Albury marks 50th anniversary of Long Tan battle with ceremony at SS and A Club eternal flame

These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ was played in honour of the Australian Army’s D Company, which fought the Vietcong at Long Tan and used it as a theme song.

Albury RSL sub-branch vice president Harry Hacking told a ceremony, which drew about 70 people on Thursday evening at the SS and A Club, of its significance.

“It perfectly summed up the testosterone-filled bravado of the 108 men of D Company 6RAR and what they intended to do to the enemy when they met,” Mr Hacking said.

The airing of the 1966 song and Redgum’s I Was Only 19 ended the formalities which saw poppies placed in a bowl to honour the Border’s 14 Vietnam fallen.

Ceremony organiser John Gunton particularly recognised Private Ernest Grant.

“(We are) remembering on this evening that Ernie Grant paid the supreme sacrifice at the Battle of Long Tan,” Mr Gunton said as veteran Paul Haskell deposited the poppy.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Haskell, of Albury, reflected on his task and experience as a volunteer National Serviceman in Vietnam in 1969-70.

“It means a lot to me, even at my age, 69, I still think about not just Long Tan, but the whole shemozzle,” he said.

“I put another poppy in for a friend who died in Vietnam and I think it’s important to keep up the tradition, so people know and learn about what it was like.

“I had things thrown at me when I got home.”

Private Grant’s twin brothers Jack and Bob Grant and sister Mary Thiele, who live in Melbourne, Nelson Bay and Benalla respectively will be in Albury at the weekend.

They will attend services on Saturday and Sunday.

Jack Grant was pleased his brother was remembered.

“People ring me every year at this time to have a chat and I find that fantastic that people remember us after all this time,” Mr Grant said.

“I’m not sure 50 years is different to any other year but...we felt we had to be there (Albury).”