24th April 2008, 03:06 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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| Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane
Posts: 6,606
|  Re: APRIL 25th ANZAC DAY
Big turnout for Anzac Day dawn services | NEWS.com.au
Lest We Forget. Beer, 'Desert Ashes' for Iraq diggers - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Quote:
Beer, 'Desert Ashes' for Iraq diggers
By Middle East correspondent Ben Knight
Posted 1 hour 24 minutes ago
Australian troops in southern Iraq will mark the dawn service in a few hours' time - the last before combat troops are pulled out of the country later this year.
Australia is withdrawing its combat troops from the Talil air base but will keep a contingent of troops in Baghdad for embassy guard duties.
Australian troops fought in Talil in 1915 and the same Light Horse Brigade returned there three years ago.
Warrant Officer Paul Nuernberg says it is an honour to follow them.
"It's very special being a part of that unit and being part of this deployment," he said.
Trooper Dylan Preston says the Australians are proud of their achievements in Iraq since the current mission began three years ago.
"Everything outside the wire has changed so much, just from the amount of building and housing that's gone up," he said.
Around 600 guests will be at the base for this morning's dawn service.
Patrols will continue as normal today, but there will be a cricket game against English troops stationed at the base, in a match that has become known as the 'Desert Ashes'.
A special - and rare - beer ration has been brought in for the day but some soldiers will have to wait, as they will be back out on patrol after the ceremony.
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