SERVICE PERSON RESEARCH SERVICE PERSON DETAILS Service Person’s Name Darren James Smith Rank Sapper Service Number 8264024 Regiment/Unit or 2 nd Combat Engineer Regiment Date of Birth 26 November 1984 Place of Birth Adelaide Family Details Graeme Smith – Father Chavuanne and Crystal Smith - Sisters Angela Smith – Wife Mason Smith - Son Age at Enlistment Army Reserve (Enlisted in 2001) at age 18 Transferred to regular Army in 2004, at age 22 Place of Enlistment Unknown Date of Death 7 June 2010 (At age 26) Place of Death Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan Cemetery or Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium, Brisbane Grave or Memorial Number 6ANZ. Ref: 1546
Transcript
SERVICE PERSON RESEARCH
SERVICE PERSON DETAILS
Service Person’s Name Darren James Smith
Rank Sapper
Service Number 8264024
Regiment/Unit orShip or Squadron
2nd Combat Engineer Regiment
Date of Birth 26 November 1984
Place of Birth Adelaide
Family Details
Graeme Smith – FatherChavuanne and Crystal Smith - SistersAngela Smith – WifeMason Smith - Son
Age at Enlistment Army Reserve (Enlisted in 2001) at age 18Transferred to regular Army in 2004, at age 22
Place of Enlistment Unknown
Date of Death 7 June 2010 (At age 26)
Place of Death Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan
Cemetery orMemorial Name
Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium, Brisbane
Grave or MemorialNumber 6ANZ. Ref: 1546
PHOTO:
1 Department of Defence Statement 2010, Sapper Darren James Smith
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/jun/20100608d/20100505adf8246638_089%20Cropped.jpg (accessed 19 February 2015)
2 Department of Defence Statement 2010, Sapper Darren James Smith http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/jun/20100608d/20100505adf8246638_054%20cropped.jpg (accessed 19 February 2015)
3 Find a Grave 2013, Darren James Smith http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/2013/288/118795417_138191648143.jpg (accessed 17 February 2015)
SERVICE PERSON’S STORY/EULOGY: Prepared by Jack Hill
Sapper Darren James Smith: One of the thousands of brave young men to put their lives on the line for the Australian way of life, fighting against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. Darren had always dreamed of serving his country, enlisting in the Army Reserve in 2001, and undergoing specialist minefield clearing and demolition training before moving to the Army proper in 2004, at age 22.
It was in Brisbane, when he was transferred to the 2nd Combat Engineers Regiment, that he was assigned to work as an Explosive Detector Dog handler, and met Herbie. A two-year-old black-and-tan collie cross. Darren and Herbie formed a deep bond, often seen between the dogs and their handlers. So strong was their bond that Darren at one stage worked with Herbie for six weeks of intensive rehabilitation, to ensure that he recovered fully from an accident that threated his ability to deploy to Afghanistan.
In 2010, Darren and Herbie travelled to Afghanistan with Mentoring Task Force 1. Their role formed part of a greater strategy to deny the Taliban access to the Mirabad Valley, and they worked with other combat
engineer teams, sweeping ahead of infantry to clear IED’s. It was on one of these routine sweeps, on 7 January 2010, that Darren, Herbie and Sapper Jacob Moreland, were fatally injured, as an IED they were investigating detonated in close proximity.
Herbie was killed instantly but Darren’s mates recall Darren’s last words being for his family; he wanted them to know he loved them.
Today, Darren and Herbie are commemorated together on a memorial plaque in Tarin Kowt base, Afghanistan, along with other brave dogs and their handlers who laid down their lives for the country they loved, fighting together in the spirit of mateship that is so dear to our hearts.
Lest we forget.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Australian War Memorial 2010, Roll of Honour – Darren James Smith http://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1662894/ (accessed 14 February 2015)
Australian War Memorial 2014, The Last Post ceremony commemorating the service of (8264024) Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, Afghanistan http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PAFU2014/0548.01/ (accessed 17 February 2015)
Department of Defence Statement 2010, Sapper Darren James Smith http://www.defence.gov.au/vale/spr_smith/spr_smith.htm (accessed 19 February 2015)
Find a Grave 2013, Darren James Smith http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=118795417 (accessed 17 February 2015)
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SOURCES:
It is with deep regret the Australian Defence Force announces the death of Sapper Darren Smith during operations in Afghanistan.
Sapper Smith died as a result of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated on 7 June, 2010.
Sapper Smith, 26, was from the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment.
Related: Image gallery | Fallen Mates Farewelled from Tarin Kowt
Sapper Smith's military career commenced as part of the Army Reserve enlisting 29 November 2001 and completing recruit training in January 2002, serving as part of 3rd Field Squadron, South Australia.
Sapper Smith went on to complete his Combat Engineer suite of courses in 2004 and become part of the Australian Regular Army where he was posted to 1st Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER), Darwin in October 2004. He has completed a number of driver courses up to heavy vehicle and Armoured Personnel Carrier.
While at 1 CER, he successfully completed his Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) Handler course in December 2006.
Sapper Smith was posted to 2 CER in January 2009. He is Junior Leader Course qualified having completed the course in November 2008.
His deployment as part of 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1) was his first operational deployment. He deployed in March 2010. As part of his tour he has been awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp International Campaign against Terrorism (ICAT), NATO Service Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Sapper Smith has also been awarded the Australian Defence Medal.
Sapper Smith leaves behind his wife Angela and a 2-1/2 yr old son Mason.
Sapper Smith’s wife and son live in Brisbane.
