Just in

[spanner Association Member & WUSA Overseas rep aka Cathie Find all posts View Profile Close spanner]

Just in

On tonights news, two Aus soldiers and thier dog have been wounded by a roadside bomb, one soldier was flown to germany, one is in a local hospital and the dog in vet care, all are stable and expected to survive. :)

[cyclicmick *****/Roll of Honour Custodian Find all posts View Profile Close cyclicmick]

Tpr Mark Donaldson VC

Trooper Donaldson's VC is even more special as it is the first award of the Victoria Cross for Australia!
The VC for Australia was instituted in 1991 when Australia opted out of the Imperial system of honours and awards and their own national system was established.
Canada now has the Victoria Cross (Canada) (instituted 1 January 1993) and New Zealand the Victoria Cross for New Zealand (instituted 20 September 1999). The Australian and New Zealand VCs are identical to the original and the Canadian differs in that it has the Latin motto PRO VALORE on the banner instead of FOR VALOUR. (The French Canadians wouldn't accept the English motto and the rest of them were not have French, so the compromise was Latin!!).
Since the opt out of the Imperial honours system an award of the British VC would have meant that it would have been worn after any national medals, hence the introduction of their own awards which are recognised as having equal standing with the British VC.
The Canadian VC has yet to be awarded and the New Zealand VC has only been awarded once, to Corporal Willie Apiata of the NZSAS.

[Guest Close Capt]

A VC by anybody's standards, or name, is never won easily. An example to us all.

[cyclicmick *****/Roll of Honour Custodian Find all posts View Profile Close cyclicmick]

Exactly

[spanner Association Member & WUSA Overseas rep aka Cathie Find all posts View Profile Close spanner]

name

An Australian soldier killed yestreday has been named as Mathew Hopkins, 21, he recently had leave to see his newborn son and spent four days with him before retuning to duty.
Another child to grow up without a dad.

[Guest Close Frenchie]

We Will Remember Him

[Guest Close Jimmy Mac]

At least he got to see his newborn child, but that's not much consolation for his family who now have to try to live out their days with the loss

So sad

Lest We Forget

[Guest Close Slopjockey]

We Will Remember Him

[spanner Association Member & WUSA Overseas rep aka Cathie Find all posts View Profile Close spanner]

news

On tonights news they showed Mats coffin being carried to an aircraft by his unit which included locals as he was involved with training them.
Just hope they do not lose the body this time as they did with one lad before.

[spanner Association Member & WUSA Overseas rep aka Cathie Find all posts View Profile Close spanner]

another death

It just came in on the tv news break at 20;20,
Another Aussie soldier has died, this time in an explosian, no details are available at this time, will update when I know more, probably tommorow.

[Guest Close Frenchie]

He deserves his own post Spanner, for the record.

[Guest Close Guest]

The CWGC,s around my house are full of Aussie soldiers from WW1. They are great warriors and great in heart and I will bet you it still runs true today! Australia suffered the highest casualty ratio per population served out of any allied Nation in that colossal war.

Aussie's, you really do put many Euro Nations to shame with your commitment and pure bloody spirit!

I salute you and I wish your wounded a speedy recovery.

Switches.