life long battle updated by harry smith isbn. All guts and no glory also debunks the myths, lies and legends of the long tan battle. East sea the battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place in a rubber plantation near long tan, in phu. The ongoing efforts of the long tan commanders to right the many wrongs perpetrated in the wake of the battle, and their own journeys from the events of august 1966 draw the reader into a compelling dialogue on the aftermath of vietnam. The battle of long tan aussie director kriv stenders factual war drama proves an intense and powerful experience, but struggles to balance a contempt for the horror of war with an embrace of its potential for cinematic spectacle. John henry newman, now officially declared a saint by the catholic church, was a talented anglican clergyman and teacher at oxford university. His compelling account commemorates the men who fought in the rubber plantation of long tan and those who did not come home. With this book, david ventured into the reality of being able to talk to the veterans who were actually present at the battle.
Maj harry smith oc d coy, 6rar, 2lt dave sabben commander 12 platoon, d coy, 6rar, 2lt geoff kendall commander 10 platoon, d coy. Bob buick has collaborated with one of australias bestknown authors of the viet nam era, gary mckay, mc, himself a viet nam veteran and infantryman, to write this firsthand description of the long tan battle and other operations against the viet cong and. Danger close battle of long tan 1966 seen the acclaimed motion picture danger close see trailer below now read the book. Battle of long tan blog a true story of ordinary boys who. Sabben, david, buick, bob, smith, harry, kendall, geoffrey martin, roberts, francis, stanley, maurice, grandin.
Long listed for abia small publishers adult book of the year 2016. The other contributors to this book harry smith, geoff kendall, bob buick, dave sabben, morrie stanley, and adrian roberts are commanders actively involved in the battle who. While the author brings a first hand account of the battle to the reader, he also offers insight into the life and times of an australian soldier of the era. I have read every book on offer in relation to the battle of long tan and being an amateur military historian i have visited nui dat and walked the long tan battle site on 3 occasions. Battle of long tan documentary danger close movie based on.
The start of a lifelong battle, due out in august 2015 from big sky publishing. New book by long tan commander harry smith august 19, 2015 martin walsh lt. Click to see all battle of long tan danger close books. Late afternoon august 18, 1966 south vietnam for three and a half hours, in the pouring rain, amid the mud and shattered trees of a rubber.
Behind the smokescreen independent a ustralia is a progressive journal focusing on politics, democracy, the environment, australian history and australian identity. On the same day, two others who fought at long tan had their bravery awards upgraded to correspond to the original nominations. Battle of long tan blog a true story of ordinary boys. The battle of long tan, the company commanders story by. It contains news and opinion from australia and around the world. Sadly another two battle of long tan veterans have passed away and from cancer.
Lcpl barry magnussen 11 platoon, d company 6rar and cpl cliff marchant, chq, d company 6rar both from south australia. The battle over long tans memory a perspective from viet nam. 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. The start of a lifelong battle big sky publishing, august 2015. A compelling account of australias bloodiest and most significant battle of the vietnam war, in time for the battles 50th anniversary.
Long tan wasnt the biggest battle the australians experienced. I got the paperback version, so the page count is 184. For three and a half hours in the mud and shattered trees of a rubber plantation called long tan, 105 young australians and 3 new zealanders. You will receive an alert when the book is available for less than the new or used price you specify. I am so pleased to recognize our outstanding state reporter, bill hooks, who succeeded to the position in june 2009. Distributed by communication futures, po box 7, darling heights, 4350, australia. Robert grandin was a helicopter pilot and in this book describes the key role the helicopters played in supplying the men directly involved in the battle of long tan.
A gun salute is given next to a replica long tan cross during a service remembering the 50th anniversary of the battle of. So i was pleasantly surprised by this book about long tan, a battle that is little known outside australia though its anniversary is australian vietnam veterans. Long tan is more than just an account of a historic battle. A true story of 108 ordinary soldiers who fought and defeated an enemy force of 2,500 and became extraordinary heroes.
