Diggers MC South Oz Chapter

On this day we reflect on the loss of two sailors, Chief Electrician R. Hunt & Ordinary Seaman R. J. Butterworth, killed by “friendly fire” whilst serving onboard HMAS HOBART during the Vietnam war.

On the morning of June 17th 1968, HMAS HOBART was stationed on the gunline off the coast of Vietnam IVO Tiger Island. HOBART detected an aircraft approaching her from the vicinity of Cap Lay and evaluated it as 'friendly'.
The aircraft launched a missile which hit HOBART amidships on the starboard. The warhead passed through 01 Deck and penetrated the Chief Petty Officers Pantry, Radar Room 3, the Missile Director Control Room and severely damaging the Emergency Conning Platform.
The body of the missile then passed through the outer skin of the after funnel, damaging its uptakes, and finished up in the forward funnel.
During the missiles passage, it killed Ordinary Seaman R. J. Butterworth and wounded AB Parker and ORDSMN Davidson.
HOBART immediately went to Action Stations, 3 and a half minutes later a further two missiles fired from the friendly aircraft struck HOBART.
The 2nd missile entered her stern just below 1 Deck wrecking the Gunner's Store and Engineers Workshop, the 3rd missile hit her very near the site of the first and the warhead passed through the Fan Space, Missile Director Equipment Room and No 2 Missile Director. Chief Electrician Hunt was killed and several sailors wounded by part of the missile warhead.
At a range of 8000 yards, the crew of Hobart’s forward gun engaged the aircraft firing five rounds in local control, causing it to turn away.

An enquiry into the incident stated that due to the darkness, the pilot of the American aircraft mistook the radar picture of the ship as an enemy helicopter.

In the 2010’s whilst visiting a war museum in the US, a sailor who served on the HOBART during the 90’s had a chance encounter with the pilot of the aircraft that fired upon the HOBART.
The pilot alleged that (due to faulty intelligence) he received orders to fire on the HOBART, an order which he (allegedly) questioned but was instructed to continue with the strike.
After the first strike, when coming back around for the second attack, the pilot (allegedly) further questioned the attack order, he was again ordered to continue with the attack.

Lest we forget Chief Electrician R. H. Hunt & Ordinary Seaman R. J. Butterworth

Cam's last letter to as student, showing humility and selflessness.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14etWPggyj6/

Here is the last letter written by Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG. Two weeks before Cam was killed in action, he wrote this letter in response to year 7 student Campbell Byrd. 👇

To Campbell,

My name is Cameron and I am 32 years old.

I am writing this letter in response to the letter I received from you. Firstly I must say that you have excellent handwriting, it’s so much better than mine, so I hope you can understand my writing.

Sometimes my job is difficult but I have good reasons to do it. Making the world a safer place for others is one reason. I think we are very lucky in Australia, we are safe and can live our lives as we wish.

Being away from family and friends is difficult but I have been in the Army for over 13 years and have become accustomed to being away.

In your letter you asked some questions, I would like to try and answer them for you.

1. What exactly do I do? I am a team commander in an assault platoon. I have a 6 man team within the platoon. My role as a team commander is to lead my team when on missions and during training. We do many different missions in Afghanistan but the main focus is providing security to the community and advising the Afghan police and army how to provide security within their job. I have been to Afghanistan a number of times and they are getting better and better each time I come back.

My main role over here is war fighting. The enemy use Afghanistan as a place to harbour their ‘jihad’ holy war. This enemy kills and harasses the local population, so we try and help and they fight us. War is very complicated and hard to explain. I hope this answers your question.

2. What rank are you? I’m a corporal, and will be promoted to Sergeant at the end of the year.

3. Have I always wanted to be in the Army? Simple answer is No. As you grow older things change in your life, so you have to adjust. When I was 12 years old I wanted to be a footballer or a sportsman, but I wasn’t good enough to be professional. Because the Army is physical and you work outdoors I thought it would be good to join.

Since joining I have been really happy with it. I have travelled a lot around Australia training and around the world on Operations. And I have heaps of good mates I work with.

Thank you so much for writing, it was great to hear from you. Remember to stay in school and enjoy it while you are there, because when you get older you have more responsibility and less time to play with your friends.

Always try your best in whatever you do, and always be happy in your life.

Enjoy and have fun.

Regards,

Cameron

30 years ago today.

On the night of June 12, 1996, six army Black Hawk helicopters were flying in formation over a defence training base near Townsville.

It was a routine counterterrorism training operation, simulating a hostage rescue.

When two of the helicopters flying at the front of the formation collided, it became a tragedy.

Eighteen soldiers were killed and 12 were injured, some critically.

It remains Australia's worst peacetime military aviation disaster
Great warriors taken too soon.
Lest we forget

Great overnight run down to Naracoorte over the weekend, only getting drenched a couple of times on the way down on Saturday.
Met the family of our Nom Scotty who graciously hosted us and put on amazing spread.
We are very grateful for their hospitality.

