Gloucester RSL Sub-branch will conduct a service at the Memorial Clock Tower commencing at 11am on May 13, marking the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Coral-Balmoral.
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The community is invited to attend this commemorative service, during which a plaque to the Vietnam War will be unveiled in the Memorial Park.
This plaque has been funded by the Gloucester RSL Sub-branch and MidCoast Council.
We take the time out to remember the servicemen who fought at that vicious bloody battle and those who were killed and wounded.
Twenty-six Australian soldiers were killed in action and more than 100 wounded. More than 300 North Vietnamese were killed and many wounded and captured.
The 1st Battalion and 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (RAR), 102 Field Battery Royal Australian Artillery and 161 New Zealand Field Battery deployed into Fire Support Base (FSB) Coral on May 12, 1968.
Both battalions began preparing their defensive positions, but these were incomplete when a North Vietnamese Regiment attacked the base during the early hours of May 13.
The enemy having penetrated the artillery positions and briefly forcing the defenders to abandon one of their guns, were forced back after heavy fighting.
FSB Coral came under attack for a second time at 2.15am on May 16 when an estimated three battalions of North Vietnamese Army (NVA) infantry assaulted the base which was now defended by armoured personnel carriers of A Squadron, Third Cavalry Regiment as well as 1RAR’s infantry.
Fighting lasted several hours before the attackers were forced to withdraw.
Further attacks on FSB Coral followed on May 22, May 26 and May 28 but the base was not seriously threatened again.
The Australians continued to launch aggressive patrols from FSB Coral, engaging in combat against the North Vietnamese forces until the end of May.
By this time the NVA had turned their attention to FSB Balmoral which had been established by 3RAR. Tanks from Nui Dat helped the infantry defeat the enemy two battalions attack on May 25.
A second attack followed on May 28 but they were not successful.
Please remember our two local veterans Tom Yates and John Trudgeon who were at the Battle of FSB Coral.
We will not forget these men who fought and died in this battle of FSB Coral and FSB Balmoral defending our nation’s interests.
It is important that we remember them, the wounded and all the families that were affected by their service to our country.
