So there was an imperative to ensure that the Iraqis did not have the opportunity to launch Scud missiles at Israel. And I must say that the Special Forces operation in which we were involved contributed directly towards ensuring that that was the case.
Our SAS virtually moved from Afghanistan to Iraq and, in doing so, maintained many of their direct connections with their American counterparts. This was reflected in the number of times our Diggers seamlessly called in air support directly from their American allies in the field. Duncan Lewis:
Our task group in Afghanistan covered itself in distinction, achieving quite disproportionate results for the number of persons deployed, and I think we carried that reputation forward then directly into the planning for Iraq. We were an integral part, and I think a successful part, of a wider Coalition effort.
In Iraq, Australia’s contribution to the multinational forces was Operation Catalyst. It ran from 2003 until the last 11 ADF members, embedded in a range of Coalition headquarters units, were withdrawn on 29 July 2009. More than 20,000 Australians served in Iraq during the operation’s currency.
Any doubts that the modern Digger has earned his right to stand alongside his forebears should be allayed by the outstanding performances of men like Trooper X during Operation Falconer in Iraq. Trooper X’s patrol was ordered to clear an Iraqi installation to prevent it being used for the command and control of Iraqi ballistic missiles. Trooper X was the machine gunner in the exposed .50 calibre mounting ring in his armoured patrol vehicle. As it neared its objective, the Aussie patrol was confronted by an Iraqi special operations force of two vehicles and up to 20 heavily armed troops.
The Diggers were outnumbered and the operation was in the balance until Trooper X swung into action. Exposed and under fire, he immediately destroyed the first Iraqi vehicle with a Javelin missile. This restricted the Iraqis’ ability to manoeuvre. The Australians then charged at the remaining Iraqis and Trooper X swept another supporting Iraqi position to the south with his machine gun. Showing remarkable coolness, he switched back to his Javelin system and destroyed the second enemy vehicle, dispersing nearby enemy soldiers who were setting up a mortar position. As the Diggers closed on the enemy position, Trooper X picked up his sniper rifle and, with his first round, hit and exploded the mortar tube the Iraqis were hastily setting up.
At this stage, individual enemy troops started to surrender but were intermingled with other Iraqis who were still fighting against the Aussies. Trooper X then showed superb marksmanship, firing selected shots at the Iraqis who were still fighting from cover and forcing them to surrender. Trooper X was awarded the Medal for Gallantry. His citation read in part:
Throughout this engagement, Trooper X demonstrated skills and composure of the highest standard. He acted with very little direction and his decisions and subsequent actions had significant impacts on the outcome of the engagement. His actions in destroying the enemy vehicles gave the Australian forces freedom of movement and put the Iraqi forces under immediate pressure. For the entire engagement, Trooper X was subject to enemy fire passing close overhead. He readily accepted the personal danger and disregarded his own safety while acquiring the enemy vehicles with the Javelin. His conduct whist in a hazardous situation in contact with numerically superior enemy forces was most gallant and led to the success of the action.
Trooper X remains anonymous. His only recognition comes from his fellow SAS Diggers. This has always been the way for our Special Forces: from the Z Specials, responsible for one of the greatest feats of the war when they twice penetrated Singapore Harbour and destroyed thousands of tonnes of Japanese shipping, to the independent companies and forces operating in the islands to Australia’s north in World War II, through to the SAS in Vietnam, Iraq, East Timor and Afghanistan. Duncan Lewis:
Our operations are often conducted shrouded in secrecy and that’s necessary of course in order to preserve the safety of the individuals who are deployed. These fellows are seriously in harm’s way and we want to do everything to ensure that they remain as safe as we can possibly make them. The wider public doesn’t get to hear the detail of what was done. But I think the couple of glimpses that come out of both Afghanistan and Iraq, through the commendations for Sergeant Y and Trooper X, give you an idea of the great spirit, the humanity, the courage, the generosity of the individuals that go to make up not just Special Forces but the wider Australian Digger, the wider membership of Australian military forces.
Perhaps the most pleasing thing to emerge from the war in Iraq in 2003 was that, despite considerable opposition to Australia’s involvement, the respect that the overwhelming majority of Australians have for their Diggers ensured they were able to direct their criticism and displeasure at the government while still supporting our soldiers. This pleased Duncan Lewis greatly:
I think the thing that sets the Australian soldier apart is humanity. That’s the most important thing. They’re human beings and they treat other people that they come across, whether they be friend, foe or neutral, as human beings also. They’ve shown amazing degrees of compassion to those in need.
