The War on Terror and Afghanistan

2001 – 2021

On 11 September 2001, terrorists used hijacked civilian airliners to destroy the World Trade Centre in New York and to damage the Pentagon in Washington.

The United States and its allies formed the International Coalition Against Terrorism and launched a war against Afghanistan, the main stronghold of the Islamic terrorist group, Al-Quaida, the group responsible for 9/11. The Taliban government of Afghanistan, which supported Al-Quaida, was overthrown. Afghans, the US and Coalition allies entered the capital, Kabul, on 13 November 2001.

Australia has provided military support to the coalition under the ANZUS treaty. This has included SAS and regular Army troops in Afghanistan itself; Boeing 707 refuelling aircraft based in Kyrgyzstan; and F/A-18 Hornets based at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. In addition, RAN frigates Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra and Newcastle and amphibious troopships Kanimbla and Manoora provided support to the coalition.

Read about Australians in Afghanistan 1839 – 2021

ADF Personnel Wounded in Action

• 2002-2004: 4
• 2005: 2
• 2006: 10
• 2007: 19
• 2008: 26
• 2009: 37
• 2010: 65 (64 soldiers and 1 sailor)
• 2011: 50
• 2012: 33 (32 soldiers and 1 sailor)
• 2013: 15 (14 soldiers and I airman)
• Total: 261 (258 soldiers, 2 sailors and 1 airman) as at 28 October 2013

ADF Personnel Deployed to Afghanistan and Killed In Action

• SGT Andrew Russell, SASR, died of wounds sustained when his patrol vehicle struck an anti-tank mine on 16 February 2002
• TPR David Pearce, 2/14 LHR QMI, was killed when his ASLAV was struck by an IED on 8 October 2007
• SGT Matthew Locke MG, SASR, was killed by Taliban insurgent small-arms fire on 25 October 2007
• PTE Luke Worsley, 4RAR(Cdo), was killed by Taliban insurgent small-arms fire on 23 November 2007
• LCPL Jason Marks, 4RAR(Cdo), was killed by Taliban insurgent small-arms fire on 27 April 2008
• SIG Sean McCarthy, SASR, was killed when the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by an IED on 8 July 2008
• LT Michael Fussell, 4RAR(Cdo), was killed when struck by an IED during a dismounted patrol on 27 November 2008
• PTE Gregory Sher, 1st Commando Regiment, was killed in a rocket attack on 4 January 2009
• CPL Mathew Hopkins, 7RAR, was killed during an engagement with the Taliban on 16 March 2009
• SGT Brett Till, Incident Response Regiment, was killed by an explosion during a route clearance task on 19 March 2009
• PTE Benjamin Ranaudo, 1RAR, was killed as a result of an IED on 18 July 2009
• Sapper Jacob Moerland, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment was killed as a result of an IED strike on 7 June 2010
• Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment died of wounds sustained during an IED strike on 7 June 2010
• Private Timothy Aplin, 2nd Commando Regiment died as a result of a helicopter crash on 21 June 2010
• Private Scott Palmer, 2nd Commando Regiment died as a result of a helicopter crash on 21 June 2010
• Private Benjamin Chuck, 2nd Commando Regiment died of wounds sustained in a helicopter crash on 21 June 2010
• Private Nathan Bewes, 6RAR, was killed as a result of an IED on 9 July 2010
• Trooper Jason Brown, SASR, died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an engagement with insurgents on 13 August 2010
• Private Tomas Dale, 6RAR, was killed as a result of an IED strike on 20 August 2010
• Private Grant Kirby, 6RAR, was killed as a result of an IED strike on 20 August 2010
• Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney, 6RAR, was killed during an engagement with insurgents on 24 August 2010
• Corporal Richard Atkinson, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, was killed as a result of an IED strike on 2 February 2011
• Sapper Jamie Larcombe, 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, was killed during an engagement with insurgents on 19 February 2011
• Sergeant Brett Wood MG DSM, 2nd Commando Regiment, was killed by an IED during a dismounted patrol on 23 May 2011
• Lance Corporal Andrew Jones, 9th Force Support Battalion, died of wounds as a result of a small-arms fire incident on 30 May 2011
• Lieutenant Marcus Case, 6th Aviation Regiment, died of wounds sustained in a helicopter crash on 30 May 2011
• Sapper Rowan Robinson, Incident Response Regiment, died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an engagement with insurgents on 06 June 2011
• Sergeant Todd Langley, 2nd Commando Regiment, was killed during an engagement with insurgents on 4 July 2011
• Private Matthew Lambert, 2RAR, died of wounds as a result of an IED strike on 22 August 2011
• Captain Bryce Duffy, 4RAR, was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 October 2011
• Corporal Ashley Birt, 6th Engineer Support Regiment, was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 October 2011
• Lance Corporal Luke Gavin, 2RAR, died of wounds as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 October 2011
• Sergeant Blaine Flower Diddams MG, SASR, was killed during a small-arms engagement with insurgents on 02 July 2012
• Sapper James Martin, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 August 2012
• Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, 2/14th Light Horse Regiment (QM1), was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 August 2012
• Private Robert Poate, 6RAR, was killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 August 2012
• Private Nathanael Galagher, 2nd Commando Regiment was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 August 2012
• Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald, 2nd Commando Regiment was killed in a helicopter crash on 30 August 2012
• Corporal Scott Smith, Special Operations Engineer Regiment, was killed as a result of an IED on 21 October 2012
• Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird VC MG, 2nd Commando Regiment was killed on operations in Afghanistan on 22 June 2013
• Lance Corporal Todd Chidgey, 2nd Commando Regiment, died in a non-combat related incident in Afghanistan on 1 July 2014

Figures provided by the Department of Defence – www.defence.gov.au/vale/