Jan 01, 1987 the battle of long tan is a well constructed account of the actions of those the former are the result of how mcaulay wrote his book and what he accomplishes through that process. The battle of long tan australias four hours of hell in vietnam by david w. The battle of long tan is the most publicised australian battle of the vietnam war. A fine work of military and social history, weekend australian a riveting read, daily telegraph. While the battle of long tan is obviously pivotal to this book of lieutenant colonel harry smith sg mc, there is so much more. A proposed film about the battle of long tan, however, seems to be a perpetual possibility on the australian cinema landscape. Occurring in august 1966, a patrol of the 6th royal australian rifles rar surprised a large force of viet cong nlf moving to attack the australian base at nui dat. The style manual used by the new york state law reporting bureau.
The book also sheds light on australias greater involvement in the war, and the unique contributions our soldiers made. I would recommend this book to any curious woodworker or japanophile. In his book, all guts and no glory, long tan vet bob buick was adamant that there was no ambush. The battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place in a rubber plantation near long tan, in phu. A selfdescribed compulsive student with eight degrees and two doctorates who still volunteers to support veterans mental health, dr grandin wrote the book the battle of long tan.
Jan 15, 2012 battle of long tan documentary danger close movie based on this story vietnam war martin walsh. Many of the long tan veterans were in attendance for the ceremony. A helicopter pilot remembers the terrifying battle of long. Those in direct command of delta company share their memories of the most significant battle fought by australians in vietnam, the battle of long tan 18th august 1966. Through enemy eyes long tan sabben through enemy eyes by d sabbenthrough enemy eyes this australian vietnam war book follows the events from may to august 1966 the first four months of the establishment of the australian task force base at a hill named nui dat in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam. Maj harry smith oc d coy, 6rar, 2lt dave sabben commander. Battle of long tan peter harvey 60 minutes vietnam war. After founding the oxford movement, he embarked on a long period of study and prayer which eventually led him in. The latter are due to in the most part to the book s original aims and, on reflection, the age of the book.
North vietnamese and viet cong troops bombard the australian task force base at nui dat for 22 minutes resulting in 67 mortar craters. The documentary offers an investigation into the catandmouse game of intelligence and counterintelligence which both sides engaged in. In the long tan rubber plantation five kilometres east of nui dat they encountered a combined nva and vc force estimated at 15002000 strong. During the ensuing battle d company managed to hold off repeated attacks with artillery support from 161 battery and the other three batteries at nui dat two australian, one united states. The battle of long tan portrays the wrenching, visceral experience of a man who has fought lifelong battles, in a story that he is only now able to tell. On 9 march 2011 at the maryborough military and colonial museum, smith was presented with the star of gallantry by local mp paul neville. I was too bloody busy to be frightened australian defence force the defining battle of the vietnam war is now the subject of the film danger close. Op long tan was a memorial service where two coys secured the area before the main body moved by road from nui dat for the occasion. Jul 05, 2008 this presentation is distributed free, but is ed and may not be used by others for profit.
Student section reading assessment nat lay very sill in the dark, trying to stay awake until his big brother, hab, went to sleep. A recent 2018 presentation by the awms ashley eakins on the battle of long tan and craig blanch on the history of the cross. The tan student activity book is the perfect companion for the tan teacher book. How to be productive at home from a remote work veteran. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. For me, the historical influences on tansu were the most interesting. For more than 50 years, the new york law reports style manual has been issued by the law reporting bureau with the approval of the court of appeals as a guide for new york judges and their staffs in the preparation of opinions for publication in the official reports. It is broken down into 11 chapters and 6 appendices. Here is the amazing and moving story that 60 minutes australia did on the battle of long tan which was broadcast on august 2006, a few days prior to the premiere of my award winning documentary 16 august 2006 which i made for the 40th anniversary of the battle which was on 18 august 2006. A brief account sourced from george odgers, diggers. Col harry smith sg mc retd, former officer commanding of delta company, 6rar during the battle of long tan has released his own book. Aug 16, 2015 the extraordinary claim is contained in a new booklong tan, the start of a lifelong battleby the commanding officer of delta company 6rar at long tan on august 18, 1966 then major harry smith. Sadly i dont have any photos of cliff marchant barry is second from right, rear row.
