Commemoration of 40th Anniversary of Battles of Coral/Balmoral

Rod Baldwin and "Archie" Moore at FSB Coogee

Rod Baldwin and Tom Roche at FSB Kerry

The Battles of Coral/Balmoral began on 12 May 1968 and lasted until 6 June 1968. These two battles together were the largest and most sustained engagements of the Viet Nam War involving Australian and New Zealand troops, and were the first Australian all arms brigade sized operations since World War 11. 25 Australians were KIA. There were no NZ KIA.

The battles were fought within the context of Operation Toan Thang (Complete Victory), the largest Free World Forces operation of the war at that time, ultimately involving some 70,000 troops, including those from USA, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as the South Vietnamese Army.

The offensive by 1 Australian Task Force was its first venture in brigade strength outside of Phuoc Tuy Province where it was based. It was a concerted attempt to sever North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong infiltration routes into Saigon, and to destroy their forces in the area north of the city and the giant Bien Hoa Airbase.

From 12th to 14 May a series of commemoration activities was held in Canberra to remember the Battle of Coral, and those who were engaged in it. These activities focussed upon 12 Field Regiment RAA, which was a key participating unit in the battle. They were followed by 1 RAR commemoration activities in Townsville, and later by those of 3 RAR back in Canberra, remembering the associated Battle of Balmoral, a battalion defensive position supported from Fire Support Base Coral.

161 Battery RNZA operated as a subunit of 12 Fd Regt RAA during 1968/69, and was fully involved in both these major battles, as the Direct Support battery of 3 RAR. Three New Zealanders who were members of 12 Field Regiment at the time of the battles participated in the Canberra commemorations:

• Rod Baldwin RNZA, who was Gun Position Officer of 161 Battery
• Neil Bradley RNZA, who was a Forward Observer with 3 RAR
• Alex Baker RNZEME, who was a Gun ‘Tiffy' with 12 Field Regiment Light Aid Detachment.

The Canberra activities consisted of:

• A Prime Ministerial Reception at Parliament House hosted by the Right Honourable Kevin Rudd
• A Commemorative Service and Parade at the Viet Nam National Memorial, at which the Australian Governor General, Major General Michael Jeffery (who had commanded an infantry company in VN), and the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, were principal speakers. The Veterans Address was given by retired Lt General Sir Donald Dunstan, past Governor of South Australia, and a past CGS of the Australian Army, who as 2ic of the Australian Task Force was in command during most of the duration of the battles.
• The Dedication of a Commemorative Plaque to 12 Field Regiment at the Australian War Memorial Museum, with 161 Battery represented by Rod Baldwin.
• A Remembrance Service and Honour Title Ceremony for 102 Battery RAA at the RAA National Memorial on Mt Pleasant, with the battery given the title "102nd (Coral) Field Battery, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery", in recognition of the bravery and dedication of its personnel in repulsing a North Vietnamese Army ground attack which threatened to overrun the battery position and penetrate the Task Force area.
• An All Ranks Dinner for 12 Field Regiment veterans of Coral/Balmoral at Canberra's Federal Golf Club.