Sergeant Brett Till Begins His Journey Home

Sergeant Brett Till Begins His Journey Home

Mates of Australian soldier, Sergeant Brett Till, bid farewell to a friend and colleague during a solemn ramp ceremony in Tarin Kowt, southern Afghanistan on Saturday, 21 March 2009.

Sergeant Till, from the Sydney based Incident Response Regiment, was serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) when he was killed-in-action attempting to render safe an Improvised Explosive Device discovered during a patrol.

Led by Engineers from the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Group (MRTF) and accompanied by SOTG colleagues, a cortege of vehicles including a patrol vehicle bearing Sergeant Till’s flag draped casket, passed solemnly along a route lined by members of the MRTF and representatives from coalition forces in Oruzgan.

On the dusty airstrip at Tarin Kowt, his casket was carried by eight of his mates into the RAAF C-130 Hercules aircraft that would shortly begin the journey home to Australia.

In his address at the ceremony, the Commanding Officer of the SOTG, said Sergeant Till’s death was not in vain.

“Without question, Brett’s work on the day he died saved the lives of his mates.”

“He was a man who, with his team, would deliberately place himself directly between dangerous and unstable high explosive devices and the soldiers of SOTG on a daily basis, in order to ensure that they could carry out their important mission to make this country a safer place. I have the highest personal and professional regard for this selfless and dedicated Australian soldier”.

“Brett will be forever remembered both here and at home as a bloke that made a difference and saved lives.”

Sergeant Till will arrive in Australia later this week. Details of his arrival in Australia will be advised when confirmed.

Imagery will be available at http://www.defence.gov.au/media/galleries/index.htm

ENDS

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