Sgt Michael Lyddiard, an EOD expert who was severely wounded in Afghanistan a couple of days ago. He has lost an eye and most of one arm as well as severe shrapnel wounds to the face and body. He was inspecting a roadside bomb in order to decide how best to tackle disarming it when it detonated. A damn shame to lose somebody of this level of knowledge. I'm seeing a nasty trend happening here, we seem to be losing a lot of Sergeants and Warrant Officers.




A member of the caterfalque party at Sgt Matthew Locke MG funeral. Sgt Locke was a member of the Australian SAS.




A Navy Meteorologist... In Pink..... I say again... Navy.... Pink. Enough said.

I hope he cries himself to sleep tonight.




The Governor of Queensland Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC inspects the soldiers of the Battle Group




HMAS Perth arrives at Fleet Base West after a 5 month deployment to North Eastern Asian waters.

Pink means someone that are supporting the people who have the cancers. But pink ribbon should be enough, not the whole shirt. I feel bad for you. heh...Anyway, some impressive pictures, you have

Originally Posted by Fox

Pink means someone that are supporting the people who have the cancers. But pink ribbon should be enough, not the whole shirt. I feel bad for you. heh...Anyway, some impressive pictures, you have

Oh I know what the pink ribbon means. I'm a big supporter. But the whole shirt, c'mon!

Sergerant John Smallacombe of the Overwatch Battle Group (West)-Three directs Iraqi sioldiers during a building clearance rehearsal.





Australian Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles, a Unites States Army HUMVEE and a Royal Netherlands Army Mercedes jeep park out the front of the newly opened checkpoint at Nyazi during Operation Spin Ghar.





Soldiers of Reconstruction Task Force Three wait to head out on patrol in the early hours of the morning in the 'Green Zone' of the Chora Valley region during Operation Spin Ghar.





Major Paul Foura from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment discusses a patrol route with Captain Mark McCall of the United States Police Mentoring Team and Major Marcel Veeke of the Royal Netherlands Army whilst on a patrol in the 'Green Zone' of Chora Valley during Operation Spin Ghar.




Corporal Graham Ellis and 'Digger' the explosives detection dog from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment pose for a photo at the Kalla Kalla checkpoint construction site in the Chora region of Afghanistan during Operation Spin Ghar.




British and Australian soldiers load into a British CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Chora whilst out on Operation Spin Ghar.




Regimental Sergeant Major of Reconstruction Task Force Three Warrant Officer Class 1 Terry Mckeown props by a collection of firewood whilst out on a local patrol in the Chora Valley, Afghanistan.

Leading Seaman Stores Naval Jason Quirk farewells his partner Darlene as he departs for the Gulf onboard HMAS Arunta



Commanding Officer of frigate HMAS Arunta Commander Tim Brown, with son Archie saying goodbye as they leave for the Persian Gulf




One of the lads from my Battalion. Lance Corporal David Horbenko, from the 10th/27th Battalion Royal South Australia Regiment, at the Honiara airport on operation Anode





Private Joss Dobrzynski, of Maylands (SA) with the 10th/27th Battalion Royal South Australia Regiment, patrols near a house abandoned during civil unrest near Red Beach on Guadalcanal.




The new M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier on the Puckapunyal driver training area. The AS4 is basically your normal M113 but it has a new motor driven stabilised turret, a quick change barrel .50 cal, spall liners, applique armour, an additional road wheel and extended length, track shrouds, water cooling for troops inside, a newly developed powerplant, new interior fit out and wheel brakes as opposed to just using the skid steer to stop. The new M113AS4 (which stands for Australian model 4) is being put into use with the 5th and 7th battalions of the royal australian regiment. These have essentially revolutionised the M113 for the Australian Army and given these beasts that we've had since Vietnam a new lease on life. To make these fully deployable all that is required is the attachment of bar armour.



The new M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier on the Puckapunyal driver training area.




The new M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carrier on the Puckapunyal driver training area.



Flying Officer Sarah Clark helps to trim Warrant Officer Air Force Warrant Officer Ray Woolnough's 15-year-old moustache in the name of the charity event, Movember which raises money and awareness of prostate cancer.

A newly delivered MRH-90 troop lift helicopter that is replacing the Australian fleet of Blackhawks.



The first four MRH90 aircraft were assembled at the Eurocopter facility in Marignane, France. The rest are being built in Brisbane Australia



The MRH-90 will also replace the Navy's fleet of Seahawks.




The MRH-90 is proving to be a far superior platform to the Blackhawks, which barring use by the SAS and Commandos will be retired from service.




