Changes

For several weeks prior to the battle, Captain Trevor Richards' 547 Signal Troop, had tracked a radio transmitter moving south but were unsure about what unit it belonged to. Aggressive patrolling failed to find this unit.

For several weeks prior to the battle, Captain Trevor Richards' 547 Signal Troop, had tracked a radio transmitter moving south but were unsure about what unit it belonged to. Aggressive patrolling failed to find this unit.

On the night of 17–18 August, the [[Viet Cong 275th Regiment]] fired over 100 mortar rounds into the 103 Battery area and 22 Australian soldiers were wounded, one gunner (Philip Norris) later dying from his wounds.

On the night of 17 August, the [[Viet Cong 275th Regiment]] fired over 100 mortar rounds into the 103 Battery area and several Australian soldiers were wounded, one gunner (Philip Norris) later dying from his wounds in Australia.

The Australian 1 Field Regiment wounded gunners were taken to the underground shelter and were treated by military surgeon John Taske.

The 22 wounded from 1 Field Regiment were taken to the underground shelter and were treated by military surgeon John Taske.

 

The mortar attack was widely viewed as a preliminary operation to induce a response form the Australians. By that measure, Norris was arguably the first man mortally wounded in the Battle of Long Tan and the first Australian artillery soldier reportedly killed in Vietnam.

B Company 6 RAR was sent out early on the morning of the 18th to find the VC heavy weapons. D Company (to which was attached three [[New Zealand Army]] personnel) relieved B Company at midday. The commander of B Company, [[Major]] [[Noel Ford]], briefed the D Company commander, Major Harry Smith, and B Company returned to base. After discussing the situation with the 6 RAR battalion commander, [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Colin Townsend]], D Company moved to the east towards the limit of their covering artillery range.

B Company 6 RAR was sent out early on the morning of the 18th to find the VC heavy weapons. D Company (to which was attached three [[New Zealand Army]] personnel) relieved B Company at midday. The commander of B Company, [[Major]] [[Noel Ford]], briefed the D Company commander, Major Harry Smith, and B Company returned to base. After discussing the situation with the 6 RAR battalion commander, [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] [[Colin Townsend]], D Company moved to the east towards the limit of their covering artillery range.