The remains of Lieutenant Kenneth Hudson and Private Robert Moncrieff were formally welcomed home at RAAF Base Pearce today in a reception ceremony attended by their family and comrades from the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), 44 years after they were lost on operations in Indonesia. The two men were the last remaining Australian Special Forces members missing in action.

Lieutenant Hudson and Private Moncrieff were part of a SAS patrol and were conducting border security operations during the Indonesia Confrontation between the Federation of Malaysia and Indonesia. Both men were swept away during a river crossing in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, on 21 March 1966. Special Operations Commander, Major General McOwan said the men were proud, diligent soldiers, dedicated to their role in the SAS and their families.

“Today we recognise their service to Australia by bringing them home to their families,” Major General McOwan said. “I thank the families of Lieutenant Hudson and Private Moncrieff for their patience in an understandably difficult time.”

The service was attended by Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin; Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Paul Symon; Shadow Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston; and Member for Pearce, Judy Moylan; as well as the men of the SASR.

Private funerals will be held for the returned patrolmen in Perth and Brisbane. Due to the protected identity status of the personnel involved and in keeping with the family’s wishes, media will not be invited to attend.