08/06/2026
🇦🇺 TWO SAPPERS. ONE DOG. ONE SACRIFICE. 🇦🇺
On 7 June 2010, Australia lost two young combat engineers and a loyal Explosive Detection Dog in Afghanistan’s Mirabad Valley.
Sapper Darren Smith, Sapper Jacob “Snowy” Moerland and Herbie were serving with Mentoring Task Force 1 in Uruzgan Province. They were part of the Brisbane-based 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, carrying out one of the most dangerous jobs of the war: finding hidden improvised explosive devices before they could kill the soldiers moving behind them.
Their patrol had moved from Patrol Base Wali toward the village of Sorkh L*z. The mission was to disrupt Taliban activity and search the routes, tracks and creek beds where IEDs were being planted. For combat engineers and dog teams, this meant walking ahead of the main patrol, reading the ground, checking every sign, and trusting the people beside them.
Darren Smith had wanted to be a soldier from a young age. Born in Adelaide, he joined the Army Reserve after school, trained at Kapooka, served with 3rd Field Squadron in South Australia, then transferred to the Regular Army in 2004. He became a combat engineer and later qualified as an Explosive Detection Dog Handler. After posting to 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment in Brisbane, he was paired with Herbie, a young Collie-cross dog. Together they trained for months before deploying to Afghanistan in March 2010.
Darren was remembered as a loving husband to Angela, a devoted father to Mason, a son, a brother and a mate. Those who knew him spoke of a man who always put others first.
Jacob “Snowy” Moerland was only 21. From Gayndah in Queensland, he was known as a larrikin with a love of life, but also as a dedicated young soldier who gave everything to his role. He was engaged to his fiancée Kezia and had chosen to serve in Afghanistan because he believed the work mattered.
On the morning of 7 June, Darren, Snowy and Herbie were investigating a metal signature on a footpath in a creek bed when an IED detonated.
Herbie was killed.
Darren and Snowy were mortally wounded and later died from their injuries.
In one moment, two families lost their sons, Angela lost her husband, Mason lost his father, Kezia lost her fiancé, and the Australian Army lost two respected Sappers and a loyal dog who had served at the front of the patrol.
Days later, a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft touched down at Amberley, west of Brisbane, carrying Darren and Snowy home. Members of 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment stood in silence as their flag-draped coffins were carried from the aircraft. Their families, friends, fellow soldiers and senior Defence leaders gathered to welcome them back onto Australian soil.
Herbie’s remains were cremated in Afghanistan and returned home to Angela Smith.
Jacob was farewelled in his hometown of Gayndah.
Darren was farewelled in Brisbane.
Their story is one of courage, loyalty and sacrifice. They were not chasing recognition. They were doing the job that had to be done, walking ahead so others had a chance to return home.
In the coming days, we will share the individual stories of Sapper Darren Smith, Sapper Jacob "Snowy" Moerland and Explosive Detection Dog Herbie.
Each had their own journey, their own family, their own dreams and their own legacy.
Today we remember them together as a team.
In the days ahead, we will remember each of them individually.
Sapper Darren Smith.
Sapper Jacob “Snowy” Moerland.
Explosive Detection Dog Herbie.
Two Sappers. One dog. One sacrifice.
Lest We Forget. 🇦🇺🐾