Jack kirby an unsung hero of the battle of long tan. Many authors have dwelt on the politics of why we were sent to vietnam. The action occurred when d company of the 6th battalion, royal australian regiment 6 rar, confronted the viet cong 275th regiment and elements of the d445 local forces battalion. This aap story was published on 30th december 2010 under the header officers battle to win recognition for long tan veterans to be fought out in court online here but may be paywall affected. Official website of the battle of long tan which took place on 18 august 1966 during the vietnam war. In that battle, a small group of soldiers from australia and new zealand defeated a much larger enemy force. He is the author of several books on australian military history and primate evolutionary biology and has published over 60 papers in. Produced by media services unit, university of southern queensland, directed by bruce horsfield and julianne steward. The action was fought between viet cong vc and peoples army of vietnam pavn units and elements of the 1st australian task force 1 atf.
The battle of long tan took place on 18 august 1966 in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam during the vietnam war between viet cong and north vietnamese units from the viet cong 275th regiment, possibly reinforced by at least one north vietnamese battalion, and d445 provincial mobile battalion, and australian forces from d company, 6th battalion, royal australian regiment 6 rar. Much has been written about the battle of long tan by others. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. The australian army, navy and air force in eleven wars. Apr 14, 2016 while the battle of long tan is obviously pivotal to this book of lieutenant colonel harry smith sg mc, there is so much more. The battle of long tan bob grandin 9781741141993 allen. The battle of long tan 18 august 1966 took place near the village of long tan, in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam during the vietnam war. On the afternoon of 18 august 1966, a rubber plantation in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam, australian troops fought one of their bloodiest, most significant battles of the vietnam war. What impressed me was the simple but effective manner in which the author described the situation leading up to, during and after the battle from the battalion. The other contributors to this book harry smith, geoff kendall, bob buick, dave sabben, morrie stanley, and adrian roberts are commanders actively involved in the battle. About the author 1988 lex mcauley is the author of numerous world war ii histories, including into the dragons jaws and to the bitter end. In 1986, an excellent book was written about the battle of long tan by lex mcaulay. On the afternoon of 18 august 1966, a rubber plantation near long tan, in phuoc tuy province, south vietnam, became the stage for one of the bloodiest battles of the vietnam war involving australian troops.
Harry smith is still leading the charge for the men he commanded at the battle of long tan 44 years ago. Long tan is the true story of ordinary boys who became extraordinary men. Nat wasnt quite sure, but he thought a goodluck spell worked better if you kept it secret. Aug 18, 2016 unfortunately, long tan wasnt one of them. New book by long tan commander harry smith battle of.
Long tan the true story uses outstanding original research with d company veterans and former vc commanders, backed by indepth analysis from the official war historian for ground operations in vietnam, the late ian mcneill. Aug 22, 2016 australian soldiers in vietnam were part of the yankee genocidal extermination force which invaded vietnam for no good reason other than on a theory of the domino can expect to go into their former foes country without let or hindrance to celebra. This presentation is distributed free, but is ed and may not be used by others for profit. New book by harry smith lifts lid on long tan conspiracy. Mar 04, 2011 there have been many precedents for the upgrading of gallantry medals to soldiers throughout all wars recently some of the other long tan veterans and we believe that jack kirbys gallant and heroic actions at long tan are well deserving of a victoria cross. The battle of long tan the 18th of august 1966 was fought between the australian army and viet cong in a rubber plantation near the village of long tan, south vietnam. This is the book written by the seven long tan commanders. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. August 18, 2016, marks the 50th anniversary of the battle of long tan, australias first major conflict in the vietnam war. So i was pleasantly surprised by this book about long tan, a battle that is little known outside australia though its anniversary is australian vietnam veterans day but which demonstrated the courage and ability of the aussies didnt end with ww2. The battalion assault pioneer platoon had constructed a cross which was flown in by helo, lowered and erected on the site. Given his obviously key role in the battle i would imagine this book will prove to be an. Thus this is a minute by minute account of the happenings during the battle of long tan 18th of august 1966. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.