Australian forces in Afghanistan are preparing to formally farewell 24-year-old Special Operations engineer Corporal Scott Smith, who was killed on Sunday afternoon after a home-made bomb exploded during a compound search in South Uruzgan.
But some of his mates have informally farewelled him at a moving service at the Tarin Kowt base, where able seaman Ashley Semmens spoke on behalf of the padre, thanking his friend for serving.
“You left us, doing something that so many would shy away from and will be remembered as a son, a brother, a partner, a mate and a soldier who took on this job without a question to travel here and serve your country.”
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Corporal Smith is the 39th solider to be killed in Afghanistan and the seventh this year.
The formal ramp ceremony to send his body home will be held later this week.
More informal services will be held throughout the region wherever Smith's friends and colleagues work.
