10 August 2012

Incident in Bamyan Province Afghanistan – Release 6

It was a sombre occasion as Lance Corporals (LCPL) Pralli Durrer and Rory Malone, who were killed in Afghanistan on Saturday, arrived back in New Zealand tonight.

LCPL Durrer and LCPL Malone arrived in Christchurch on a United States Air Force C-17 at 2250 hours, and were met by members of their families, senior military officials, and personnel from 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (2/1 RNZIR) and Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles (QAMR).

The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said, “Tonight LCPL Durrer and LCPL Malone have returned home to both their families. The Defence Force family will continue to support the Durrers and the Malones over this difficult time, because in one sense we share a common loss.”

LT GEN Jones acknowledged that the support provided by the United States Department of Defence was crucial in repatriating the soldiers back to New Zealand.

“The NZ Defence Force is extremely grateful for the assistance provided by the US Air Force which enabled LCPLs Durrer and Malone to come back home as quickly as possible.”

Final arrangements are being made for a military commemorative service on Saturday 11 August at Burnham Military Camp, before LCPL Durrer and Malone are returned to their families for private funeral services.

ENDS

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