Leading Seaman Boatswains Mate Ashley Darvill, 31, of Brisbane makes a report to HMAS Anzac's bridge during a patrol in the Middle East Area of Operations.




S-70 Sea Hawk "Christine" hovers above HMAS Anzac in the Persian Gulf




Driver Private Ben Walters (left) and Crew Commander Lance Corporal Terry Flaherty are among some of the first soldiers from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment at Robertson Barracks to be upgrading from the older model (right) to the new M113AS4.



Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd meets members of the C-130H detachment on operations in the Middle East

Private Michael Bottalico maintains a secure watch as troops from the 1st Reconstruction Task Force patrol through Tarin Kowt during a visit to the Tarin Kowt Hospital in southern Afghanistan.




Soldiers from the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment provide a security screen during a visit to a village. The 1st Reconstruction Task Force is visiting the area to conduct repairs and maintenance on one of the many mosques in this part of southern Afghanistan.




An Australian Bushmaster prepares to move out in southern Afghanistan.




A combat medic in Afghanistan while a local watches




Captain Clare O’Neil (left) updates Commander of Task Force Oruzgan, Colonel Theo Vleugels (centre) and 1st Reconstruction Task Force Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mick Ryan (right) on the current situation on reconstruction work at the Tarin Kowt Hospital and Boys' High School.



After a cold night amongst the elements, members of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force prepare for the day's mission with a hot brew a smoko




Sapper Beau Best stands guard as Australian, Dutch and Afghan forces conduct a 'shurah' or meeting with local leaders. The meeting is to discuss the needs of the village and what the Reconstruction Task Force can do to improve their lives.





Soldiers from the 1st Reconstruction Task Force maintain a secure watch as reconstruction work continues at the Tarin Kowt Hospital in southern Afghanistan.

A rather unhappy looking digger deals with the extreme heat and humidity of Queensland during pre-deployment training for Afghanistan.




Private Andrew Sharples from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, as part of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force, provides a security screen during a patrol to visit the Tarin Kowt boys and girls school in southern Afghanistan




Corporal Adam White from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, patrolling in southern afghanistan.




Australian bushmasters roll through Tarin Kowt





A view of Afghanistan from an Australian CH-47




Soldiers and officers of the 5th/7th battalion RAR unload from a US Chinook at a FOB in Southern Afghanistan




Sappers unload Australian equipment from a US C-17




An Australian Light Armoured Vehicle Crew Commander listens intently for commands as he mans the Mag 58 machine gun as he watches over the safety of his crew in the village of Baluchi, based in Wide Bay Training Area, for Exercise Afghan Dusk as part of some pre-deployment training for Afghanistan. On average an Australian soldier will be on pre-deployment training, exercises and mission rehearsals for as long or longer than they are actually deployed in country.

1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Lance Corporal Toby Stoll (left) waits for the order to move out during a mission to conduct village assessments and quick impact projects in the Oruzgan Province




Diggers from 7 RAR is Southern Afghanistan during the cooler months





Part of an infantry section patrols through a village in Afghanistan





Lieutenant Levon Lambert (right) from the Darwin-based 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment updates headquarters, as radio operator Private Stuart Steele (left) maintains a secure watch during a patrol to conduct village assessments and quick impact projects in the Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan.




An Aussie digger questioning Afghan nationals



Aussie Infantry patrols another Afghan village





Lieutenant Tim Mogridge and his cavalry troops take a few moments of well-earned rest while on patrol in southern Afghanistan.




The sun rises over Afghanistan as the Reconstruction Task Force pushes out on another mission to help rebuild the country.

On a rainy morning in Afghanistan, the armoured trucks and plant of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force roll out on their first mission "outside the wire".




Prime Minister John Howard shakes a troopers hand during a visit to them in Afghanistan




7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Sergeant McLeay as part of the 1st Reconstruction Task Force in southern Afghanistan 2007




Warrant Officer Class 2 Hervey 'Jock' Douglas celebrated 35 years service whilst on deployment in southern Afghanistan. He is pictured with Captain Alastair Harbison from the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, on exchange with the Dutch Air Mobile Brigade.




On the way home, another mission complete as part of 1st Reconstruction Task Force's Cavalry element returns to base




Private Brendan Ashleigh of 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, inspects some of the damage caused to a Russian vehicle after they hit it with a Javelin ATGM for some practice




Members of the newly-reformed 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment proudly fly their "new" flag.




Sappers prepare to destroy a soviet armoured vehicle