Some lives are measured by their impact, not always how long.
RIP legend- you won’t be forgotten

Today marks 15 years since the passing of Lance Corporal Andrew Gordon Jones during operations in Afghanistan on 30 May 2011.

Lance Corporal Jones served his country with dedication, professionalism and quiet determination. A skilled cook and respected soldier, he was known among his mates for his reliability, humour and willingness to always put others first.

Having served on operations in both East Timor and Afghanistan, Lance Corporal Jones embodied the values of service and mateship throughout his Army career.

Today we remember his sacrifice, honour his service, and acknowledge the lasting impact he left on his family, friends, colleagues, the Australian Army Catering Corps and the wider Defence community.

Lest we forget.🌺

Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of WO2 Lachlan Muddle.

The platoon is in the open. The RPGs come first.

On 27 April 2008, Lance Corporal Jason Paul Marks was killed in action during a deliberate assault on a Taliban position in Uruzgan Province, roughly twenty-five kilometres southeast of the Australian base at Tarin Kowt.

He was twenty-seven years old. Four other Australian soldiers were wounded in the same contact. Despite aero-medical evacuation to a coalition military hospital, Jason could not be saved.

That is how he died. This is who he was.

Jason was born in Broken Hill, in far-western New South Wales, in 1981. He grew up in Yeppoon on the central Queensland coast. He played rugby union and league, climbed rock faces for fun, and was fit enough to become a combat fitness leader in the Army. His wife Cassandra said he had known what he wanted from the age of twelve. All he ever wanted to do was join the Army. He never changed his mind.

He enlisted on 2 March 1999, at eighteen. His first posting was to the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, in Townsville, where he served as a Gunner. He deployed to East Timor twice during that posting, on Operation Warden in 2000 and Operation Citadel in 2003. He was promoted to Lance Bombardier.

Then he walked away from artillery. In April 2003 he transferred to the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and retrained as a Medical Assistant. Two years later he walked toward something harder again. He volunteered for Special Forces Entry and Commando Selection, one of the most demanding courses in the Australian Defence Force. He passed. He earned the Sherwood Green Beret and was posted to the 4th Battalion (Commando), Royal Australian Regiment, in Sydney. 4RAR (Cdo).

Gunner to medic to peacekeeper to commando. Each step was a different kind of soldiering, and Jason chose every one of them. He volunteered to shoulder the sharpest end of risk so that others did not have to.

As a commando, he deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 with the Special Operations Task Group. His unit's actions on that deployment were recognised with the Unit Citation for Gallantry. He returned to Timor-Leste in 2007 as a peacekeeper for the third time. Then he went back to Afghanistan in 2008 for what would be his final tour.

The operational tempo of the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan is not well understood by the wider public. There were operations every single day. Men walked out the gate, or climbed into the Bushmasters, or loaded onto helicopters, knowing they were likely to end up in a contact. They did this day after day, tour after tour. Some operators deployed seven or eight times. Jason deployed twice.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston described him as "very assured, highly respected, highly enthusiastic and also very, very fit." He called Jason a great inspiration to his mates. Cassandra put it plainly. "Jason always strived to be the best he could be. He loved the Army, he loved his mates and he loved his family."

Jason was honoured at a memorial service at 4RAR (Cdo) barracks in Sydney, where friends, family, and fellow commandos spoke of his steadfastness, his determination, and his humour. He was buried with full military honours at a private service in Yeppoon, the town where he grew up. He rests at Yeppoon Cemetery, Section Lawn, Row D, Grave 72.

He is survived by his wife Cassandra and their two children, Connor and Ella. His name is carried on the 4RAR (Cdo) memorial rock, Panel 1 of the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, the Yeppoon War Memorial, and the Afghanistan Avenue of Honour at Yungaburra.

The Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour for Afghanistan carries forty-seven names. Two hundred and fifty-six were wounded. Beyond those numbers, soldiers came home carrying injuries that do not appear on a casualty list. Some did not survive them. Behind every one of those names is a family. Partners who lay awake wondering. Children who answered a knock at the door. Parents who buried sons. The soldiers carried the fight. Their families carried the weight of it, and many carry it still.

Jason was one of them. A kid from Broken Hill who grew up on the Queensland coast, who decided at twelve what he wanted to be, who earned a Sherwood Green Beret and kept the peace three times before he fought a war. A highly trained professional who walked out the gate knowing what was waiting. A husband and a father of two.

He was Lance Corporal Jason Paul Marks, 8240607, 4RAR (Cdo).

He was twenty-seven.

Lest we forget.

This post is for Jason and for the people who loved him. If you knew him, or if you want his family to know he is not forgotten, leave a comment. That's what this space is for.

Rod Hutchings
Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association

Lest we forget

Ben Roberts-Smith is a National hero and has our full support.