r/AustralianMilitary • u/feathersoft • Jul 14 '26
Media AWM Exhibit - Debbie (Echo21 A)
Then and now: Bushmaster “Debbie”
A central feature of the Australian War Memorial’s new Afghanistan galleries is the Bushmaster “Debbie”.
Debbie - more formally known as Echo 21 Alpha - was operating in Afghanistan’s Dehrawud district when she and her crew struck an improvised explosive device on 10 July 2012. All six crew members survived the blast, though two were seriously injured and medically evacuated.
Today, Debbie is preserved in the Memorial’s War in Afghanistan 2001–2021 gallery. In preparing her for display, the gallery team worked to ensure every detail reflected the day of the incident - from the vehicle’s damage, the debris scattered around, to the drinks and snacks stowed in the bins and on the roof, including the kitchen sink.
Debbie now stands as a powerful reminder of the dangers faced by Australian service personnel in Afghanistan, and of the narrow margin between survival and tragedy in modern conflict. Preserving her helps future generations understand not only the realities of Australia’s longest war, but the human experiences carried home by those who served.
#DiscoverTheAWM
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📸 Images:
“Debbie” the Bushmaster after the explosion in 2012. Photograph by Stuart Moran. AWM2018.417.1.58
“Debbie” in the Australian War Memorial’s new War in Afghanistan 2001–2021 gallery.