What is RSL Life Care? Find out
Poppies-e1487893769300 | RSL LifeCare - provide care and service to war veterans, retirement villages and accommodation, aged care services and assisted living
November 10, 2016

We shall remember them

Remembrance Day is commemorated every year on 11 November. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare during the First World War. In many parts of the world, people observe a two-minute silence at 11.00am every 11 November, to remember those who lost their lives during WWI as well as in more recent conflicts.

At our Services this year, we will especially be focusing on those who gave their all for their country during the Vietnam War from 1962 to 1973. 50,000 Australians, including ground troops, air force, navy personnel and nurses served in Vietnam. 521 did not return and 2,400 were wounded.

The Battle of Long Tan

This August marks the 50th anniversary of The Battle of Long Tan. One of the most significant Australian actions of the Vietnam War happened on 18 August 1966, when Australian soldiers fought against a Viet Cong and North Vietnamese force in a rubber plantation close to the village of Long Tan. The Australian operations base at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province was fired upon by the Viet Cong with mortar and shell at about 2 am on 17 August 1966. On 18 August, D Company, 6 RAR Battalion, numbering 105 Australians and a three-man New Zealand artillery team, was sent into the Long Tan rubber plantation, all coming under heavy machine-gun fire and mortar attacks from Viet Cong – estimated to be at least 1,500 and possibly 2,500 troops.

Against overwhelming odds, D company endured wave after wave of attack until, after almost three hours of intense fighting by D Company, reinforcements from A Company arrived in armoured personnel carriers (APC). Ammunition was distributed and the wounded were tended. Early in the evening, B Company also arrived and engaged the Viet Cong. Soon after that, seven APCs arrived, having risked skirmishes with the Viet Cong along the way. The extra fire-power finally stopped the Viet Cong, and all firing ceased. There were 18 Australians killed – 17 from D Company and one from the 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron – and 21 wounded. The Viet Cong insurgents left 245 dead and many more wounded. In later years, it was found out that D Company had run into a reinforced regimental force waiting to attack Nui Dat. The Battle of Long Tan lasted just one afternoon, but it came to symbolise Australia’s 10-year involvement in Vietnam. Vietnam was Australia’s longest involvement in a twentieth century war with approximately 60,000 personnel serving over more than a decade.

Picture: Battle of Long Tan – The Day After

Blog Posts

Help for Vets in Need

Veterans’ Services

Find out more

Latest News

array(2) { [0]=> int(175) [1]=> int(41) }

George Carpenter’s Inspiring Dedication to Preserving Military History

George Carpenter, an 87 year old resident of RSL ANZAC Village in Narrabeen, has been volunteering at the RSL LifeCare War Museum for three years...

Read more

From Stables to Retirement Living: Tim Cooke’s Life Journey

"My journey kicked off when I was just 14 years old. The year was 1963. I waved goodbye to school and hello to an apprenticeship...

Read more

Journey Through 102 Years: The Life of Helen Lea

"My name is Helen Lea, and I've been lucky enough to reach the grand age of 102. I've always felt pretty good for my age....

Read more

Honouring Malaya & Borneo Veterans: A Story of Sidney Peter Bryant

Today, on August 31, we commemorate Malaya & Borneo Veterans Day and take a moment to pay tribute to those who served in the Malayan...

Read more

Federal Government grant awarded to RSL LifeCare

RSL LifeCare has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the Australian Government to support the development of a business case to establish a Veterans’ and...

Read more

RSL LifeCare a finalist in Best Graduate Development Program – Australian HR Awards 2023

August 2023 – RSL LifeCare’s Graduate Registered Nurse Program has been announced as a finalist in the Australian HR Awards 2023, Best Graduate Development Program...

Read more

RSL LifeCare successfully moves to the second stage in becoming the provider for a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in both the Tweed-North Coast region and Queanbeyan.

RSL LifeCare has welcomed the opportunity by the Federal Government to submit a business case to deliver a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in these critical...

Read more

Appointment of Elizabeth Cosson AM CSC to RSL LifeCare Board

I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Elizabeth (Liz) Cosson AM CSC as a Director of the RSL LifeCare Board as of Monday...

Read more

Free laptops give veterans access to employment and education opportunities

RSL LifeCare Veteran Services, in collaboration with Optus and ASI Solutions, are providing laptops to veterans and their families to access education courses and employment...

Read more
Alan Buxton

Meet Alan Buxton – RSL LifeCare resident and World War II veteran

103-year-old RSL LifeCare resident Alan Buxton has led a life of courage and service. His father served in World War I, and Alan followed in...

Read more
international womens day

Message from our CEO celebrating International Women’s Day

Good morning everyone, Today, on International Women's Day, we take the opportunity to celebrate the contribution made by the incredible women of RSL LifeCare and...

Read more

State-of-the-art Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre now open to veterans and their families

RSL LifeCare has officially opened its purpose built, state-of-the-art facility to permanently house the Nowra Veteran Wellbeing Centre, providing an expanded range of health and...

Read more

Download a brochure

We'll never share your email address and you can opt out at any time, we promise

Career Application Single

  • Accepted file types: docx, doc, pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contact Veteran Services

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Are you ready to explore a new operations role with extra benefits?

Take your career in a new direction RSL LifeCare.

Search for an operations role at an RSL LifeCare Residential Aged Care facility in the Southern NSW region. Take a look at all our current positions here.

1. 100% funding on participating certifications

Undertake a participating certification through the RSL LifeCare Earn and Learn Incentive Program1 and you could be eligible to have your learning fully funded.

2. Cash bonus of up to $1000 (less income tax).

Through the RSL LifeCare Sign-on Bonus, you could be eligible for two split payments of $500 (less income tax), when you start a new role with us.

Contact Homes for Heroes today