Captain Bryce Duffy farewelled

Family, friends and fellow soldiers gathered on Remembrance Day at Brisbane’s Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) to honour the life and service of Captain Bryce Duffy, killed on operations in Afghanistan on 29 October 2011.

Captain Duffy was remembered as an exceptional man and an inspirational officer at the Morris Hall funeral service.

Bryce’s closest friends from 4th Regiment Royal Australian Artillery (4 RAA) formed the honour guard and catafalque party while fellow soldiers, relatives, Churchie students and members of the public lined the route into Morris Hall to pay their respects to the fallen.

During a solemn eulogy, Commanding Officer 4 RAA Lieutenant Colonel Charles Weller described Bryce as an officer with unbounded energy, diligence and belief.

“Bryce is one of those magnificent people for whom life is about more than personal advantage – he believed in duty, honour and country, and dedicated his life to them wholeheartedly,” Lieutenant Colonel Weller said.

“He was a consummate professional who loved soldiering – his chosen vocation. He accepted its privations and relinquished many of society’s luxuries. He was a leader and warrior who was respected and admired by all ranks.

“Our nation is poorer for his passing but richer for his service, we will miss him.”

The Chief of Army Lieutenant General David Morrison attended the funeral alongside senior military dignitaries and official guests.

Bryce was serving with Mentoring Task Force Three (MTF-3) when he was tragically killed in Afghanistan. He was awarded the, Australian Active Service Medal with clasp International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Australian Defence Medal, NATO Non Article 5 Medal with clasp – International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Meritorious Unit Citation – 1st Mentoring Task Force.

Captain Bryce Duffy was buried with full military honours at the Mt Gravatt War Cemetery.

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