The Tarin Kowt Memorial, located in Corinda, Queensland, is a bronze replica of the original memorial wall from Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan. It honors the men and women from various nations who served in Uruzgan Province, listing the names of 114 coalition soldiers who lost their lives there, including 40 Australians.
Among those commemorated are Dutch soldiers who served alongside Australian and other coalition forces. The Netherlands played a significant role in Uruzgan Province, with their main military base, Camp Holland, situated in Tarin Kowt. Dutch forces were instrumental in reconstruction efforts and security operations in the region.
The original memorial in Tarin Kowt was dismantled and buried prior to the withdrawal of Australian troops, as it was deemed too large to transport back to Australia. This decision, made under Defence Chief General David Hurley, sparked controversy and led to petitions advocating for the memorial’s preservation.
In response, a bronze replica was installed at the Croll Memorial Precinct in Corinda, dedicated on August 15, 2014. This replica ensures that the sacrifices of all coalition soldiers, including those from the Netherlands, are honored and remembered in Australia.
The memorial stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts and shared sacrifices of international forces in Afghanistan, providing a place for reflection and remembrance of those who served and fell in Uruzgan Province.
The Dutch Names on the monument:
Report on the visit of the Defence Attaché for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Australia and New Zealand, Colonel P.A. (Peter) Burgerhout EMSD to the Tarin Kowt Memorial (in Dutch).
