Diggers Despair Over Slain Mate

WAR veteran Mark Hutchinson survived the horrors of World War II only to be slain in his backyard six decades later. Today, the digger should have been making the trip from Armidale to Sydney to take his place alongside soldiers from the 2/12 Field Regiment for Wednesday's Anzac Day march. Instead, as homicide detectives close in on his killer, fellow veterans are struggling to think of April 25 without him. Link

I remember on ANZAC Day watching the WW2 Diggers embrace and shed tears of both joy and rememberance at seeing each other yet another year. It was one of the most touching moments of the Day, just watching them. These strong, proud men who held each other and wept to be with their mates again.

When I think of those Diggers I simply can't imagine the heartbreak the friends of Mark Hutchinson must have felt at the loss of their mate, just days before they would have all been reunited for another years ANZAC Day March and festivities.

That their friend survived the horrors of WW2, only to fall victim to the same atrocoity at home that he had fought to prevent only makes this story all that much sadder.

My deepest sympathies to the family, friends and fellow Diggers of Mark Hutchinson. May they find peace, justice and a speedy end to this horrible incident.

A_C