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Military funeral for NSF killed during Ex Wallaby

SINGAPORE — The body of Third Sergeant (3SG) Gavin Chan, who was killed in a vehicular accident during an overseas military exercise last Friday (Sept 15), was flown back to Singapore on Tuesday (Sept 19) after being given a send-off by his unit at an Australian airport.

A photograph on a Facebook page, Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog, showed members of 3SG Chan’s unit forming lines in front of a plane at Rockhampton Airport. Photo: Facebook via Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog

A photograph on a Facebook page, Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog, showed members of 3SG Chan’s unit forming lines in front of a plane at Rockhampton Airport. Photo: Facebook via Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog

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SINGAPORE — The body of Third Sergeant (3SG) Gavin Chan, who was killed in a vehicular accident during an overseas military exercise last Friday (Sept 15), was flown back to Singapore on Tuesday (Sept 19) after being given a send-off by his unit at an Australian airport.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said that 3SG Chan will be accorded the honours of a military funeral, with his cremation ceremony to be held at Mandai Crematorium on Saturday. 

His body was taken back at about 6pm on Tuesday in a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) plane, accompanied by his parents.

3SG Chan, 21, was a vehicle commander from the 41st Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment. While participating in Exercise Wallaby at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, the Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle that he was guiding out of difficult terrain landed on its side.

The incident left him unconscious and an SAF medic carried out resuscitation efforts on him.

He was then evacuated via helicopter to Rockhampton Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 10.36pm on Friday. The driver and two other passengers travelling in the vehicle were unhurt.
 

“The Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces will continue to render assistance and support to the family of the late 3SG Chan,” Mindef said.

A photograph on a Facebook page of Central Queensland Plane Spotting Blog showed members of 3SG Chan’s unit forming lines in front of a plane at Rockhampton Airport.

The Facebook page carries news about aviation and movements from Central Queensland.
 

Friends of 3SG Chan whom TODAY spoke to said he was a friendly, responsible person who took pride in his work.

Mr Joshua Lai, 22, who knew 3SG Chan when they were student councillors in Maris Stella High School, said he was a respected and dedicated person who would “pursue any task diligently”.

3SG Chan, who became the secretary of the student council’s executive committee, always submitted detailed proposals, Mr Lai said.

“Even the juniors did not feel any barriers communicating with him … they loved and respected him a lot,” the undergraduate added.

Another friend, 21, of 3SG Chan, who did not wish to be named, said he was a “friendly and cheerful dude who usually had a smile on his face”. 
 

A full-time national serviceman, who is currently at Exercise Wallaby, told TODAY that the mood was “quite solemn” when the incident happened, but things have returned to normal. 

He added that multiple additional safety regulations have been put in place — for example, driving off the main road at night is not allowed any more. 

Training resumed on Sept 16 after a safety pause on Exercise Wallaby was imposed following the incident.

Exercise Wallaby, now in its 27th year, is an annual military exercise involving the SAF armour units and the Republic of Singapore Air Force, and is the SAF’s largest unilateral overseas drill.

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