Five Australian soldiers killed in two separate incidents in Afghanistan last week were returned home to their families and comrades, at moving ceremonies at RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney and RAAF Base Amberley in Brisbane. At RAAF Base Richmond, Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald and Private Nathanael Galagher were received by their families and members of the Australian Army, led by Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, and Special Operations Commander, Major General ‘Gus’ Gilmore. At RAAF Base Amberley, three soldiers killed in an insider attack were received by their families and members of the Australian Army, led by Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison and Commander 7th Brigade, Brigadier Greg Bilton. Lance Corporal Stjepan ‘Rick’ Milosevic, Sapper James Martin and Private Robert Poate were received by an honour guard and bearer party formed by members of their respective units—2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment and 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment

Five Australian soldiers Killed in Action this week, are on their way home after being farewelled by their comrades in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan. The moving ceremony was also attended by senior Australian Defence Force, ISAF and Afghan National Security Force Commanders. Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, Sapper James Martin and Private Robert Poate from the 3 RAR Task Group were killed and two of their comrades wounded following an insider attack at Patrol Base Wahab in the Baluchi Valley region of Uruzgan on the evening of 29 August, 2012. In a separate and unrelated incident Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald and Private Nathanael Galagher from the Special Operations Task Group died when a ISAF helicopter crashed in Helmand Province in the early hours of 30 August, 2012. At the ceremony, Commanders paid homage and soldiers remembered fallen mates with heartfelt words. Australian soldiers and their coalition partners lined the route and saluted as a slow moving convoy of five Long Range Patrol Vehicles carried the soldiers to the Royal Australian C-130 Hercules for their final journey home. <a href="http://111.125.172.46/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&amp;search=12130839" target="_self"> Related Imagery</a>

Acting Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, announced the death of five Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in two separate incidents in Afghanistan.

The members of the Special Operations Task Group have farewelled Sergeant Blaine Diddams in a moving memorial service on Thursday, 05 July. The memorial service was held at Camp Russell in Multi-National Base – Tarin Kot, before SGT Diddams’ casket was driven to a waiting Australian C-130 Hercules aircraft. SGT Blaine Diddams returned home to his family and friends in a solemn and moving ceremony at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia, on 9 July 2012. SGT Blaine Diddams was killed in action in Afghanistan during a mission targeting an insurgent commander in Chorah region of Uruzgan Province. <a href="http://111.125.172.46/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&amp;search=12130103" target="_self"> Related Imagery</a>

Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin AO, announces the findings of the Inquiry Officer report into the death in action of Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney on 24 August 2010.

The Royal Australian Navy’s ANZAC Class Frigate, HMAS Parramatta (CMDR Guy Blackburn) and her crew found themselves in historically familiar waters in the Red Sea today as they took time out from their mission supporting peace and security in the Middle East, to commemorate the loss of HMAS Parramatta (II), sunk 70 years ago during operations off Tobruk in the Mediterranean during WW II. During the service, the ashes of ex- Chief Petty Officer Frank Davidson, an ex-Paramatta (II) crewmember were committed to the sea joining those of his old shipmate (ex Leading Seaman ) Ted Fryer whose ashes were scattered by Parramatta whilst on operations in 2010.

Captain Bryce Duffy, Corporal Ashley Birt and Lance Corporal Luke Gavin return home. They were received by their family and colleagues from the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 1st Topographical Survey Squadron, and 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment during a ramp ceremony held at the RAAF Base Amberley. <a href="http://111.125.172.46/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&amp;search=11121200" target="_self"> Related Imagery</a>

Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General Angus Campbell and CO MTF-3 Lieutenant Colonel Chris Smith in the company of Australian Defence Force, Coalition and Defence civilian personnel have paid their respects to three fallen Australian soldiers in a moving memorial service at Al Minhad Airbase in the United Arab Emirates. The three soldiers, Captain Bryce Duffy, 26, Corporal Ashley Birt, 22, and Lance Corporal Luke Gavin, 29, were tragically killed on 29 October 2011 when a rogue Afghan soldier turned upon them and opened fire immediately following a parade. During Saturday’s service LTCOL Smith and MAJGEN Campbell reflected on the achievements of the three soldiers, their service and the importance of acknowledging their ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. MAJGEN Campbell said it was also important to remember their loss extolling those present with the timely reminder of “lest we forget”. MAJGEN Campbell also acknowledged the seven soldiers who were wounded in the same incident and he read their names out one by one reminding all present of the impact of the tragic event at Forward Operating Base Pacemaker the preceding weekend. The Memorial Service provided an opportunity for the men and women based at AMAB to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers as they began the last part of their journey home to Australia. Following the Memorial Service, the flag-covered caskets, led by a lone piper were carried by the bearer parties comprising personnel from all three services to a waiting Australian Air Force C-17 aircraft. As the lone bugler sounded the poignant Last Post the three caskets made their way up the C-17’S ramp for their final farewell from the Middle East Area of Operations. <a href="http://111.125.172.46/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003&amp;search=11121199" target="_self"> Related Imagery</a>