DHAAT Final Report - 3 May 2018 Coral & Balmoral

FINDINGS

6. The Tribunal found that:

a. all the men who fought at Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral displayed collective gallantry worthy of unit recognition;
b. the most appropriate unit recognition was the Unit Citation for Gallantry, and the most appropriate recipient unit was the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward);
c. although outside of the Inquiry’s terms of reference, the Tribunal also concluded that those servicemen from United States and New Zealand units who participated in the Battles of Coral and Balmoral under the command of the 1 Australian Task Force (Forward) should also be considered for recognition;
d. to capture the legacy of the collective gallantry displayed by Australian servicemen at Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, those Australian units that fought at Fire Support Bases Coral or Balmoral as essentially complete units, should also be recommended for a Unit Citation for Gallantry; and
e. the creation of this class of award in 1991 introduced a significant change to the means by which units could be recognised, and that the consideration of unit citations for the service of units prior to 1991 presents a challenge for the honours and awards system.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1: To recognise all participants in the battles, the Tribunal recommends that the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward) be awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry for extraordinary gallantry in action at the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral, between 12 May 1968 and 6 June 1968.
Recommendation 2: The Tribunal recommends that no minimum period of service with the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward) in AO SURFERS between the dates 12 May 1968 and 6 June 1968 be imposed as eligibility criteria for individual entitlement to wear this award.
Recommendation 3: To capture the legacy of the gallantry displayed by participants in the battles, the Tribunal recommends that the following Australian units substantively deployed to AO SURFERS between 12 May 1968 and 6 June 1968 be awarded the Unit Citation for Gallantry for extraordinary gallantry in action at the Battles of Fire Support Bases Coral and Balmoral:

• 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
• 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
• A Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment>
• C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment
• 12th Field Regiment, Royal Regiment of Ausstralian Artillery
• 1st Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers

Recommendation 4: With regard to the unique contributions of No 9 Squadron RAAF and 161 Reconnaissance Flight, the Tribunal recommends that any 9 Squadron or 161 Reconnaissance Flight members who flew missions in direct support of the Battles of Coral and Balmoral, or who were forward deployed to the Fire Support Bases and therefore attached to 1st Australian Task Force (Forward), be entitled to wear the insignia. Recommendation 5: The Tribunal recommends that servicemen from United States and New Zealand units who participated in the Battles of Coral and Balmoral under the command of the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward) should also be considered for recognition.
 

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To Apply for Your UCG.

Defence Honours and Awards website has an online application form which is the easiest way to apply for the award.

Defence Department Link. Click here

It You can also apply by phoning 1800 333 362

Mailing address is:
Directorate of Honours and Awards
CP2-1, Department of Defence
PO Box 7952
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610

Defence Department Medals Link

In filling out the form Section E: Leave PMsKey blank and only enter your service number.

Section G: Write in "Unit Citation for Gallantry, Battle of Coral Balmoral"

Note that the online form is "page progressive" meaning that you cannot get to the next page without filling in the required details on the current page. I have not been through it so I do not know if you are able to write into Section G. If this is the case then please resort to the written application form.

Page 6 is a Guidance Page and lists those eligible to apply.

The issue of recognition for Australian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Long Tan, Vietnam, is to be reviewed again by the independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal.