Private Nathanael John Aubrey Galagher, 2 Commando Regiment

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Private Nathanael John Aubrey Galagher, 2 Commando Regiment

Australian War Memorial

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Nathanael Galagher was born on 14 April 1989 in Wee Waa, New South Wales, the first child of Wayne, a shearer, and Sally, a bookkeeper. The family lived at Pilliga, about 60 kilometres south-west of Wee Waa. This part of the country – from Narrabri to Wee Waa and Pilliga – was where he grew up. A few years later a sister, Elanor, arrived. “Nate”, as Nathanael he came to be known, attended Pilliga Public School.

Outside of school Nate enjoyed a variety of experiences and adventures growing up in the country. Weekends were spent pig hunting, horse riding, fishing and hanging out with his cousins. At primary school Nate proved to be a talented young sportsman, excelling in athletics and swimming. He also did well in team sports such as cricket and he played rugby league for the Wee Waa Panthers and district representative teams. When Nate was ten, the family moved to Forbes where he completed his schooling and continued with sports. By this stage he was also excelling at cross-country running.

Since he was a boy, Nate was set upon becoming a soldier. After completing his high school certificate in 2006, he joined the Australian Army on 22 October 2007. After initial training at Kapooka, Nate was posted to the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment. He did his first tour of Afghanistan between September 2009 and February 2010.

In early 2011 he met Jessie Feeney, who was also serving in the army, and they started dating. Keen to achieve more as a soldier, Nate spent most of 2011 doing the commando selection and training course. His physical fitness and mental toughness saw him pass with relative ease and by November he had joined the 2nd Commando Regiment.  He was thrilled and proud to receive his commando green beret.

By July 2012, after further training with his new unit, Nate was set for his second tour of Afghanistan. Earlier that year he learned that Jessie was pregnant, expecting a baby boy. Nate was very happy about becoming a father.

In 2 Commando Regiment, Lance Corporal Merv McDonald took Nate under his wing. The 30-year-old veteran of five previous tours of Afghanistan, Merv was generous in sharing his experiences. As they left for service, Merv said to Jessie, “Don’t worry, Jess, I’ll bring him home.

In Afghanistan, Nate was part of the drug enforcement element, making regular raids via helicopter targeting Taliban drug making and distribution activities. As well as drugs they often discovered caches of weapons and explosives. 

One operation was scheduled for the early hours of 30 August 2012 in Helmand Province. Nate was part of a six-man team of Australians being flown onto its objective in a US Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter. Shortly after 2 am the men descended towards their landing zone. Merv McDonald and Nate Galagher were sitting at the right hand door ready to step off. The pilots, however, using night vision goggles, lost orientation and missed the landing zone. Not realising how close to the ground they were, a dense dust cloud from their rotor downdraft further hampered them. The chopper then drifted to the right and the rotor blades struck a ridgeline, causing the chopper to pitch over and crash onto its right side. Merv McDonald and Nate Galagher were thrown or fell to the ground with the chopper landing on top of them. The survivors, some badly injured, frantically tried to get the aircraft off them but it was too heavy. Trapped beneath, Merv and Nate died. 

Their remains were brought to Australia and honoured in a ramp ceremony led by Defence Force Chief, General David Hurley, at the RAAF base at Richmond. Nate’s funeral service was held at St Johns Anglican Church, Pilliga, and he was buried in Pilliga Cemetery.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among the 47 Australians who have died during or as a result of their service in Afghanistan.

Nate is fondly remembered by family, friends and comrades. He had an irrepressible attitude and was always keen to get the job done. Easy going by nature, he never had a bad word to say about anyone. His love for his family was apparent to all.

Living his dream as an Australian Army Commando, Nate was an enthusiastic, capable soldier who was respected by his comrades.

Nate lived by his own personal motto: “Don't be afraid to go after what you want, do what you love, and love what you do. But don’t be afraid to face the consequences and be willing to pay the price”.

Nate Galagher was 23 years old when he died serving his country. His son, Jack, was born three months later

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