Army was soldier's lifelong passion

The army was Private Nathan Bewes' lifelong passion.
Even on holidays in Australia last month all he could talk about was getting back to
his mates in Afghanistan.
On Friday, Pte Bewes became Australia's 17th soldier to die in Afghanistan.
The 23-year-old's family and partner have paid tribute to him as a dedicated
soldier, loving son, brother and partner.
His father Gary, mother Kaye and sister Stephanie said Nathan was inspired by his
family's history of military and community service.
"The army was his lifelong passion. It was all he wanted," the Bewes family said in
a statement released by Defence on Saturday.
"When he was on leave from Afghanistan in June all he could talk about was getting
back to the deployment and his mates."
Born in Kogarah in NSW, Nathan joined the Army Cadets as a 13-year-old and by 15 was
a Cadet Under Officer.
He joined the army in 2005 and was on his second deployment in Afghanistan, serving
with the First Mentoring Task Force. He had also been deployed to East Timor in
2006.
Pte Bewes, from the Brisbane-based 6th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment
(6RAR), was killed by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in the Chora
Valley region of Oruzgan Province just before midnight (AEST) on Friday.
Gary, Kaye and Stephanie Bewes said their son and brother was a loyal friend who
always cared for his mates.
"At his 21st birthday party we could not get over such camaraderie between young
men," they said.
"We could not believe that such mateship could exist between young men in this day
and age.
"We are missing him dearly."
His partner Alice Walsh said "Bewesy" was "an amazing mate to our many friends and
was loved by everyone".
"Nate was my best friend, my soul mate, the one I knew I'd be with for the rest of
my life," Ms Walsh said in a statement.
"He always made me laugh and I have never loved anyone so much.
"He was an excellent soldier who was willing to put his life in danger, along with
his mates from Team 3, for the people of Australia."
The 23-year-old is the sixth Australian soldier to die in Afghanistan in a little
over a month.
Giving an insight into the anguish faced by soldiers' loved ones while they are on
deployment, Ms Walsh said their families should be proud.
"While your loved one comes home to you every day there are others who are worrying
if there will be another day," she said.
"Soldiers' families be proud, as they are out changing the world, making history and
putting their lives on the line for Australia.
"Take one minute out of your day to pray or wish upon a star for a soldier so that
they may all come back home safely one day to his/her family."



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