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{"href":"","timestampHref":"","text":"Battle of Coral Balmoral **Did You Know: **On the 12 May 1968, 58 years ago (Mother’s Day 1968) the Battle of Coral Balmoral started with an airmobile deployment into FSPB Coral by 1RAR, 3RAR with guns and other 1ATF elements including the step-up communications from 104 Sig Sqn. On three occasions during attacks on FSPB Coral, the NVA forces over-ran elements of the Australian base. The entire Mortar Platoon base plate position of 1RAR, one Gun position of 102 Field Battery and the forward pits of 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1RAR were over-run by ‘human wave’ enemy assaults, requiring determined and successful counter attacks. This had not happened since WWII and on no occasion since. Also, two major enemy attacks occur on FSB Balmoral. In addition to the 4 major attacks during the 26-day battle period from 12 May to 6 June 1968, there were 57 other Section, Platoon or Company size contacts and attacks conducted by the Australian troops which simply and dramatically highlights the intensity.The Australian casualties in this battle were the highest of any battle in the Vietnam War with 26 killed in action (KIA) and 109 wounded in action (WIA). The enemy suffered 276 KIA by body count (with many more suspected battle evacuations). On the 14 May 2026 veterans of FSPB’s Coral and Balmoral and others will gather at **Gundagai, NSW** to dedicate a new memorial to the Battle and **Pte Richard Norden VC.**","articleText":"Battle of Coral Balmoral **Did You Know: **On the 12 May 1968, 58 years ago (Mother’s Day 1968) the Battle of Coral Balmoral started with an airmobile deployment into FSPB Coral by 1RAR, 3RAR with guns and other 1ATF elements including the step-up communications from 104 Sig Sqn. On three occasions during attacks on FSPB Coral, the NVA forces over-ran elements of the Australian base. The entire Mortar Platoon base plate position of 1RAR, one Gun position of 102 Field Battery and the forward pits of 3 Platoon, A Coy, 1RAR were over-run by ‘human wave’ enemy assaults, requiring determined and successful counter attacks. This had not happened since WWII and on no occasion since. Also, two major enemy attacks occur on FSB Balmoral. In addition to the 4 major attacks during the 26-day battle period from 12 May to 6 June 1968, there were 57 other Section, Platoon or Company size contacts and attacks conducted by the Australian troops which simply and dramatically highlights the intensity.The Australian casualties in this battle were the highest of any battle in the Vietnam War with 26 killed in action (KIA) and 109 wounded in action (WIA). The enemy suffered 276 KIA by body count (with many more suspected battle evacuations). On the 14 May 2026 veterans of FSPB’s Coral and Balmoral and others will gather at **Gundagai, NSW** to dedicate a new memorial to the Battle and **Pte Richard Norden VC.**","timeText":"","dateTime":"","ariaLabel":"","anchorAria":"","anchorText":"","anchorHref":"","hoverHref":"https://www.facebook.com/?__cft__[0]=AZZZA23Yap0f55yLnCb1CqF2eBwKpftKLZyVhZM0I20F_kcv5NmxUwX9AOfW39PqXW6nmpSAFtjr-dBNuB711muYAzZCPa-3SDuzmUBulKVJbC-Wqfg0ma8-56zErNguBTBrqMgwttLYTvaD8pksq4jYBheq17WodpFGg4yN5ucpJ_kdSOhh-mgKRwKXpmoGhTc&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-y-R#?ihk","links":[],"mediaLinks":[],"source":"message-root","hoverTooltip":"Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 05:59"}