As servicemen and women around Indigo Shire commemorated Vietnam Veterans Day on Monday, members from Myrtleford, Bright and Mount Beauty RSL sub branches joined an RSL hosted event in Beechworth.

In a moving service held at the Cenotaph in the Beechworth Town Hall Gardens, Beechworth RSL sub branch president John Eldrid said in his address to the small crowd the annual event commemorated the Battle of Long Tan in 1966.

“We remember the sacrifices of those who died and say thank you to almost 60,000 Australians who served during the 10 years of our involvement in the Vietnam War,” he said.

Among those Australians serving in the war from 1962 to 1973, were 15,381 young men conscripted by the National Service Scheme taken from regular careers, trained and sent to fight.

Mr Eldrid said the Battle of Long Tan was a significant moment in Australia's service in the Vietnam War.

On August 18, 1966, in a rubber plantation near the village of Long Tan, Australian soldiers fought one of their fiercest battles of the war.

The men of Delta Company, 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, faced a force of some 2000 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops.

“The battle was fought in wet and muddy conditions during a heavy tropical downpour,” Mr Eldrid said.

By the end of the day 17 Australians had been killed in action and 25 were wounded, one of whom died a few days later.

On Vietnam Veterans' Day battles fought by Australians in Vietnam from large scale operations to platoon and section-level encounters were commemorated.

Mr Eldrid said Royal Australian Navy sailors who supported land operations, and Royal Australia Airforce members who served in combat and transport roles are also remembered.

The president said the four RSL sub branches, Beechworth, Myrtleford, Bright and Mount Beauty take turns to host Vietnam Veterans' Day.

Refreshments and fellowship followed the service at the Beechworth RSL premises.

Beechworth RSL Sub Branch vice-president Alison Williams said local member Russell Ellet delivered an interesting talk on his time served in Vietnam in the RSL rooms.