by: Greg Sheridan, Foreign editor From:The Australian July 04, 201212:00AM THE death of the 33rd Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan – and the 16th member of the special forces – shows the inadequacy, poor structure and imbalance of the Defence Force. The special forces are not just the tip of the spear of the Australian […]
DVA has provided the following advice: “In the 2012-13 Budget the Government announced that the portability rules applicable to some Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and Department of Human Services benefits are to be changed. The portability rules are the policies which govern the effect on a person’s benefits of being temporarily absent from […]
The XM25 has a range of roughly 2,300 feet – and is to be deployed in Afghanistan soon. I would call it the “Equalizer.” Some call it the “Punisher”. The rifle’s gun sight uses a laser rangefinder to determine the exact distance to the obstruction, after which the soldier can add or subtract up to […]
An Australian special forces soldier on his seventh tour of duty has been shot dead in Afghanistan while hunting an insurgent leader. The 40-year-old Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) soldier’s death is the 33rd Australian fatality in Afghanistan since the war began and the first of 2012. Chief of the Defence Force David Hurley said […]
ROLLING INTO BATTLE: The troops of 1 Bde form the core of a 9000-strong force battling it out over the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Ex Hamel 2012. EX PREDATOR’S STRIKE: Heavy armour rolles across Shoalwater Bay for 1 Bde’s annual warfighting exercise. ALL IDEAS WELCOME: Diggerworks is about to start touring bases looking for the next […]
Searching, I worried somehow he was lost to me, That in this place, there may be nothing of him. But there; the name, his rank, a number, The regimental badge, that awful date, A simple plaque, a wooden stake, Beside a sapling. It was a smaller grove, a little distant, Though that would not […]
I have lived and worked overseas for many years, mainly in Cambodia, and am back briefly in Australia. One of my current trades is poetry and I composed two pieces relative to the Memorial Walk a few years ago. One More Plaque Late sunlight filters through the trees, Across bronze plaques beneath, […]
Old soldiers were on parade and the ranks thinning fast Soon there were but a few and then the very last Now is the time to reflect on this unit’s life To salute history created during bloody strife It’s warriors served from the Mekong Delta to the DMZ Sometimes alone, often in groups of two […]
Given we are soon to commemorate 100 years since ANZAC, it begs the following question. Why can’t our nation have such a forest of trees? It would seem appropriate to include a history trail commencing at the entrance to such a living memorial. A FOREST FOR OUR FALLEN Many of our youth in […]
The soldiers were on parade rehearsing and all had gone well Then the command to advance in review order was yelled The long line marched 15 paces and without any orders, halted It was to demonstrate discipline and that no one had bolted The ultimate example of military good order and cohesion Alas, Private Dodger […]
Was it so long ago when we seemed immortal and soldiered together Sent to train at Canungra in all sorts of miserable weather Ambushing, attacking and defending by day and by night Being toughened up by experts and learning how to fight Running, jumping, shooting, yelling and always trying to be best Preparing for Vietnam […]
For Moff, a true blue mate and Digger. A reinforcement arrived to join our happy band A smart arse who never tried to understand Such was his manner he was given the thumbs down His presence caused friction and certainly lots of frowns So we turned to our hero, Moff, who was surely one […]
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