Australian special forces farewell Corporal Scott Smith from Afghanistan

Australian special forces farewelled combat engineer Corporal Scott Smith yesterday (26 October 2012) in a moving memorial service and ramp ceremony at Multi-National Base – Tarin Kot, Afghanistan.

Corporal Smith was killed instantly when an improvised explosive device detonated during an operation in northern Helmand province on Sunday, 21 October 2012.

Special Operations Task Group Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel I [who cannot be named for operational reasons], paid tribute to the 24-year-old soldier who exemplified what it took to be a special forces combat engineer.

“Scott’s sense of obligation, his sense of loyalty and his sense of purpose made him the epitome of the calling of combat engineer,” said Lieutenant Colonel I.

“The type of physical and moral courage required of our special forces combat engineers is what we all hope for ourselves, but in the case of this man he displayed it every time he deployed on missions and tasks.”

The Commanding Officer also had a message for Corporal Smith’s family and partner.

“We make this solemn vow to you, Scott will never be forgotten. It is our task to tell others of the type of man that Scott was and the wonderful things he did.” Lieutenant Colonel I said.

At the ceremony, Scott’s mates remembered a dedicated professional soldier and the type of bloke everybody wanted as a mate.

Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General Michael Crane, said the loss of Corporal Smith reminded us of the dangers all our service women and men face in Afghanistan.

“Today we honour a fallen comrade. Corporal Scott Smith was a fine soldier and a good bloke, a wonderful Australian who devoted himself to the service of our country,” Major General Crane said.

“Corporal Smith’s commitment to mastering his profession was matched by his outstanding performance in the execution of his duties.

“To lose such a teammate is very difficult. We are here today to ensure Corporal Scott Smith’s achievements are recognised and we send him home with the honour he deserves.”

Australian, Afghan and coalition forces personnel joined Special Operations Task Group soldiers in paying their respects to Corporal Smith by lining the route of his casket as it was driven to a waiting RAAF C–130 Hercules.

Imagery of the ramp ceremony is available at http://images.defence.gov.au/12131540

Vision of the ramp ceremony will be fed to the Parliamentary Press Gallery later today. 

Media contact:

Defence Media Operations (02) 6127 1999