50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War: national commemorative service

Thousands of Australians gathered for a national commemorative service today at the Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra.

The service is the culmination of a historic year, recognising the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War which lasted a decade, involved some 60,000 personnel, and sadly 523 tragically lost their lives and more than 3,000 were wounded.

18 August marks two significant anniversaries—Vietnam Veterans’ Day and the 57th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.

The Battle of Long Tan was one of the fiercest battles which involved the largest number of casualties in a single operation in the Vietnam War.

Today, we honour the service and sacrifice of all Australian service personnel who served during the Vietnam War and acknowledge and commemorate those who fought in the Battle of Long Tan.

A selection of images captured at the event are now available for viewing.