Remains of two Australian soldiers on way home (MIA no more)

TWO Australian soldiers, lost during a secret mission in Indonesian Borneo 44 years ago, are on their final journey home to be buried with full military honours.

In a ceremony conducted at Halim, Indonesia, the remains of Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) Lieutenant Kenneth Hudson, 30, of Brisbane, and SASR Private Robert Moncrieff, 21, of Newcastle, were officially handed over to Australian authorities.

That ceremony was attended by families of Lieutenant Hudson and Private Moncrieff, Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin, Special Operations Commander Major General Tim McOwan and former special forces soldiers.

Major General McOwan said the ceremony marked the beginning of Lieutenant Hudson and Private Moncrieff's final journey home.

"Today we bring home two SAS patrol members who rested in the soil of another land for 44 years," he said.

"The return of these men to Australia closes a chapter in the Special Air Service (SAS) history.

"The SAS is a family and now two of our brothers are coming home. Their Regiment and patrol mates have never forgotten them and for 44 years they have been living with the pain of leaving their mates behind."

Even in Australia, and throughout the Commonwealth, the 'small wars' fought by British and Commonwealth forces during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s all around the world are often virtually unknown.

The Indonesian Confrontation (Konfrontasi) is a prime example of this. Communist and other left wing politicians in Indonesia lead to its government deciding to oppose the creation of the new nation of Malaysia (a collection of former British colonies that remained part of the Commonwealth). War resulted between Indonesia and Malaysia and Malaysia called upon its allies in the Commonwealth to assist it. The United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand answered that call for help.

It was a war against Communism, pure and simple. It was a war to allow a new democratic nation to exist in the face of communist aggression. It was a small war - less than 1000 killed. But it was a war.

Men fought and died for freedom.

And now after 44 years, two who were lost will come home.

Let us never forget those who fight. In big wars or in small. They do their duty. Whether the world knows about them, or not.

“I consider it no sacrifice to die for my country. In my mind, we came here to thank God that men like these have lived rather than to regret that they have died.”

General George S. Patton

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