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Soldiers from the Afghan National Army fire a D-30 122mm howitzer gun at the heavy weapons range, Tarin Kot.
Soldiers from Mentoring Task Force moving away from the Helicopter Landing Zone after loading three Australian casualties following an Improvised Explosive Device attack in the Karmisan Valley.
Escorting a casualty to a US Aero Medical Evacuation helicopter for transportation back to Tarin Kot medical facility following an Improvised Explosive Device in the Karmisan Valley.
As the sun sets over the Charmestan Valley, Australian soldiers from Mentoring Task Force 3 receive their orders for an Afghan National Army security operation to disrupt insurgents in the Charmestan region.
Members of the Marine Rotational Force loading onto a Globe Master C-17 on route to Exercise Talisman Sabre, a military training activity to improve the combat readiness and interoperability between Australian and US forces.
The last patrol of the M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier. One of the M113A1 captured in this image had served 45 years in the Australian Army, including service in Vietnam.
Underground caves on the way to our extraction point. Luckily there were some points along the way where the light shone through allowing me to capture a small handful of images in this remarkable location.
Searching for narcotics and weapons caches with Special Operations Task Group (SOTG). I captured this image during our extraction using the camera to shield my face from the flying debris before the dust engulfed me completely.
Still in the very early stages of building, this base did not yet have sleeping quarters. This simple shot tells the story of life at a patrol base for our incredible soldiers, who worked so hard that they could sleep absolutely anywhere.
As an Air Force photographer, I never imagined I would be patrolling Afghanistan with the Army. I went on every patrol I could, day and night. Some lasted only an hour or two, others all day, each step deliberately placed for hidden within the beauty was always danger.
Kids posing for a photo in front of an Armoured Personnel Carrier M113. The local kids were smart, always happy to get photos taken but only for money, food or cigarettes.
Having a smoke with the locals. (Winner of 2021 People Choice Award)
Fellow Engineer and Tasmanian, Bobby Laird who worked together with Rex sitting on an Armoured Personnel Carrier with M16 in hand.
A pic of the dismounted infantry on patrol snapped from a passing Armoured Personnel Carrier.
Clearing the road for mines. On this occasion our tank crew lead the way for us, the theory being they were bigger and tougher and more likely to survive if they hit a mine.
Operations were hazardous with regular ground fire, poor flying conditions, night-time medivacs and dangerously small jungle landing zones sometimes booby trapped with land mines. The unit lost 7 Iroquois and 2 crewmen in action during its deployment.
Two Tasmanian soldiers from 4RAR catching up on local Tasmanian news with ‘The Examiner’ in their fighting pit in Vietnam.
Three Tassie mates having a beer. Bobby Laird on the left, Manfred Wombald centre and Rex Targett on the right.
A group of Tasmanian soldiers from 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC Battalion) having an end of tour beer.Total casualties during their deployment included 15 Australians killed and 97 wounded and 5 New Zealanders killed and 37 wounded.
Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG (second from right) with members of his team in Afghanistan in 2011. *** Local Caption *** The Governor General, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO, posthumously invested Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird, VC, MG, with the Victoria Cross for Australia in a ceremony at Government House on Tuesday, 18 February 2014. Corporal Baird’s parents, Mr and Mrs Doug and Kaye Baird, accepted the award on behalf of their son. Corporal Baird, from the 2nd Commando Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, is the fourth Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, and the 100th Australian to receive the award since the Imperial Victoria Cross was first struck in 1856. Corporal Baird was killed by small arms fire during an engagement with insurgents in the Khod Valley in southern Afghanistan on 22 June 2013. He has been awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions during this engagement. Corporal Baird was serving with a 2nd Commando Regiment element of the Australian Special Operations Task Group at the time of his death, and was the 40th Australian to be killed in action in Afghanistan.
Corporal Cameron Baird, VC, MG in Afghanistan in 2013. *** Local Caption *** The Governor General, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO, posthumously invested Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird, VC, MG, with the Victoria Cross for Australia in a ceremony at Government House on Tuesday, 18 February 2014. Corporal Baird’s parents, Mr and Mrs Doug and Kaye Baird, accepted the award on behalf of their son. Corporal Baird, from the 2nd Commando Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, is the fourth Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, and the 100th Australian to receive the award since the Imperial Victoria Cross was first struck in 1856. Corporal Baird was killed by small arms fire during an engagement with insurgents in the Khod Valley in southern Afghanistan on 22 June 2013. He has been awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions during this engagement. Corporal Baird was serving with a 2nd Commando Regiment element of the Australian Special Operations Task Group at the time of his death, and was the 40th Australian to be killed in action in Afghanistan.