I’ve always said it’s more difficult not to shoot someone than to shoot them. I think that’s an axiom of modern military operations. It’s more difficult and more challenging not to engage somebody by fire than to engage them, and my Special Forces blokes in both Afghanistan and Iraq have displayed time and time again that they’re able to discriminate between those that they should engage and those that they shouldn’t. And, of course, by not engaging it doubles the success because it’s a win-win situation. I think that’s very important.
Many individual Diggers have distinguished themselves in Afghanistan and Iraq but, because of the need for continued security in the light of worldwide terrorist threats, most of their names remain hidden from the public.
LEST WE FORGET
Diggers who have died during the Afghanistan conflict
(up to date of publication)
16 February 2002
Sergeant Andrew Russell, 33, (Special Forces Task Force Group) from wounds inflicted by an anti-vehicle mine.
8 October 2007
Trooper David Pearce, 41, (Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
25 October 2007
Sergeant Matthew Locke MG, 33, (Special Air Service Regiment) from wounds from small-arms fire from Taliban forces.
23 November 2007
Private Luke Worsley, 26, (Special Operations Task Group) from wounds from small-arms fire from Taliban forces.
28 April 2008
Lance Corporal Jason Marks, 27, (Special Operations Task Group) from small-arms fire from Taliban forces.
8 July 2008
Signaller Sean McCarthy, 25, (Special Air Service Regiment) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
27 November 2008
Lieutenant Michael Fussell, 25, (Special Operations Task Group) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
4 January 2009
Private Greg Sher, 30, (Special Operations Task Group) from wounds inflicted by rocket attack.
16 March 2009
Corporal Mathew Hopkins, 21, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by small-arms fire from Taliban forces.
19 March 2009
Sergeant Brett Till, 31, (Special Operations Task Group) from wounds inflicted while trying to disarm an IED.
18 July 2009
Private Ben Ranaudo, 22, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
7 June 2010
Sapper Jacob Moerland, 21, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
7 June 2010
Sapper Darren Smith, 26, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
21 June 2010
Private Timothy Aplin, 38, (Special Operations Task Group) from injuries sustained in a helicopter crash.
21 June 2010
Private Scott Palmer, 27, (Special
Operations Task Group) from injuries sustained in a helicopter crash.
21 June 2010
Private Ben Chuck, 27, (Special Operations Task Group) from injuries sustained in a helicopter crash.
9 July 2010
Private Nathan Bewes, 23, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
13 August 2010
Trooper Jason Brown, 29, (Special Operations Task Group) from small-arms fire by Taliban forces.
20 August 2010
Private Tomas Dale, 21, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
20 August 2010
Private Grant Kirby, 35, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
24 August 2010
Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, 28, (Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force) from wounds inflicted by small-arms fire by Taliban forces.
2 February 2011
Corporal Richard Atkinson, 22, (1st Combat Engineer Regiment) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
19 February 2011
Sapper Jamie Larcombe, 21, (1st Combat Engineer Regiment) killed during an engagement with insurgents.
23 May 2011
Sergeant Brett Wood MG, 32, (2nd Commando Regiment) from wounds inflicted by an IED.
30 May 2011
Corporal Andrew Gordon Jones, 25, (Mentoring Task Force) shot by an Afghan National Army soldier.
30 May 2011
Lieutenant Marcus Sean Case, 27, (6th Aviation Regiment) from injuries suffered in a helicopter crash.
6 June 2011
Sapper Rowan Jaie Robinson, 23, (Special Operations Task Force) from wounds sustained in combat with insurgents.
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Searchable Terms
The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.
Afghanistan xi, 1, 2, 3, 6–14, 16, 295, 299, 303–5
Special Operations Task Force xi, 3
Afrika Korps 133–5, 172, 176–7, 181
Agent Orange 270
Ahmed, Muhammed 39
Alamein offensive 172–80
Albany 125
Alexander, General 180
Alexandria 52, 54
Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited (AWA) 206
Amiens 110, 112
Battle of 116
Annan, Kofi 285
Anzac Cove 57, 58, 60, 64, 65, 66–7, 69, 70, 74, 82, 84, 86
Anzac Day xi, 29–30, 83, 124–5, 183, 233
Anzac, origin of word 52–3
Aplin, Private Timothy xi, 304
Aquitania 142, 146
Ari Burnu 57, 83
Armenia 87
Armentières 88, 98
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