Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Captain joined the Australian Defence Force Academy in January 2003 and completed a Bachelor of Science. He graduated from the Royal Military College in December 2006. He was then posted to 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery based in Brisbane.

During Captain Duffy’s service in the Australian Army he deployed on the following operations:

• Operation SLIPPER (Afghanistan) – January 2010 – October 2010
• Operation YASI ASSIST (Australia) – February 2011
• Operation SLIPPER (Afghanistan) – September 2011 – October 2011

Captain Duffy was awarded the following honours and awards:

 - Australian Defence Medal
 - Meritorious Unit Citation – 1st Mentoring Task Force – Afghanistan 20 January to 30 October 2010
 - NATO Non Article 5 Medal with clasp – International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)
 - Afghanistan Campaign Medal
 - Australian Active Service Medal with clasp International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT).

Bryce Robert Anthony Duffy, known as Duff or Duff Man, was born on 23rd November 1984 at St Margaret’s Hospital , Sydney NSW.  He was the middle child of 3 children born to his parents Kim and Kerry Duffy.  His older sister is Samantha and his younger is Cassandra.  He was born 9 weeks premature and his parents were told that he had a 50% chance of survival, but against all the odds…he did survive.  At some point the family moved to Brisbane QLD where Bryce was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School.  He was a keen sportsman and represented the school in cricket, rugby, rowing, cross-country and swimming.  He also enjoyed surfing, fishing and scuba diving.  He showed early signs of teamwork and leadership as a Boy Scout and had an early desire to be a soldier having come from a long line of soldiers in his family…his father and sister Sam, his grandfathers and his great-grandfathers.  He received a distinction in the Australian Mathematics Competition in 2002 then in 2003, fresh out of high school, he enlisted in the Australian Army and started a science degree at the Australian Army Defence Academy (ADFA) in Canberra ACT.  His service number was 8437949 and his rank Private.  In December 2006 he completed the science degree and graduated from Duntroon Royal Military College in Canberra ACT with the commission of Lieutenant. 

In January 2007 Bryce was posted as an Artillery Officer to the 1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), at Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera Camp in Brisbane QLD.  An Artillery Officer takes command of artillery delivery and surveillance platforms as part of the Combined Arms Combat Team using skills through world-class leadership training.  While at Enoggera Camp he was promoted to Captain.  His first deployment came in January 2010 to Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, as a Forward Observer with the Mentoring Task Force One (MTF-1).  This was part of Operation SLIPPER which was the Australian contribution to the war in Afghanistan.  Based at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ripley, MTF-1 was part of a multinational brigade known as Combined Team Uruzgan (CT-U) which was tasked with counter-insurgency operations with other coalition forces operating patrols from a number of bases in the Mirabad, Baluchi and Chora Valleys. 

As a Forward Observer Bryce was responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire support onto a target.  He commanded a 6 man joint fire team that patrolled with other combat elements to observe and direct artillery, mortars and close air support onto positions controlled by Taliban insurgents.  The deployment concluded in October 2010 and during it’s 8 months service the MTF-1 conducted over 1,700 patrols involving more than 560 small-arms fire incidents, located over 100 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and more than 250 weapons and explosives caches.  The Task Force sustained nearly 40 battle casualties, including 6 killed in action, mainly from IEDs.  The Task Force returned to Brisbane and on the 20th November 2010, it marched through the streets of Brisbane’s central business district along with other units from the 7th Brigade, as they were welcomed home in the biggest parade seen since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.  The Task Force was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation in the Queen’s Birthday Honours on 13th June 2011: “For sustained outstanding service in warlike operations on Operation SLIPPER in Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan, between 20th January and 30th October 2010". 