Australian Army soldier Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird, VC, MG, who was killed on Operation Slipper in southern Afghanistan on 22 June 2013 while deployed as part of the Special Operations Task Group. *** Local Caption *** Corporal Cameron Baird MG of the 2nd Commando Regiment was farewelled by the Special Operations Task Group in a solemn Service of Remembrance and Ramp Ceremony at Multi National Base - Tarin Kot. Corporal Baird MG was killed in action on 22 June 2013 during an engagement with insurgents. He was remembered by his mates and the Task Group as a modest yet inspirational leader and a true, modern day warrior. Australians, Americans, Slovakians, Afghan Partner Units and Defence Civilian colleagues formed an honour guard to pay final tribute to Corporal Baird as he was led to a waiting Air Force C-130 to begin his journey home.
The casket of Corporal Cameron Baird who was killed in action on June 22 is escorted to the Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules by his mates from the Special Operations Task Group. *** Local Caption *** Corporal Cameron Baird MG of the 2nd Commando Regiment was farewelled by the Special Operations Task Group in a solemn Service of Remembrance and Ramp Ceremony at Multi National Base - Tarin Kot. Corporal Baird MG was killed in action on 22 June 2013 during an engagement with insurgents. He was remembered by his mates and the Task Group as a modest yet inspirational leader and a true, modern day warrior. Australians, Americans, Slovakians, Afghan Partner Units and Defence Civilian colleagues formed an honour guard to pay final tribute to Corporal Baird as he was led to a waiting Air Force C-130 to begin his journey home.
Members of the Special Operations Task Group farewell Corporal Cameron Baird MG of the 2nd Commando Regiment as he is flown from Multi National Base - Tarin Kot by a Royal Australian Air Force C-130 Hercules. *** Local Caption *** Corporal Cameron Baird MG of the 2nd Commando Regiment was farewelled by the Special Operations Task Group in a solemn Service of Remembrance and Ramp Ceremony at Multi National Base - Tarin Kot. Corporal Baird MG was killed in action on 22 June 2013 during an engagement with insurgents. He was remembered by his mates and the Task Group as a modest yet inspirational leader and a true, modern day warrior. Australians, Americans, Slovakians, Afghan Partner Units and Defence Civilian colleagues formed an honour guard to pay final tribute to Corporal Baird as he was led to a waiting Air Force C-130 to begin his journey home.
Able Seaman Marine Technician Submariner Michael Youd, Lieutenant Commander Brendan Pearce, Petty Officer Electronic Warfare Submariner Dane Sharp are all Tasmanian locals on board HMAS Sheean, which is visiting Beauty Point, Tasmania, in the first of a series of port visits to the state. *** Local Caption *** Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Sheean visited Beauty Point, Tasmania, as part of her first deployment of 2021. It is the first of a series of port visits to the state for the submarine, which was named for Victoria Cross recipient Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean, who was from Tasmania. The Collins Class submarine has been participating with ships and aircraft in Fleet Certification Period 2021, an annual high-end warfighting exercise.
Matthew Millhouse - Iraq, 2004.This image was taken by Matthew while on deployment to Iraq from his Light Armoured Vehicle.
Matthew Millhouse - Iraq, 2004 This photo was taken by Matthew while on deployment to Iraq from his Light Armoured Vehicle.
A signalman’s lamp on the bridge wing of HMAS Melbourne reflects the Al Basrah Oil Terminal in the Persian Gulf as the sun sets.
Afghan National Army trainees at the first UN and internationally accredited demining school.
Perimeter views from the eastern side of Bagram Airfield to the mountains of the Hindu Kush. This large area was riddled with mines to be cleared. The broken glass made for a beautiful "seaside" effect at sunset.
The Afghan National Army guard tower at Jalalabad Airfield. Security was very lax; not surprisingly just weeks later they were hit with suicide vehicle bomb at the gate.
Landing at Sharana Airfield and seeing the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) security patrolling from the plane window.
'These discarded relics of the Russian war reminded me of sentinels forever warning us of the dangers and sacrifice of war.'
'These discarded relics of the Russian war reminded me of sentinels forever warning us of the dangers and sacrifice of war.'
