Veterans’ Day is commemorated on August 18, originally known as Long Tan Day, to remember those who fought in the battle in 1966.

Gulgong RSL Sub-Branch Vice President, Peter Leotta, said, “today we commemorate the indomitable spirit of the Australian service men and women who willingly place their lives at risk for the protection of our nation”.

“We honour with pride and gratitude our comrades who have selflessly served our nation, some of whom have paid the ultimate price,” he said.

"On this day 51 years ago in torrential rain 108 Australian and New Zealand soldiers battled an estimated force of 2000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan.

“We gather here today to remember not only the 18 Australians and New Zealand men of D-Company or the 507 who died in the Vietnam way – but the many thousand who’ve died in all conflicts.”

Mr Leotta added that the current precarious state of world affairs are a reminder of how easily conflicts arise.

“In an ideal world there would be no need for a military force, but sadly we don’t live in an ideal world,” he said.

“We live in a world where the egoism of political leaders and regressive ideologies have placed us in a perilous state where one false move could be the catalyst for the annihilation of the human race.”