Fallen soldier’s links with renowned war hero

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Fallen soldier’s links with renowned war hero

3News NZ

The bodies of the fallen soldiers returned to New Zealand today

The bodies of the fallen soldiers returned to New Zealand today

By Alex Bourne

The bodies of two New Zealand soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan at the weekend have returned home.

Lance Corporals Rory Malone and Pralli Durrer arrived last night to a military ceremony at Christchurch airport, ahead of the commemorative service at Burnham Military Camp tomorrow, and one of the soldiers will be remembered as the descendant of a renowned New Zealand war hero.

The caskets of Lance Corporals Durrer and Malone were wrapped in the New Zealand flag, adorned with flowers, a photo, and their lemon squeezer hats and the pair were carried off a United States Air Force plane to be met on the tarmac by their grieving families and comrades.

L/Cpl Rory Malone was from Auckland and joined the army in 2002. L/Cpll Pralli Durrer, from Christchurch, joined the army two years later.

L/Cpl Malone is the great-great-grandson of Lt Col William Malone, the famed World War 1 commander of the Wellington Battalion who was killed at Chunuk Bair.

The Malone Gate in Stratford is the largest war memorial commemorating an individual soldier - a plaque hangs in Parliament's Grand hall, honouring Lt Col Malone's legacy.

L/Cpl Malone and L/Cpl Durrer were both killed in the line of duty, shot dead in a fight with insurgents in Bamyan on Saturday.

Both were 26 years old.

Another six New Zealanders were also injured. They are expected to be brought home as soon as possible.

A military commemorative service will be held at Burnham Military Camp tomorrow before the soldiers are returned to their families.

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Comments

11/09/2012 8:07:33 p.m.

Neil Donoghue wrote:

Hi guys I was in the Uk Air Force and served my time in Afghanistan. I was fortunate to be in a position where i was inside the wire however after a couple of tours my parents and wife was scared. I hate and understand the family of thosed lost. My mam had committed to the fact that I was over there and i could not come back. Just before i left we sat down and I explained one thing. "If i dont come home dont blame the government, it was my choice and there are reasons" I sat in Afghan and said to myself for every one of me takes three of them, and so they are restricted to target the places where my family live, or are on holidays. I did this for my family and so asked them to respect my choice and tell the press i was a hero to my counrty not a dead person in a world we should not be. People where there is life there is wrong, I have seen my friends one day and are not there the next...Lets start to respect the bravoury and courage and people who are proud to support our country and not sit on your arses and moan about, most of the time u have no idea how we as military and u as a civilian ever feel. For all those throughout our countries who have been killed, rest in peace, i was with u but yet am so proud of your commitment and love. God bless u and your moaning family!!

12/08/2012 10:21:26 a.m.

Josh Winitana wrote:

Its best if they dont fight Muslims on behalf of jews. Why die for them?
Let them fight their own battles ... and it would be so peaceful.