Veterans of one of Australia's most comprehensive victories of the Vietnam War will be honoured today at commemorations marking the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, will attend the commemorations at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in Canberra, to pay tribute to the bravery and discipline of some 330 Australians who were involved in the battle.

"Forty years ago today, on 6 June 1969, a ready reaction force was deployed from Nui Dat to deal with rocket fire coming from Binh Ba village directed against an Australian tank. The force comprised D Company of the 5th Battalion mounted in armoured personnel carriers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and supported by tanks from the 1st Armoured Regiment. The village was less than 10 kilometres from Nui Dat," Mr Griffin said.

"Within hours the force was engaged in fighting of an intensity rarely matched in Australia's experience of the Vietnam War. It was quickly apparent that the enemy force comprised both main force elements of the
North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong guerrillas. The two-day battle involved several sweeps through the village and some vicious close quarter fighting. Additional troops from the 5th Battalion were called in as cut-off parties. Helicopter, artillery and engineer support was utilised in a powerful and disciplined combined arms attack to drive the enemy from the village. One Australian, Private Wayne Teeling, was killed and 11 were wounded. More than 100 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong perished in the battle, with many more wounded."

Mr Griffin said battle honours were awarded to the Royal Australian Regiment, the 1st Armoured Regiment and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment for Binh Ba.

"Despite 40 years passing since the end of the Vietnam War, the Battle of Binh Ba is still not widely known by those outside military and historical circles, however it was a significant victory for Australian forces," Mr Griffin said. "I am pleased the Australian Government was able to support today's commemorations with $50,000 in funding to ensure the service and sacrifice of all those involved in the Battle of Binh Ba is appropriately honoured."

Some 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War. Of those, some 520 were killed and more than 3000 wounded. Australia remembers and commemorates their service each year on Vietnam Veterans' Day, 18
August.