Northland's Vietnam War veterans honoured at Whangārei ceremony

Vietnam Vets commemorating Long Tan Day Pete Nicholl,Victor 6, 1971 and Dick Shepherd,Victor 6, 1971 lay poppies in remberance. 18th August 2018 Photo Tania Whyte

The roughly 3400 New Zealand troops who served in the Vietnam War were honoured when veterans marked Long Tan Day at the Whangārei Cenotaph on Saturday.

The Battle of Long Tan, on August 18, 1966, took place in a rubber plantation near Long Tan, in Phước Tuy Province, South Vietnam, during the Vietnam War. The action was fought between Viet Cong and People's Army of Vietnam units and elements of the 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF), which included three New Zealand soldiers, and was supported by the NZ 161 Battery artillery unit.

The day has become the main commemoration of the Vietnam War in New Zealand and Australia, and 11 Northland veterans, their families and other supporters, were at the Cenotaph, in Laurie Hall Park, on Saturday to honour their comrades. The names of the New Zealanders who died in the war were also read out at the ceremony.

Northern Advocate photographer Tania Whyte was there to mark the occasion.

Rowan Waddell, 161 Battery -1966-1967 and Cecil Poa, Victor 2 Company, 1967-1968, look at the names of the fallen. Photo / Tania Whyte

Peter Owen Victor 6, 1971 shows respect during a prayer. Photo / Tania Whyte

Vietnam Vets commemorating Long Tan Day Bill Lillicrapp, 4 Troup, 1968-1969, Pete Nicholl,Victor 6, 1971 and Bill McCord, Victor 4 ,1969-1970 with a wreath to be laid at the Cenotaph.

Kevin Burnell 161 Battery, 1966-1967 Maria Hori and husband Arthur Hori, Victor 2, 1967 at the Vietnam War commemoration day at the Cenotaph in Laurie Hall Park. Photo / Tania Whyte

Wayne Hutchison, Victor 6 1970, Peter Roberts, Victor 6,1971, and Rowan Waddell, 161 Battery, 1966-1967, listen to the names of the fallen. Photo / Tania Whyte