Peter Clements on his way to Vietnam.
Photo by
Supplied
As August 18 approaches, Australians will prepare to pause and reflect on Vietnam Veterans’ Day, marking the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, one of the most significant battles fought by Australians during the Vietnam War.
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A memorial was erected in Tongala to honour the men who served our nation during the Vietnam War, displaying an etching of their names in remembrance.
Among those honoured on the memorial is Peter Edward Clements, a young soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On August 18, 1966, Delta (D) Company of the Royal Australian Regiment suffered 42 casualties — including 18 dead, more than one third of its force — while defeating North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops during a battle in the Long Tan rubber plantation.
Australians observe Vietnam Veterans' Day on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
Peter’s memory lives on through his younger brother, Phil Martin, for whom Long Tan Day is a time of proud reflection.
Phil Martin with Peter’s carrier.
Photo by
Bree Lambert
Military service ran through the family, as both Peter and his brother, Brian Clements, who joined the army in the late 1960s, served in Vietnam as proud members of the Armoured Corps.
Brian Clements also served in Vietnam, as a driver of an armoured personnel carrier.
For Phil, who was just nine years old when Peter left for service, watching his older brothers depart left an indelible mark.
Peter's journey into uniform began at just 17 years old, after he decided to enlist in the Australian Army.
In 1966, Peter Clements was deployed to South Vietnam, serving as a crew commander.
During the battle, Australian forces from D Company found themselves heavily outnumbered in the rubber plantations near Long Tan, facing the North Vietnamese Army, who outnumbered them by 10 to one.
It was during battle that Peter was severely wounded.
After his carrier was withdrawn from battle due to crew members needing medical treatment, he later died on August 27, 1966, at just 21 years old.
Peter Clements on top of an armoured personnel carrier aboard the HMAS Sydney.
Six decades on, as Australians gather to observe Vietnam Veterans’ Day, Peter’s sacrifice, and that of many others, remains etched not only in memorials, but in the hearts of family and community.
