Thirlmere Vietnam War Memorial

This illustrated glass panel is installed on the 'Remembrance of Service Walkway', which forms the footpath leading to the Picton-Thirlmere-Bargo RSL sub-Branch hall and museum. It was erected in honour of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in the Vietnam War. 

The memorial is illustrated with two colour photographs. The larger photo shows soldiers of the 6 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR)/New Zealand (ANZAC) alighting from an Iroquois helicopter on a landing zone. The photo was taken around 18 August 1966. It represents the national significance of the war.

The smaller photo is a portrait of Private Ian Thomson of Thirlmere. Thomson was a fitter and toolmaker, who was conscripted into the National Service in 1966. He served with 3RAR, held a trade and volunteered for an infantry unit. On 19 October 1968, he was badly wounded while engaging the enemy using a heavy concentration of rocket-propelled grenades. He carried on fighting until he was killed by a direct hit. He had only 12 more days left to complete his tour of duty and was only 22 years old. This image represents the local significance of the war.