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Sad day for Merlin’s mates
Edition 1175, September 20, 2007 |
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A mate’s farewell: Reconstruction Task Force soldiers lower Merlin’s coffin into his final resting place. Inset: Merlin himself.
Photo by Cpl Jamie Osborne |
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RTF 3 soldiers recently paused operations to mourn the death of Merlin, an explosive detection dog who served with distinction throughout his Army career.
Merlin was accidentally killed in a vehicle incident last month while supporting RTF reconstruction activities on the outskirts of Tarin Kowt.
RTF personnel gathered at the Kamp Holland kennel complex with Chaplain Capt Craig Potter to farewell their four-legged mate. Merlin was laid to rest overlooking his home for the past few months.
Defence spokesman Brig Andrew Nikolic said Merlin was a veteran of three operations, including support to the 2006 Commonwealth Games and operations in Timor-Leste.
“Merlin is the first Army explosive detection dog to die on operations,” Brig Nikolic said.
“His death will be keenly felt by the RTF and the wider Royal Australian Engineers, particularly their specialist dog handlers.”
Explosive detection dogs are used by the RTF in a specialist search capacity to counter the high threat of IEDs. |
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