In January 2011 Bryce was posted as an Assistant Operations Officer to the 4th Field Regiment at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville QLD.  That same month the Regiment was reorganised and the Regiments and Batteries had the word “field” removed from their names so Bryce’s Regiment became the 4th Regiment RAA.  An Assistant Operations Officer is a professional who supports the operations of a unit or organization.  They may be involved in physical training programs, training strategy development, and co-ordination with external organizations.  They also manage ammunition requirements, logistical support, and combat logistics patrols.  Their role also includes advising commanders on the conduct of training, operations, and the military decision-making process.  They may also be involved in mission planning, field training exercises, and managing training schedules. They are skilled in co-ordinating with regimental command groups and planning-staff sections in the development, production, and publishing of regimental plans and orders.  

In February 2011 Bryce participated in Operation YASI Assist when northern Queensland was devastated by the category 5 storm on 3rd February. 

In September 2011 Bryce volunteered for a second deployment to Afghanistan to replace the wounded Forward Observer attached to Combat Team Charlie based at FOB Tinsley.  The mission of this Task Force was to train and advice the Afghan National ARMY (ANA) in counter-insurgency operations in preparation for a complete hand-over of operational responsibility. 

On the morning of 29th October 2011 Bryce was part of a group of Australians who were chatting after a routine morning parade at the remote patrol base at Sorkh Bed (AKA FOB Pacemaker) when at 8.20am a rogue ANA soldier opened fire on the Australians from 10-15 metres behind them, killing 2 instantly and seriously wounding 8 more.  An Afghan interpreter was also killed.  Bryce was one of the 2 Australians killed instantly.  He was 26.  The other soldier was Corporal Ashley Birt, 22, from Gympie QLD.  Lance Corporal Luke Gavin, also from Townsville, was mortally wounded but in spite of his injuries he and fellow Australian Corporal Nathan Searle, returned fire killing the gunman.  Lance Corporal Gavin was airlifted to Tarin Kot where he died from his wounds on the operating table several hours later.  He was 29, married with 3 young children aged 7, 5 and 7 months.  One of the other wounded Australians was a medic, Private Daniel Payne.  He put a torniquet around his own shattered leg then crawled over to treat the other wounded.  He said “Nothing could be done for Corporal Birt or Captain Duffy or the Afghan interpreter.” 

The gunman was 25 year old Sergeant Darwish Khan, a 5 year veteran of the ANA who had been training with the Australians.  This event was classed as a “green on blue” attack which is when coalition forces are fired upon by Afghan troops.  Investigations into this attack confirmed that Khan was not an insurgent but the attack was premeditated.  It was later discovered that Khan had 156 rounds left in his machinegun's 200-round magazine and another 80 in his pockets.  Military sources say he had shaved his body and was wearing a pure white shroud under his uniform when he carried out the attack.  However, the real reason for this attack will never be known.  It marked the bloodiest incident for Australian forces in the Afghanistan War and the worst for the ADF since Vietnam.

On 1st November 2011 a Memorial Service was held for Bryce, Ashley and Luke at the Multinational Base at Tarin Kot.  During the emotional service Officers and soldiers of MTF-3 reflected on the three soldiers, their careers, achievements and the personal qualities for which they will be remembered by their fellow soldiers.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, Australian, Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) personnel lined the road from the memorial service to a waiting RAAF C-130 Hercules which would carry them for the first leg of their journey home to Australia.  

On 5th November 2011, enroute to Australia, a memorial service was held for Bryce, Ashley and Luke at Al Minhad Air Base, Dubai UAE where the Australian regional headquarters within the base is called “Bonnie Doon.”  Following the service, the flag-covered caskets, led by a lone piper, were carried by the bearer parties comprising personnel from all three services to a waiting Australian Air Force C-17 aircraft.  As the lone bugler sounded the poignant Last Post the three caskets made their way up the C-17’s ramp for the fallen soldiers’ final farewell from the Middle East Area of Operations.  From there they began the last leg of their journey home arriving at RAAF Base Amberley in Brisbane the following morning, 6th November 2011, where they were received by their families.  Bearer parties carried their coffins to a nearby hangar where a Repatriation Service was held attended by family members and Army personnel. 

