The trio have been named as Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker (26), Private Richard Harris (21) and Corporal Luke Tamatea (31).
They deployed with the NZ Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan, Afghanistan in April 2012. All three were from 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR) based in Burnham.
The group were travelling in the last vehicle in a convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device in Bamiyan about 9.20pm local time.
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| Corporal Luke Tamatea |
His first deployment to Afghanistan was in 2007.
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| Lance Corporal Jacinda Baker |
She received a Chief of Army Commendation in 2011 for professionalism and courage in June 2008.
She is the first female New Zealand soldier to be killed in action since troops were sent to the country, and the first woman to be in killed in conflict since nurse Lesley Estelle Cowper of the New Zealand Surgical Team was killed in Vietnam in 1966.
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| Private Richard Harris |
Private Harris joined the NZ Army in February 2009. He had previously deployed to Timor-Leste in 2009/2010.
Defence Force chief Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said the deaths were difficult to deal with so close to the loss of two other soldiers.
"Ours is a dangerous profession, and while we accept these risks the death of colleagues and friends is always difficult to take, particularly coming so close following the 4 August incident where we lost two soldiers.
Lt Gen Jones said the dead soldiers were in the last of a convoy of Humvees taking a soldier with a medical issue for treatment.
They were killed instantly when their Humvee was hit with an improvised explosive device which set off a "massive explosion", Lt Gen Jones said.
The remaining patrol members secured the area and waited for evacuation, he said.
video of PM John Key names NZ Soldiers killed in AF:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/video.cfm?c_id=1&gal_objectid=10828065&gallery_id=127494
Washington Time
Kabul Time
London Time
1 comments:
Just a quick observation: I was curious about the circumstances surrounding Lesley Cowper's death in Vietnam in 1966, so did a little Internet research. It seems that she died as a result of contracting Tuberculosis, and not as the direct consequence of hostilities (i.e. “in combat”). Just thought you might be interested for the sake of accuracy!
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