Lance Corporal Cameron Baird was an outstanding special forces soldier

LATE one night in November 2007, an Australian special forces team raided a mud-walled compound in an Afghan valley.

LATE one night in November 2007, an Australian special forces team raided a mud-walled compound in an Afghan valley on a key Taliban infiltration route.

The first commando through the door was confronted by an insurgent manning a heavy machinegun and in the exchange of fire that followed, the Digger was shot through his helmet and fatally wounded.

Behind him, Lance Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird realised his mate had gone down and led other members of the unit through a mass of machine gun and rifle fire in a desperate attempt to save the mortally wounded man.

For his extreme courage under fire, Lance Corporal Baird was awarded one of the nation's highest awards for courage under fire, the Medal for Gallantry.

The wounded soldier, Private Luke Worsley, died at the scene.

On Saturday, Cameron Baird, since promoted to corporal, became the 40th Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.

The special forces soldier from the Sydney-based 2nd Commando Regiment was leading a team of commandos in a raid on an insurgent position in the Khod Valley area of Oruzgan Province.

Corporal Baird was on his fifth tour of Afghanistan after service in Iraq and East Timor.

Also wounded were a second commando and a Royal Australian Air Force airman who was with a Joint Terminal Attack Control Team trained to call in air attacks if the troops ran into trouble. The three were were hit by small arms fire.

Corporal Baird was a member of the Special Operations Task Group.

An ADF statement said Corporal Baird was survived by his parents, brother and his partner.

Corporal Baird was born in Burnie, Tasmania, in 1981 and joined the army in January 2000.

The ADF statement said Corporal Baird was an outstanding special forces soldier. "His leadership in action was exemplary, constantly inspiring those around him to achieve greater things.

"Corporal Baird was an extremely dedicated and disciplined soldier, always striving for excellence in everything he did," the ADF statement said.

"Corporal Baird died how he lived at the front, giving it his all, without any indecision. He will forever be remembered by his mates and the soldiers he served with."

His Medal for Gallantry citation said: "Displaying complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Baird led other members of his team forward under heavy fire from machine guns and assault rifles to recover the wounded team member back to a position of cover.

"He then re-entered the compound and continued to engage the enemy."

Once that close-quarter battle was won, Lance Corporal Baird again led his team forward and began clearing buildings of the enemy, room by room.

"Lance Corporal Baird continued to lead the fight, killing several enemy and successfully completing the clearance," the citation said.

"Throughout the action, Lance Corporal Baird displayed conspicuous gallantry, composure and superior leadership under fire."

He undoubtedly prevented further members of his section from becoming casualties, the citation said.

In parliament, both the government and opposition said Australia's commitment in Afghanistan would continue.

BRENDAN NICHOLSON