Battle of Suoi Chau Pha
The Battle of Suoi Chau Pha (6 August 1967) was fought during the Vietnam War between Australian troops and the Viet Cong. The battle took place during Operation Ballarat, an Australian search and destroy operation in the eastern Hat Dich area, north-west of Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy province. Following a covert insertion the day before which had caught a number of Viet Cong sentries by surprise, A Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR) had patrolled forward unaware of the presence of a large Viet Cong main force unit nearby. Clashing with a reinforced company from the Viet Cong 3rd Battalion, 274th Regiment, a classic encounter battle ensued between two forces of roughly equal size. Fought at close quarters in dense jungle amid a heavy monsoon rain, both sides suffered heavy casualties as neither was able to gain an advantage. Finally, after a battle lasting several hours, the Australian artillery proved decisive and the Viet Cong were forced to withdraw, dragging many of their dead from the battlefield after having suffered crippling losses.
Saen Phonlaphai
According to the record, King Naresuan, riding his royal war elephant Chao Phraya Chaiyanuphap (), sought out Prince Minchit Sra whilst fighting ferociously through ranks of enemy soldiers. When their elephants met, both leaders fought hand-to-hand, standing on the heads of their elephants and lurching at each other with sword and lance. It is said that the duel was so ferocious that soldiers of both armies stopped fighting in order to stare at the spectacle. Finally, Naresuan's sword cut through his opponent's body from shoulder to hip, and Siam had won the day. Without a leader, the Burmese stopped fighting and retreated to Pegu. King Naresuan became a hero, and the date of the battle (January 18) is celebrated each year as a national holiday, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day.