Image Gallery 2008
22 April 2008
New Forward Operating Base named in honour of Sergeant Matthew Locke
A newly constructed Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Afghanistan has been named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier, Sergeant Matthew Locke, who died in action late last year. Located in the Chora Valley where Sergeant Locke won his Medal for Gallantry in action against Taliban forces in 2006, the base was built by Australian Army Combat Engineers working in partnership with local people.
In naming the new base, Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General Mike Hindmarsh, paid tribute to the valor of Sergeant Locke and to the Australian Reconstruction Task Force that has worked hard to bring stability to the valley.
Australia has deployed an ADF Reconstruction Task Force (RTF), consisting of a combined arms team, to the Uruzgan Province in Southern Afghanistan as part of Operation SLIPPER. The RTF is in partnership with the Netherlands Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and forms part of the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force. The RTF has a clearly defined role to work on reconstruction, improvement of provincial infrastructure and community based projects. The RTF also provides trade training to the local population and military engineering training to the Afghan National Army. This type of assistance is designed to benefit the people of Uruzgan Province well into the future and form building blocks of a stable and prosperous community. The RTF contains around 370 ADF personnel from predominately Queensland based units. It includes elements to provide command, security, engineering, and administrative
| 20080327adf8252964_063 Australian Army Chaplain Maumau Monu reads a prayer during the naming of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke in Afghanistan that has been named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier, Sergeant Matthew Locke who died in action late last year. (Date taken: 27 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080327adf8252964_066 Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General Mike Hindmarsh and Australian Army Chaplain Maumau Monu pause for a photo during the naming ceremony for Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke in Afghanistan. The base has been named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier Sergeant Matthew Locke who died in action late last year. (Date taken: 27 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080327adf8252964_076 Afghan National Army Brigadier General Gul Aqa Naibi salutes the Australian soldiers of the Reconstruction Task Force who helped build Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke in Afghanistan. The base has been named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier Sergeant Matthew Locke who died in action late last year. (Date taken: 27 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080327adf8252964_088 Commander of NATO Forces in Southern Afghanistan Major General Marc Lessard speaks to troops during the transfer of command of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke to the Afghan National Army (ANA). Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke has been named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier, Sergeant Matthew Locke who died in action late last year. (Date taken: 27 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080327adf8252964_090 Australian soldiers of the Reconstruction Task Force who helped build Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke in Afghanistan . The base has been named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier, Sergeant Matthew Locke who died in action late last year. The soldiers are pictured during the transfer of command ceremony to Afghan National Army (ANA) control. (Date taken: 27 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080327adf8252964_116 (From left) The Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General Mike Hindmarsh, Commander of NATO Forces in Southern Afghanistan, Major General Marc Lessard, and Afghan National Army, Brigadier General, Gul Aqa Naibi admire the newly unveiled plaque at the transfer of command ceremony. Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke was handed over to the Afghan National Army (ANA) during the ceremony. Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke was named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier, Sergeant Matthew Locke who died in action late last year. (Date taken: 27 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20080327adf8252964_160 Major Paul Foura (right) of the Australian Reconstruction Task Force shows Afghan National Army Brigadier General, Gul Aqa Naibi around Forward Operating Base (FOB) Locke in Afghanistan. The base has been named in honour of Special Air Service (SAS) soldier, Sergeant Matthew Locke who died in action late last year. (Date taken: 27 March 2008) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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