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Merriwa Central School

Merriwa Central School

Valuing individual potential - achieving personal best

Telephone02 6548 2119

Emailmerriwa-c.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Battle of Long Tan

Harrison Amidy giving his speech at the RSL Sub Branch  service

During the many battles fought during the Vietnam War, one that is remembered with significance is the Battle of Long Tan.  Many attended Memorial Services throughout Australia as did Merriwa RSL Sub Branch with a service held Sunday August 1l8 at 11.00am.

Harrison Amidy represented Merriwa Central School SRC with a touching speech that affected all that attended the service.  Below is the written transcript of what a young 16 year old took from his knowledge of the Vietnam War and the Battle of Long Tan.

War is a troubling subject for me to talk about.  I find it a great honour to be able to represent my school for this event, but writing this speech was quite the task for me.  I would never want to stain the legacy of our fallen and current soldiers with my words, I don’t think I could forgive myself if I did.  War should never be glorified but it does deserve the utmost respect.  I can only hope that my words can give the justice our brave soldiers deserve.

The battle of Long Tan was one of the most publicised battles of the Vietnam War.  Even 50 years later we acknowledge their valiant efforts to save one another.  Our Australian soldiers fought for the mates by their side, their family’s at home, their allies and their country.  Some would call this battle a great victory, it showed that Australia and its allies would do whatever it takes to reinforce soldiers in need.  18, too many died that battle, but this devastation could have strangled our country much more than it did.

At 4.00pm on August 18, 1966 Lieutenant Gordon Sharp was forced to ground when they were ambushed under heavy fire.  While the 11 platoons engaged in conflict, Lieutenant Geoff Kendal received orders to assist with his 10 platoons.  On their way they were side-lined before they could assist their fellow Infantry.  Our American allies tried performing an air strike but were only successful in dropping supplies.  At 6.00pm the union of the two Lieutenants gave them a fighting chance.  With plentiful determination the Australian army achieved a stunning victory as darkness fell at 7.00pm when reinforcements arrived from afar.

This battle, at least personally, isn’t about how we triumphed over our enemy of the past, but how Australia does not shiver in their boots in the face of adversity, how we will not leave a man down, and tackle problems head on.  Even throughout a perilous conflict Australia showed what shapes this nation, mateship.

Lest we forget