Tamworth’s veterans will gather at the Vietnam War memorial on Marius St at 5pm for the annual service.

The memorial has just had improvements done, with a large sign erected behind it, identifying the site as the Vietnam War Memorial.

The North West Vietnam Veterans Social Group opened the memorial in 1984 and this will be the 31st commemoration service held there.

Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated on August 18 as this marks the day of the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.

Long Tan is marked as a significant battle as 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers fought against more than 2000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops in a rubber plantation near the small village of Long Tan. 

The Australians fought in torrential rain for four hours and were nearly overrun, but were saved by a timely ammunition resupply, accurate artillery fire from the nearby Australian base, and the arrival of reinforcements by armoured personnel carrier. 

There were 18 Australians killed, including Tamworth’s 2nd Lieutenant Gordon Sharp, and 25 were wounded, including an APC section commander  – the largest number of casualties in one operation since the Australian task force had arrived in the country a few months earlier.

Social group president Wally Franklin said he would like to see previous members attend the commemoration.

“We would like to see some of our members when we were the Vietnam Veterans Legion, attend and join us again,” he said.

Guest speaker for the service is John Sommerlad, whose father was a reporter in Vietnam and has visited the country with Mr Franklin.

The 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers will provide the catafalque party for the service.

Following the service, Vietnam War veterans, serving and ex-service personnel will gather at the Sergeant’s Mess at the Beersheba Barracks for a light meal and comradeship.