Found these guys in a predicament about 20kms out of Fujairah on our way to collect aircraft maintenance equipment. We did a brief roll by, smile, wave and water drop out the window for morale and human relations.
Tent city; our home for 2 weeks at early basic training. Jamie passed away suddenly in 2011 with a ruptured aorta heart aneurysm. His twin brother Andrew also spent a large part of his career with his brother in the military.
Bolt the Explosive Detection Dog on operation. After a long career Bolt retired with one of his former handlers and died a few years after from snakebite.
A capture of the beauty and contrast of the Afghan countryside on operations with Reconstruction Task Force 3.
Deployment with Overwatch Battle Group West 4. Urban Training with the Australian Army Training Team Iraq.
ANZAC Battle Group. Patrolling the outskirts of Dili with the new East Timorese Army.
These two Iraqi tanks were destroyed by US forces while attempting to defend the outskirts of Baghdad in 2003. In hindsight we probably should have kept our distance as they were likely destroyed by depleted uranium rounds that leave a dangerous radioactive residue.
When Baghdad fell to US forces in 2003 they discovered an underground garage housing a collection of luxury cars belonging to President Saddam Hussein’s sons. Over time this rare collection was stolen, vandalised or destroyed. This limousine was one of the few vehicles remaining in 2007.
The unofficial mascot of B Company, 5/7 RAR; the stray dog at the front gate of Camp Smitty.
Ricky served in the Army Reserves as a driver. "There is nothing better than operating someone else’s two door Mercedes Benz in the middle of Australia" he recalls with a laugh. This image was taken while on exercise in Tasmania as we were setting up our defensive position.
This trip involved a lot of operations on the border. I recall one night during a covert operation we were engaged from two sites by the Indonesian Military. After the initial shock we returned fire which probably didn't last very long, maybe 6-7 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime.
Infantry soldiers from the Force Protection Element and Quick Reaction Force of Task Group Taji. The backdrop of the spectacular red sunset was a staple of the desert region. The reflection was the result of a recent burst of heavy rain; weather unheard of in the hot dry climate experienced for most of the deployment.
After clearing a village pre-dawn and engaging some insurgents in the early morning it had been quiet all day as we waited for nightfall to depart. Given the calm, I took the risk of removing my helmet during picquet. Less than a minute later a number of rounds came in barely missing my head, one so close it felt like a slap in the face. I took cover and returned fire. This was me about 5 minutes later, unimpressed. Naturally my mates got a good laugh out of it though.
A moment of downtime playing soccer with the local kids.
This photo was taken during a convoy move to the border post, a time of high tension in the weeks leading up to the transition from INTERFET to the UN. For me this image represents the reality of a patrol on operations; focused, game face on and always on the lookout.
The destruction of 8 tonnes of mixed explosives and ammunition, 2 tanks and a fleet of armoured cars during Australia’s first Special Forces deployment 2001/2002.
My interpreter took this photo on a joint US Marine and Afghan Army patrol when he should have been doing other things. Typical! Happy to say he has been safely living in Florida with his family since 2014.
In 2002 these opium poppy fields were considered unimportant while teams still searched for the last remnants of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. By 2010, the Special Operations Task Group with the US were actively trying to destroy heroin production to remove enemy funding.
My teammate Dave O’Neill. You will often hear veterans say the thing they miss most post military is their mates. Dave completed two tours of duty in East Timor, two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq before being killed in a car crash in 2007. Even with his time cut short, Dave achieved more than many achieve in a long life.
In 2002 SASR patrols were tasked with long range reconnaissance to understand the Afghan people and search for the remnants of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. These long patrols in remote areas would not have been possible without resupply every few weeks bringing anything from food, water and fuel to vehicle parts and ammunition.
Located on the eastern Afghan border with Pakistan, this Al-Qaeda cave was positioned so that doctors from Pakistan could treat Al-Qaeda members in Afghanistan. I was told that Osama bin Laden visited the base regularly before fleeing to Pakistan to hide.
Al-Qaeda caves used as a base through the 1990’s. Reduced to rubble by US bombing in 2001 these mudbricks were used like tiles to line the walls of the cave.
The traditional home of the Taliban, Kandahar has not been a safe place for outsiders for a long time.
My last military deployment to Afghanistan working as an Afghan mentor and trainer and assisting the Afghan Tactical Police to conduct high risk arrests.
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