Sapper Smith was 26-years-old, born in Adelaide, South Australia.
Sapper Smith’s dog was Herbie, a 3-1/2 year old Collie Cross.
Statement from Mrs Angela Smith
"This is a very difficult time for us all as we struggle to come to terms with Darren’s loss yesterday.
"Darren was a very loving husband and father, an absolutely remarkable human being.
"He was very passionate about his job and understood the risks involved but he was the sort of man who always put others first, and did his best for them whether it was his mates in the Army or at home with his family and friends.
"Darren had a special relationship with his working dog, Herbie.
"We would ask that you respect our privacy at this time."Source: Department of Defence statement, as referenced above.
ID number PAFU2014/054.01
Title The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (8264024) Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, Afghanistan
Collection Film
Object type Last Post film
Maker Australian War Memorial
Place made Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Campbell
Date made 23 February 2014
Physical description 16:9
Video Download video 65.72 MB
Note Open
Copying provision Copy provided for personal non-commercial use
Description
The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Joanne Smedley, the story for this day was on (8264024) Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, Afghanistan. The address is read by Major Patrick James Rawlins.
Speech text
8264024 Sapper Darren Smith, 2nd Combat Engineer RegimentKIA 7 June 2010Photograph: Image supplied by Defence.
Today we remember and pay tribute to Sapper Darren Smith and his Explosive Detection Dog, Herbie. They were both killed in Afghanistan in 2010, along with Sapper Jacob Moreland.
Darren Smith was born in Adelaide in November 1984 and was the oldest of three children. Darren excelled in sport and music: he enjoyed soccer, cricket, and Aussie Rules football at school, and played guitar in the Wirreanda High School band. To his family, Darren was always active and fun-loving, sometimes cheeky, but always well-mannered. A loving son, he was also a devoted big brother to his sisters Chavuanne and Crystal.
Darren always had an ambition to be a soldier. In 2001 he enlisted in the Army Reserve and underwent basic training at Kapooka. Following this, Darren was posted to 3rd Field Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers, at Warradale in South Australia, where he went on to complete his training as a combat engineer -. a specialist in bridge-building, minefield clearance, and demolition, amongst other things. In 2004, Darren transferred to the Regular Army and was posted to the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment in Darwin. While there, he met Angela - the love of his life. They married and had a son, Mason.
Darren transferred to the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment in Brisbane, where he developed a passion for working with Explosive Detection Dogs. These dogs are trained to locate improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and weapons caches. They and their handlers tend to form a strong bond - described as both a partnership and mateship. As well as their work in the field, the effect of the dogs on morale cannot be overestimated. Many soldiers say that the dogs also serve to remind them of home.
Darren was paired with Herbie, a two-year-old black-and-tan collie cross. Herbie was originally recruited from the Peninsula Animal Aid Facility, an animal rescue shelter at Redcliffe in Queensland. With the possibility of a deployment to Afghanistan approaching, Darren and Herbie trained for six months so they could serve side-by-side on deployment.
Darren's bond with Herbie was so strong that when Herbie suffered an injury that threatened to prevent him accompanying Darren to Afghanistan, Darren worked with him in rehabilitation every day for six weeks until Herbie was declared fit to deploy.
Darren and Herbie travelled to Afghanistan with Mentoring Task Force 1 in March 2010. Here they conducted foot patrols out of Patrol Base Wali with Mentoring Team Alpha as part of a broader strategy to deny the Taliban access to the Mirabad Valley. Combat engineers such as Darren and Herbie regularly accompanied the infantry on their daily patrols, sweeping ahead to counter the threat of IEDs.
On the morning of 7 June 2010 the team conducted a routine foot patrol with the intention of disrupting the Taliban laying IEDs in and around the village of Sorkh Lez in the Mirabed Valley. Herbie, Darren, and Sapper Jacob Moreland were investigating metal signature on the footpad of a creek bed when an IED was triggered. The blast killed Herbie, and mortally wounded both Darren and Jacob. According to those who were with him in his final moments, Darren's final words were for his family, Angela and Mason. He wanted them to know that he loved them.
He was 25 years old when he died.
Darren's wife described him as "an absolutely remarkable human being. He was passionate about his job and understood the risks involved, but he was the sort ofman who always put others first". Darren continues to be sorely missed by his family and friends.
Herbie was cremated in Afghanistan and farewelled by approximately 100 engineers and soldiers of Mentoring Task Force 1 at Tarin Kot. His ashes were transportedback to Australia and presented to Angela in a small ceremony at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane. The 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment held a moment's silence to remember Herbie's service, and the Australian Defence Force Trackers and War Dogs Association presented two service medals for Herbie to both Angela and the regiment commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Carey.
Herbie and Darren are commemorated together on a polished metal board along with the names of the four other dogs killed on service in Afghanistan - Merlin, Razz, Andy, and Nova. The board was placed in a corner of the Australian recreation area in Tarin Kot that was known as Poppy's - so named for Trooper David Poppy Pearce, killed in Afghanistan in 2007. At the unveiling ceremony, alarge group gathered together - also present were 13 detection dogs and their handlers; including Herbie's canine cobbers Harry, Bundy, and Tank.
Herbie's name is also listed on a memorial plaque at the Avenue of Honour in Yunguburra, Queensland, and at the refuge where he was first recruited.
Darren and Herbie are pictured together in the photograph displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.
Darren's name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with the 39 other Australians who were killed fighting in Afghanistan.
His is one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sapper Darren Smith and his Explosive Detection Dog Herbie, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of the nation.
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