Working dogs remembered across the MEAO

IT took just one email from a Corporal to a Major General to ensure the sacrifice of Military Working Dogs and Explosive Detection Dogs on Operation SLIPPER is not forgotten.

Major General Craig Orme, Commander Joint Task Force 633 said the correspondence from Air Force Corporal Jo Blanchette, from 462 Squadron in Edinburgh, highlighted the need to honour the eight dogs killed-in-action and one missing-in-action during operations in Afghanistan.

MAJGEN Orme said it was important for soldiers, sailors, airman and women to feel comfortable in raising issues and suggestions with their chain of command to effect positive change.

“Our Defence Force is full of enthusiastic, motivated and committed volunteers who go to work each day with the goal of making a difference,” he said.

“Different perspectives bring with them different ways of finding solutions or looking for refinements. In this instance, Corporal Blanchette highlighted a significant detail that has been overlooked.”

MAJGEN Orme said military dogs had been vital in protecting Australian and Coalition personnel by detecting improvised explosive devices and providing security to personnel.

He has now approved a wall display to be provided to Australia’s Middle Eastern bases to honour their contribution.

“As time passes it is important we remember our Military Working Dogs and Explosive Detection Dogs that have died protecting us and recognise their service. The dogs make a real difference to the lives of their handlers and those that receive their protection.”

Corporal Blanchette said she raised the issue when she returned from the Middle East after being moved by the image of Sapper Darren Smith and his dog Herbie. Both were killed along with Sapper Jacob Moerland when an improvised explosive device detonated on 7 June 2010 in the Mirabad Valley.

“Among the pictures of our personnel who were killed in action, there was a photo of Sapper Darren Smith and his dog Herbie,” CPL Blanchette said.

“Being an animal/dog person myself I think I can understand the relationship a dog handler has with their dog.”

Governor of Queensland, Penelope Wensley unveiled a national monument at the RSPCA Headquarters in Brisbane honouring all military and service working dogs on 7 June 2012.

Other memorials for Military working dogs include: Explosive Detection Dogs, Steele Barracks in Sydney; Special Operations Military Working Dog Memorial adjacent to the Garden of Reflection at Campbell Barracks in Perth; War Dog Monument at Alexandra Headland on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, dedicated to the Australian Tracker dogs in South Vietnam 1967-1971 and; the Police Dog Squad Wall of Remembrance at the Queensland Police Academy Dog Training Facility in Brisbane.

Honour Roll

• ‘Merlin’, an Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog serving with the Reconstruction Task Force, was accidentally killed in a vehicle incident on 31 August 2007.
• ‘Razz’, an Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog serving with the Special Operations Task Group, was killed in an IED incident on 20 September 2007.
• ‘Andy’, an Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog serving with the Special Operations Task Group, was killed in a vehicle incident on 22 November 2007.
• ‘Nova’, an Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog serving with Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 2, was accidentally killed in a vehicle incident on 23 October 2009.
• ‘Herbie’, an Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog serving with Mentoring Task Force 1, was killed in an IED incident on 7 June 2010.
• ‘Lucky’, an Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog serving with the Special Operations Task Group, was declared Missing in Action, likely to be dead during a large contact on 4 July, 2011.
• ‘Quake’, a Military Working Dog serving with the Special Operations Task Group, was killed in a small-arms contact on 25 June 2012.
• ‘Devil’ a Military Working Dog serving with the Special Operations Task Group, was killed in a small-arms contact on 2 July 2012.
• ‘Fax’ a Military Working Dog serving with the Special Operations Task Group, was killed in a small-arms contact on 6 January 2013.