National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Memorabilia - Bayonet fixed into marble block, The Long Tan Bayonet
... 2nd Lt Gordon C Sharp... Australian Regiment D Company 2781465 2nd Lt Gordon C Sharp 2Lt Dave ...
A relic of the battlefield, the Long Tan bayonet was collected on 19/08/1966 by 2nd Lt D R Sabben. He later presented it to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Masonic Lodge ( No. 921) at the South Eastern Masonic Centre in Keysborough, Victoria (now defunct) after they requested an artefact from the battle.
In 2001, the SLR bayonet was mounted into a stone ashlar (cube) in the memory of National Serviceman Lt Gordon Sharp of 6th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) who died in the Battle of Long Tan, 18th August 1966, along with 17 other young Australian soldiers.
The artefact was used in Masonic ceremonies held on Vietnam Veterans Day (August 18th) from 2001 until 2024, when it was presented to the National Vietnam Veterans Museum.White marble cube with bayonet in its scabbard fixed into the top of it. A plaque with dedication is on the front, the Vietnam Star medal on the left side, a silver medallion of Queen Elizabeth II on the right side, and "City of Collingwood NO. 464" carved into the bottom.The Long Tan Bayonet / A relic of the battlefield / Presented to the Vietnam Veterans / Memorial Lodge No. 921 / In Memory of Lt Gordon Sharp / By Ex Lt David Sabben, MID. 12 Plt / Commander, D Company, 6thBattalion / The Royal Australian Regiment / DUTY FIRST / 11th August 2001long tan, bayonet, scabbard and bayonet, gordon sharp, 6th battalion the royal australian regiment, d company, 2781465, 2nd lt gordon c sharp, 2lt dave sabben, long tan bayonet, masonic lodge, vietnam veterans memorial masonic lodge
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)