Image Gallery: March 2009
23 March 2009
Repatriation of Corporal Mathew Hopkins
Corporal Mathew Hopkins returned home today, Monday 23 March 2009, carried on the shoulders of his mates.
An A41 C-17 Globemaster returned Corporal Hopkins to RAAF Williamtown, where he was met by an honour guard from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR).
Army Chaplain Noel Boyce described the ceremony as a "solemn welcome home".
The guard carried Corporal Hopkins from the aircraft, accompanied by a pipe and drum. The procession was watched by his family, including wife Victoria and son Alex, whom he met only once.
Corporal Hopkins was killed in action in Afghanistan on 16 March while on a joint patrol with the Afghan National Army near Karawak in Tarin Kowt in Oruzgan Province. The patrol was engaged by around 20 Taliban insurgents using small arms and rocket propelled grenades.
Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, posthumously awarded Corporal Hopkins the Australian Defence Medal before his mates carried him to a waiting hearse to the strains of the 7RAR march "Australaise".
| 20090323adf8239716_003 Members of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, carry the coffin of their colleague Corporal Mathew Hopkins to his family for a short ceremony, after his arrival under escort from southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323adf8239716_083 Carried on the shoulders of his close friends and fellow soldiers, Corporal Mathew Hopkins of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force is moved from the Royal Australian Air Force A41 C-17 Globemaster that flew him home from Afghanistan. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323adf8239716_089 (L-R) Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP; Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston; Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie; Commander 1st Brigade, Brigadier Michael Krause and Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army, Warrant Officer Class 1 Stephen Ward pay their respects as members of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, carry the coffin of their colleague Corporal Mathew Hopkins to his family. The short ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown followed his arrival under escort from southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323adf8239716_093 Army Chaplain Noel Boyce performs the benediction as members of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, stand to attention for their colleague, Corporal Mathew Hopkins, who was tragically killed in southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323adf8239716_096 (L-R) Minister for Defence, The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP; Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston; Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie and Commander 1st Brigade, Brigadier Michael Krause watch as members of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment carry the coffin of their colleague Corporal Mathew Hopkins to his family for a short ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown, after his arrival under escort from southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323adf8239716_098 Accompanied by pipes and drum, a bearer party from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment carry their fallen comrade, Corporal Mathew Hopkins from a Royal Australian Air Force A41 C-17 Globemaster to his family. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090323adf8239716_128 Accompanied by pipes and drum, a bearer party from the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment carry their fallen comrade, Corporal Mathew Hopkins from a Royal Australian Air Force A41 C-17 Globemaster to his family. (Date taken: 23 March 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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