Afghanistan/Australien — Sapper Moerland and Sapper Smith Return Home

Sap­per Jacob Moer­land and Sap­per Dar­ren Smith were returned to Aus­tralia today to be met by fam­i­ly and col­leagues in a solemn and dig­ni­fied cer­e­mo­ny at RAAF Base Amber­ley.

Bear­er par­ty and escorts, car­ry Sap­per Jacob Moer­land and Sap­per Dar­ren Smith off a Roy­al Aus­tralian Air Force C‑17. Source: Aus­tralian Depart­ment of Defence Click to enlarge

Sol­diers from Jacob and Darren’s unit, the 2nd Com­bat Engi­neer Reg­i­ment (2CER), formed an hon­our guard and bear­er par­ty to receive and car­ry their cas­kets from the C‑17 Globe­mas­ter air­craft to their families. 

Min­is­ter for Defence, Sen­a­tor John Faulkn­er; Shad­ow Min­is­ter for Defence, Per­son­nel and Sci­ence Bob Bald­win rep­re­sent­ing the Shad­ow Min­is­ter for Defence Sen­a­tor David John­ston; Mr Shayne Neu­mann MP, Mem­ber for Blair; The Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Mar­shal Angus Hous­ton; The Chief of Army, Lieu­tenant Gen­er­al Ken Gille­spie, Com­man­der 7th Brigade, Brigadier Paul McLach­lan; and Com­mand­ing Offi­cer 2CER, Lieu­tenant Colonel John Carey were in attendance. 

Gen­er­al Gille­spie extend­ed his heart­felt sym­pa­thy to Jacob and Darren’s fam­i­lies and spoke of the impor­tance of the Ramp Cer­e­mo­ny in Aus­tralian mil­i­tary tra­di­tion, where the Aus­tralian Army wel­comed home two young Aus­tralians who have paid the supreme sacrifice. 

“Jacob and Dar­ren chose a mil­i­tary career and rep­re­sent­ed their coun­try with honour. 

“They have been essen­tial mem­bers of their team and have been out in front, using their skills to look after their mates, in the way that only young Sap­pers can. We will remem­ber them very fond­ly for their sac­ri­fice,” said Gen­er­al Gillespie. 

Lieu­tenant Colonel John Carey expressed his con­do­lences and spoke of the sor­row felt by 2nd Com­bat Engi­neer Regiment. 

“We are great­ly sad­dened by the loss of Sap­per Jacob Moer­land and Sap­per Dar­ren Smith. These brave men were our com­rades, they were our mates. They’re the great­est trea­sure Aus­tralia has. Our thoughts are extend­ed to their fam­i­lies, their friends and their loved ones.” 

Press release
Min­is­te­r­i­al Sup­port and Pub­lic Affairs,
Depart­ment of Defence,
Can­ber­ra, Australia