Sydney Veterans Lodge

30/10/2026

Our apologies for the late notice the end of month working bee is canceled

30/10/2026

Just to Remind you the 31st of October has a far more significant meaning then the foreign Halloween, a massive offensive that captured a dug in land mass held by the Turks at Beersheba,
🇦🇺lest we forget🇳🇿these warriors .

28/10/2026

CAPT Bryce Duffy

Today we remember and pay tribute to Captain Bryce Robert Anthony Duffy, who was killed by a rogue Afghan soldier in a green on blue attack while fighting in Afghanistan on the 29th October 2011.

Bryce Duffy was born in Sydney in November 1984, one of three children.

Duffy took a keen interest in soldiering from a young age, having come from a long line of soldiers.

Duffy enlisted in the Australian Army straight out of high school and began a science degree at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2003. He graduated as a lieutenant from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, and was posted as an artillery officer to the 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, at Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane. During his time with the regiment Duffy specialised as a forward observer and was promoted to captain. He deployed to Uruzgan province in Afghanistan in 2010 as part of Mentoring Task Force One.

Following the end of his deployment, Duffy transferred to the 4th Field Regiment at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. During this time he also prepared and completed the difficult Special Air Services Regiment selection course.

Duffy returned to Uruzgan province in September 2011 as part of Mentoring Task Force Three, having volunteered to replace the wounded forward observer attached to Combat Team Charlie. The mission of Australian troops in Afghanistan was to train and advise the Afghan National Army in counter-insurgency operations in preparation for a complete hand-over of operational responsibility.

On the morning of 29 October 2011 Duffy was part of a routine morning parade at the remote patrol base at Sorkh Bed when a rogue Afghan National Army soldier opened fire on the Australians, hitting ten before being killed by Australian troops. Duffy and two other soldiers were killed.

CAPT Bryce Duffy was a loving and dedicated son and brother, and is sorely missed by his parents, Kim and Kerry, and his sisters Samantha and Cassandra.

Lest We Forget ❤️🇦🇺

26/10/2026

Australian Army Special Operations Command Australia military working dog Kuga today was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal (Victoria Cross for Animals) for conspicuous gallantry by British charity the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). The medal was presented to CPL Mark Donaldson VC at the Australian War Memorial.

Kuga was awarded the Dickin Medal for his actions during a Special Operations Task Group patrol in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. Kuga, who was shot five times during the action, served with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) from 2008 until his death from wounds in 2012.

If it wasn’t for Kuga’s actions that day in Afghanistan, both Kuga’s handler and the Special Operations Task Group patrol would have walked into the enemy ambush with potentially devastating loss of life.

Kuga, a Belgian Malinois breed, is the first Australian dog and first Australian animal since World War II to be awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal.

The PDSA Dickin Medal was created in 1943 to honour the work of animals in war and has been awarded to 71 individual animals, including two Australian carrier pigeons in World War II. Kuga is the 71st recipient of the Dickin Medal.

Read Kuga’s full citation here – https://www.army.gov.au/media-room/media-releases/dickin-medal-citation-kuga

24/10/2026

🇦🇺SGT Matthew Locke, MG.🇳🇿

Today we pause to remember the life of Sergeant Matthew Locke, MG, who was fatally wounded by small arms fire from Taliban Extremists while on operations in the Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, when engaged on the 25th October 2007.

Sergeant Matthew Locke enlisted into the Australian Regular Army on the 11 June, 1991. After he completed his Recruit Training at Kapooka, he was allocated to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and commenced his Initial Employment Training at Singleton, New South Wales on the 10 September 1991. At the completion of his Initial Employment Training, Matthew was posted to the 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.

Matthew had a flair for Infantry training and whilst at the 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, he completed Driver Courses, Basic Mortar Course, promotion courses and became a Small Arms Coach.

It was obvious that Matthew wanted to be challenged as a soldier so in November 1997, Matthew successfully completed the Special Air Service Selection Course. Over the next two years, Matthew completed another 15 specialist courses ranging from patrolling, demolitions, diving, parachuting, and medical. Matthew was posted to the 3rd Special Air Service Squadron.

Sergeant Locke was awarded the Medal for Gallantry in December 2006.

The medal citation read: For gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances as the second-in-command of a Special Air Service Regiment patrol in the Special Forces Task Group whilst deployed on Operation Slipper, Afghanistan, in 2006.

SGT Matthew Locke leaves behind his loving wife Leigh and Son Keegan.

🇦🇺Lest We Forget 🇳🇿

23/10/2026

Sergeant Leonard Siffleet executed

Today we pause to remember the life and service of NX143314 Sergeant Leonard George Siffleet, who was executed by the Japanese on the 24th of October 1943.
Len Siffleet, a special operations soldier who became well-known for the manner of his death, was born at Gunnedah, New South Wales, on 14 January 1916. In September 1941, Siffleet joined the AIF and was posted to the 1st Division Signals Company at Ingleburn.

Siffleet went on to complete a specialist signals course at the Melbourne Technical College before volunteering in September 1942 for special duties, joining Z Special Unit. In October he went to the Z Experimental Station in Cairns where Special Operations Australia trained its operatives.

Siffleet was promoted to sergeant and transferred to M Special Unit in May 1943, but by then he and his party were trekking along New Guinea's mountainous spine en-route to the north coast. In mid-September the mission, along with members of another special operations team travelling with them to Aitape, were discovered by New Guinean natives.

Surrounded by a group of more than 100 locals, Siffleet fired on the attackers, wounding one, and managed to break free. He was quickly caught and, along with his companions, was handed over to the Japanese. He was taken to Malol near Aitape where he was beaten, interrogated - apparently revealing little of importance - and then imprisoned for two weeks before being moved to Aitape.

Just after 3.00pm on 24 October 1943, after languishing in prison for several weeks, Siffleet and two fellow prisoners were marched to Aitape Beach. Kneeling before a crowd of Japanese and New Guinean onlookers and wearing blindfolds, the three prisoners were beheaded and buried.

A photo of a Japanese civilian holding a sword over a haggard looking prisoner captured the last seconds of Siffleet's life. It was found by American troops in 1944. The photo continues to be misrepresented as other victims of Japanese executions but its subject was positively identified as Siffleet in 1945.

🇦🇺Lest we forget🇳🇿

20/10/2026

🇦🇺CPL Scott James Smith 🇳🇿

Today we pause to remember the life of Corporal Scott James Smith who was tragically killed while on operations in the Helmand Province Afghanistan on the 21st October 2012.

CPL Scott Smith was born in the Barossa Valley South Australia in 1988. He joined the Army in February 2006 and on completion of his initial employment training, was posted to the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Darwin.

In 2008, Corporal Smith was posted to the then Incident Response Regiment as a search operator.

Corporal Smith was an exceptional soldier who possessed all the qualities and charisma of a great junior leader.

He is described by his unit as a genuine, honest and dedicated member who was probably one of the best Junior Non-Commissioned Officers that the unit has seen. His loss will be deeply felt.

Corporal Smith is survived by his partner Liv, his parents Katrina Paterson and Murray Smith and sister Roxanne.

🇦🇺Lest We Forget 🇳🇿

18/10/2026