A special wreath-laying service will be conducted on Anzac Day in memory of Private Max Wales, one of 18 soldiers killed in Vietnam at the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.

Moree and District Services Club will commemorate Private Wales, a member of the 6th Royal Australian Regiment, at 9am at Max Wales Memorial Park on the western side of the club.

Club CEO Rob Shields invites the public and members of the Wales family to attend.

“Moree Services Club has always been proud to provide Anzac Day celebrations on behalf of the community and will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony for Private Wales,” Mr Shields said.

“We extend an invitation to anyone wishing to acknowledge this tradition and pay their respects to Private Wales and his family, to come along after our dawn service and breakfast at the club and lay a wreath, should they wish to do so.”

Moree Services Club CEO Rob Shields at the Max Wales Memorial.

Moree RSL Sub-Branch president, Jeff Biddle, thanked Moree and District Services Club for organising the special service.

“We are extremely grateful to the club for offering to facilitate a service at the Max Wales Memorial on Anzac Day this year, and we encourage people to attend and pay their respects to Max,” Mr Biddle said.

Mr Biddle said a sub-branch memorial service for Private Wales and those killed in Vietnam will be held at Moree Anzac Memorial Park, opposite Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, on August 18 – Long Tan Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day.

“This decision was made by the sub-branch to honour Max and his mates together, all who made the ultimate sacrifice in our nation’s defence,” Mr Biddle said.

The Battle of Long Tan was fought between the Australian Army and Viet Cong forces in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan, about 27 kilometres north-east of Vung Tau, South Vietnam on August 18, 1966.

Moree RSL Sub-Branch’s dawn service at Moree Services Club Memorial Window last year.

The action occurred when D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, part of the 1st Australian Task Force, encountered the Viet Cong 275 Regiment and elements of the D445 Local Forces Battalion.

D Company was supported by other Australian units, as well as New Zealand and United States personnel.

Max Wales Memorial Park was dedicated to the memory of Private Wales and his 17 comrades killed at the Battle of Long Tan.

The park features 18 rose bushes planted in memory of the Australian soldiers who died in the tragic battle.

Moree Services Club will host the Anzac Day dawn service, convened by Moree RSL Sub-branch members, at the Memorial Window at 6am on Saturday.

The service will remember the more than 100,000 Australians who sacrificed their lives defending Australia.

Breakfast will be provided from 7am in the club’s barbecue area for dawn service participants, ahead of the 9am wreath-laying ceremony at Max Wales Memorial Park.

The club will also provide lunch for veterans, dignitaries and invited guests from midday as well as a traditional game of two-up.

The Anzac parade will marshal in Balo Street at 9.30am, with a salute taking place in front of the Moree RSL Sub-Branch Military Museum.

The parade will then march to Moree War Memorial Hall for the wreath-laying ceremony, with the service scheduled to start at 10am.

The newly refurbished Moree War Memorial Hall will be reopened during Anzac Day proceedings.

Federal Member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, said Australians have fought in conflicts and served in peace-keeping missions around the world for more than 100 years.

“Our national spirit of remembrance has found a home on Anzac Day, which marks that brave and fateful moment in 1915 when thousands of Australian and New Zealand troops landed half a world away, on the shores of Gallipoli,” Mr Chaffey said.

“Their heroism, bravery and courage gave birth to Australia’s national spirit and identity – their sacrifice is why Australia has the freedom we all enjoy today.”