Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
02 June 2008
Australians farewell Al Muthanna
US soldiers joined Diggers from Combat Team Waler for a two-day familiarization and handover patrol of Al Muthanna province.
The commanders and soldiers met with key security, political and tribal leaders during the farewell patrol, which will ensure a smooth transition when Overwatch Battle Group (West) returns to Australia mid-year.
The familiarization patrol is an important part of the Australian drawdown phase, which will see it hand over responsibility for ‘Overwatch’ in Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar province to units of the US 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Many of the meetings involved a traditional exchange of gifts, as the Australians thanked their Iraqi friends for their support since 2003.
During a dust storm the Australians hosted a barbecue dinner at Lake Sawah, amongst the ruins of an old resort, to farewell many provincial leaders.
Combat Team Waler also officially opened their three remaining reconstruction projects in Al Muthanna - new buildings for the Police operations centre, an extension to a primary school in Ar Rumaythah and a soccer field near As Samawah. Australian soldiers even took part in an impromptu soccer match on the new ‘sand’ field.
The drawdown is well advanced and logistic movements, such as the movement of non mission-essential vehicles and stores are a regular part of battle group operations.
Australian forces at Tallil Air Base are on track to redeploy to Australia by the middle of the year.
| 20080519adf8246638_039 Combat Team Waler en route to As Samawah in Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_047 Captain Duncan Anderson en route to the Al Muthanna province in an Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV). (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_072 Combat Team Waler en route to As Samawah in Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_095 Crew Commander Corporal Andrew Gellert drives by other Australian vehicles while en route to the city of As Samawah in Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_107 (L-R) Warrant Officer Class Two Peter Kirkman, Commanding Officer Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane and Commanding Officer Special Troops Battalion 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Divison, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Drummond en route to As Samawah, Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_112 Crew Commander Corporal Andrew Gellert en route to As Samawah in Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_117 Warrant Officer Class Two Peter Kirkman cools down with a bottle of ice-cold water, as temperatures reach 45 degrees Celsius during a rest stop en route to As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_119 Sergeant David Bowden on top of the Australian Light Armoured Vehicles during a rest stop en route to As Samawah in Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_138 Trooper Marc Taylor looks out over the desert during a short halt en route to Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_146 Combat Team Waler drives through the city of As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_177 Sergeant Matthew Julian provides security during a farewell visit to the Police Headquarters in As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_222 Commanders from Australian and United States forces meet with key security leaders from Al Muthanna Province at the Police Headquarters in As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_281 (L-R) Private Gavin Hoad and Captain Colin Morrison provide security during a key leadership enagement at the Iraqi Police Headquarters in As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_301 Combat Team Waler patrol through the city of As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_310 Combat Team Waler patrol through the city of As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_337 Sergeant Matthew Julian chats with a group of young Iraqi men during a key leadership farewell enagement with Sheikh Raysan at As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_343 Sergeant Matthew Julian chats with a group of young Iraqi men during a key leadership farewell enagement with Sheikh Raysan at As Samawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_423 Commanding Officer (Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4) Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane plays a game of soccer with Iraqi youths after opening a new soccer pitch. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_481 (L-R) Leiutenant Sam Hattar and Commanding Officer (Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4) Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane say farewell to Sheikh Raysan. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_494 Combat Team Waler arrive for the barbeque dinner at Lake Sawah, to farewell Al Muthanna's provincial leaders. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_512 Corporal Nathan Keen enjoys the barbecue dinner at Lake Sawah, to farewell Al Muthanna's provincial leaders. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_518 (L-R) Lance Corporal David McKeachie, Corporal Nathan Keen and Trooper Kristopher Munro at the barbecue dinner at Lake Sawah, to farewell Al Muthanna's provincial leaders. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_521 Key leaders of Al Muthanna Province thank Australians for their support at Lake Sawah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_530 (L-R) Lieutenant Sam Hattar and Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane from the Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4 chat with the key leaders of Al Muthanna Province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_534 Commanding Officer (Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4) Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane and Commanding Officer Special Troops Battalion 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Divison, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Drummond chat with Razzaq Al Jabiri, the Mayor of Al Khidr. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_589 Trooper Mitchell Wright cleaning his personel weapon in the Al Muthanna desert. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_603 Warrant Officer Class Two Carl Barr and Private William Judd conducting morning routine in the desert of Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_616 Corporal Andrew Gellert cleaning the 40mm weapon system on the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle in the desert of Al Muthanna. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_624 Private Craig Luttrell and Private William Judd cleaning weapons in the early morning light of Al Muthanna, while camels move down to Lake Sawah for grazing. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_632 An Iraqi family busy farming in Ar Rumaythah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_659 Sergeant Matthew Julian offers an Iraqi family some traditional ANZAC biscuits in Ar Rumaythah. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_685 Major Chris McKay hands out some school packs to the students of the Ar Rumaythah school. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_710 Students of Ar Rumaythah give Australians the thumbs up for their support during the past three years. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_730 (L-R) Commanding Officer Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane and Commanding Officer Special Troops Battalion 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Divison, Lieutenant Colonel Fred Drummond in a meeting with Razzaq Al Jabiri, the Mayor of Al Khidr. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_780 (L-R) Commanding Officer Special Troops Battalion 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Divison, Lieutenant Colonel Fred Drummond and Commanding Officer (Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4), Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane with Sheikh Faleh. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_787 Troops from Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4 play with the children at Sheikh Faleh's mudhif in Al Muthanna province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_790 Trooper Marc Taylor (centre) plays with children near Shiekh Faleh's mudhif in Al Muthanna province. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_798 Commanding Officer (Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4) Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane with Al Muthanna tribal leader Sheikh Faleh. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080519adf8246638_805 (L-R) Lieutenant Sam Hattar and Commanding Officer (Overwatch Battle Group (West) - 4) Lieutenant Colonel Chris Websdane says farewell to Shiek Faleh near the city of Al Khidr. (Date taken: 19 May 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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