Our Doggie Anzac's,

MERLIN is farewelled at Camp Holland Tarin Kowt

REMEMBER ALL OUR DIGGERS. rip fella xx

 Those who know me also know that I love dogs and I respect our Military so, naturally when both are combined I am there to do what I can to show support and bring awareness that our four legged friends are serving us in combat zones and have been an integral part of military service for many decades.
More recently we have heard inspiring stories of courage and loyalty that would surely bring even the staunchest of men to wipe a well of tears away, the bond between these men and their dogs is incredible and very touching.
This blog page is dedicated to the four legged digger and may St. Francis keep a watchful eye over our little four legged ANZACS who keep a watchful eye over our men and women who are deployed.

SARBI

SARBIE  Sarbi went missing in Afghanistan in September 2008 following a battle between the Coalition and the Taliban  nine Australian soldiers, including Sarbi's handler, Sergeant D, were wounded. She was missing in Afghanistan for almost 14months before being found by our American allies and returned back to our diggers in Afghanistan.  After months of quarantine in UAE she then retired from active duty and came home to our Aussie shores.  In April 2011 Sarbie was awarded the Purple Heart for service in a war torn country and was the center of attention at a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial Canberra.  Sarbi is the ninth animal to be awarded the Purple Cross. She has also been awarded the Afghanistan Medal.



SARBIE HAS A BOOK OUT http://www.thenile.com.au/books/Sandra-Lee/Saving-Private-Sarbi/9781742375571/ 

Nova laid to rest http://www.ohmidog.com/2009/10/27/australian-bomb-sniffing-dog-laid-to-rest/ 

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/sarbi-the-dog-gets-rspca-purple-cross-mdeal-for-service-in-afghanistan/story-e6frfkvr-1226034206932#ixzz1WDkwblwr 

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/bombsniffing-dogs-award-a-cross-to-bear-20110405-1d2zi.html

OUR DOGGIE DIGGERS

HERBIE

HERBIE, a Kelpie-Border Collie cross, of the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, was killed in action in Mirabad Valley, Afghanistan with his handler Darren Smith on 7th June 2010.

 RAE EDD Handler LCPL Craig Turnbull and EDD Herbie at the 2008 Service dog conference in Perth
September 21

MERLIN
EDD439 Merlin was accidentally killed August 31 2007 about 4000m SW of the Shomali Defile.

MERLIN

 Merlin’ was accidentally killed in a vehicle incident earlier this month while supporting RTF reconstruction activities on the outskirts of Tarin Kowt. “Merlin is the first Army explosive detection dog to die on operations,” said Brigadier Nikolić.

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ANDY

   

ANDY Australian soldiers serving in southern Afghanistan are mourning the death of Explosive Detection Dog ‘Andy’ – a two-year-old Kelpie-cross. ‘Andy,’ a member of the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG), was accidentally killed when struck by a vehicle within the Kamp Holland complex at Tarin Kowt. ‘Andy’ will be laid to rest near the Kamp Holland kennel complex alongside fellow fallen Explosive Detection Dogs ‘Merlin’ and ‘Razz’.  “Andy is the third Army Explosive Detection Dog to die on operations."

RAZZ 

RAZZ

Razz was killed when an IED exploded in September 2007. 







 

NOVA 
Nova, died 23rd October 2009 at Camp Holland, Afghanistan accidentally killed.

NOVA, at work.  Lest We Forget our littlest diggers

      

 *****EDD's still on active duty*****

Currently on duty: Corporal John Cannon works with his Explosive Detection Dog "Storm" to search for insurgent weapons and explosives caches during a reconstruction mission in southern Afghanistan.

                      Currently on duty in East Timor: Caption: Leading Aircraft woman Vanessa Wallis is a Dog Handler with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Corporal John Cannon and Storm, currently on duty.

E.D.D. Scuba, currently on duty.

PRECIOUS

Currently serving in East Timor: Cpl Stephen Wood from 44 MP Military Working Dog Platoon based in Dili East Timor, gives his dog Max some time out with some play time.

PROTECT THEM