Bryce’s funeral service was held on Remembrance Day…11th November 2011…at Morris Hall in the grounds of the Anglican Church Grammar School where he’d been a former student.  It was attended by hundreds.  His casket was carried into the hall by 8 of his Army comrades where a moving ceremony took place.  At the conclusion of the service the Last Post was played then his casket was carried outside and gently placed on a gun carriage which proceeded down the street lined with hundreds of students from his former school to a waiting hearse.  A Police escort accompanied the procession to the Mt Gravatt Cemetery where Bryce was laid to rest with full military honours.  He is survived by his parents Kim and Kerry, sisters Samantha and Cassandra and fiancée Candice. 

The funeral services for Ashley and Luke were both held on 14th November 2011…Ashley’s in his hometown of Gympie QLD and Luke’s at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville QLD. 

Bryce was highly regarded by his superiors and his peers.  His superiors recognised him for his strength of character, determination and diligence while his peers remember him as an Officer who maintained the highest possible personal standards.  He was a highly skilled and dedicated officer, an inspiration to those who served alongside him.  He knew no higher calling than to serve his country, fighting alongside his mates.  Bryce and recently been accepted to join the ranks of the Special Air Services Regiment (SASR). 

Bryce is commemorated on the Afghanistan Memorial at Camp Baird, Dubai UAE, on panel 1 of the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT and on the 4th Regiment RAA Memorial at Lavarack Barracks Townsville QLD.  He is commemorated on several other memorials around Australia…Geraldton Afghanistan Honour Roll WA, Sale RSL Afghanistan Honour Roll VIC, Two Wells Afghanistan War Memorial SA, Yungaburra Afghanistan Avenue of Honour QLD and the 42 For 42 Afghanistan War Memorial Garden in Brisbane QLD.  This memorial garden was designed and built by the organisation 42 For 42 which supports veterans and the families of fallen soldiers.  The Memorial commemorates the Australian soldiers who served in Afghanistan, the 41 soldiers who died there and the ones who have been lost through suicide since.  There are Memorial Plaques for all 42.  The garden is located in Brisbane QLD and is flanked by Suncorp Stadium and the Church of Christ.  It was opened on 16th October 2021 and amongst the dignitaries present were Afghanistan veterans Curtis McGrath and Daniel Keighran VC.

In 2011 a memorial T-shirt was commissioned to honour Luke, Ashley and Bryce.  On the front of the tan coloured t-shirt over the left breast is printed back the number 32 and the date 29-10-2011.  The 32 on the front of the shirt represents the number of soldiers killed at that time in 2011.  By the end of 2014 when Operation SLIPPER concluded the total number of soldiers killed was 41.  On the back above the a torn and tattered Australian Flag with a silhouette of a helmet sitting on a the butt of a F-88A1 Steyr rifle with identification discs hanging from the pistol grip, their names are printed below the MTF-3 logo and beside that are the words “They went with songs into battle, they were young, straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.  They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, they fell with their faces to the foe.” 

Around 30,000 ADF personnel served in Afghanistan and 41 died there.  Of all the wars in which Australia has been involved, the Afghanistan conflict was the longest, its intensity and its largely hidden cost reflected in the significant number of veterans who have killed themselves since coming home. 

Bryce’s parents and sisters laid a wreath at the Last Post Ceremony held in his honour at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT on 10th November 2015, 2 days before the ceremony for Ashley Birt.  The ceremony for Luke Gavin was held exactly a year later on 10th November 2016.              

Bryce Robert Anthony Duffy was awarded for service in the Afghanistan War, the Australian Active Service Medal with clasp International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT), Afghanistan Medal, Australian Defence Medal, and the NATO Non Article Medal with clasp International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 13th March 2024.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentoring_Task_Force_One

https://www.zippia.com/assistant-operations-officer-jobs/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2126231

https://images.defence.gov.au/assets/11121159

https://images.defence.gov.au/assets/11121199

https://images.defence.gov.au/assets/11121200

https://images.defence.gov.au/assets/11121134

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-army-profoundly-changed-by-two-decades-of-war-in-afghanistan/