Somali vets reunite to honour Shannon

By Renee Powell
Thursday, April 24, 2014

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Somali veterans will return to Forbes for Anzac Day this year to honour Shannon McAliney, the Forbes man who was just 21 when he died on tour in Somalia.

This year makes 21 years since Lance Corporal McAliney died in a tragic accident in Somalia.

Sean Robinson, fellow member of the 1st Battalion that served in Somalia in 1993, spoke to the Advocate last year when he and other members visited to honour Shannon.

He said their role in Somalia was largely humanitarian relief.

“Living conditions were just about non-existent,” he said.

“There was no law, no government set up, no clean water, no electricity but a lot of famine where people had at times travelled up to 20km just to get food.

“The area we covered was 17,000 square kilometres but I feel what we achieved at Baidoa, a population of around 100,000, before handing over to the French forces was successful.

“We got a local police force … up and running before we left, we had forms of electricity, wells operating for clean water for free.”

Forbes man Shannon McAliney was just 21 when he was killed on a tour in Somalia.

The Somali veterans will join the Anzac Day march tomorrow.

They will also join with Shannon’s family to hold a graveside service in the cemetery about 8am - between the dawn service and the march.

“Somalia involved just on 1000 personnel and our group is just about forgotten, but we who served together still keep in contact,” Mr Robinson said.

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