Sunday, 11th October 2026
Chris Picton MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
South Australians will gather today to mark 25 years since the start of Australia’s military service in Afghanistan.
The commemorative service organised by the Returned & Services League of Australia (SA Branch) will be held at the Adelaide Post Second World War Memorial on the corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue at 4pm.
The service will honour the Australian Defence Force personnel who served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021.
More than 26,000 Australians served in Afghanistan during those two decades, with 47 Australians sadly killed on operations and a further 263 wounded.
Australia commenced its military service in Afghanistan through Operation SLIPPER in October 2001.
Operation SLIPPER concluded in 2014, with Australia’s subsequent training and advisory mission continuing under Operation HIGHROAD until 2021.
South Australia played a significant role. In October 2012, around 450 soldiers of the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (7RAR) task group were farewelled at Edinburgh – the first infantry battalion to deploy on active service from South Australia since 3RAR left Woodside for Vietnam in 1971.
Personnel from RAAF Base Edinburgh, including 92 Wing, also served across the Middle East in support of the mission.
South Australian families and communities also bore a heavy cost.
Sergeant Andrew Russell of the Special Air Service Regiment, who grew up in Ingle Farm, was killed in February 2002, aged 33. He was the first Australian to die in Afghanistan.
Sapper Darren Smith, born in Adelaide, was killed in June 2010 alongside his explosive detection dog, Herbie.
Private Tomas Dale, a former Reynella East High School student, was killed in Uruzgan Province in August 2010, aged 21.
Sapper Jamie Larcombe, born in Kingscote and raised on Kangaroo Island, was killed in February 2011, aged 21.
Corporal Scott Smith, born in the Barossa Valley, was killed in October 2012 while serving with the Special Operations Task Group, aged 24.
A national commemorative service will be held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra tomorrow.
Quotes attributable to Chris Picton
Twenty-five years ago, Australians answered the call to serve in Afghanistan. Over two decades, tens of thousands of men and women served with courage and professionalism, many returning multiple times.
South Australia has a proud connection to that service from the 7RAR task group farewelled at Edinburgh, to the RAAF personnel who served across the Middle East, to the many South Australians who served in units right across the country.
Today we remember the 47 Australians who did not come home, including South Australians Andrew Russell, Darren Smith, Thomas Dale, Jamie Larcombe and Scott Smith.
My thoughts are with their families.
We also recognise that for many veterans the cost of service continues long after they come home, and that their families served alongside them.
I thank RSL SA for organising today’s service, and for the work it does every day supporting veterans and their families.
Lest we forget.
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