The Navy Diver’s interview with Australian War Hero, Warrant Officer David Simpson

We put Australian War Hero, Warrant Officer David Simpson in the hot seat right in Surfers Paradise in Queensland for an exclusive one on one video chat about his life, the catalyst for joining the Australian army, and his experience with dogs in the military world. David is a former army veteran who has served the Australian military for 21 years. As a former dog trainer in the Army, he has spent over 18 years training dogs in obedience, agility and scent detection as an Explosive Detection Dog (EDD) handler. During David’s last nine years in the Army, he deployed to Afghanistan five times as part of a Special Operations unit.

Watch our Full Interview now

At the time, David was the dog trainer and handler to Sarbi, an exceptional dog who became Australia’s most recognised canine war hero. During a gruelling nine-hour battle, Sarbi a black Labrador-Newfoundland cross disappeared on September 2, 2008 when Australian special forces were ambushed in a heated battle with the Taliban while on patrol with US and Afghan troops in Uruzgan province. Although wounded, Warrant Officer David Simpson is one of several Australian war heros who live to tell the tale.

David also takes us back to that critical moment on Sept 2, 2008 when he and his special forces crew were confronted by 200 Taliban. During this heated battle and rolling ambush, David was shot in the hip with a richochet and felt the impact of several explosive rocket-propelled grenades.

We also chat about the incredible story of canine war hero Sarbi. David was the dog trainer and handler to Sarbi, an exceptional dog who became Australia’s most recognised canine war hero. During a gruelling nine-hour battle, Sarbi a black Labrador-Newfoundland cross disappeared on September 2, 2008 when Australian special forces were ambushed in a heated battle with the Taliban while on patrol with US and Afghan troops in Uruzgan province. After being found and quarantined, she made her way back to Australia, where she retired in the care of David and his wife Kira.

Lastly, David shares his thoughts on PTSD and veterans overcoming frontline trauma. In David’s own words, “Some of the strongest people and the strongest personalities, from quite a few friends that I know personally have actually succumbed to taking their own lives from PTSD… and these are people you never thought would actually take that option or take that route, unfortunately it does affect them.”

An image overview of David’s work on the frontline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David Simpson with his dog Vegas meeting Queen Elizabeth.

We want to thank you for your service in the Australian military David and sharing your incredible story with The Navy Diver.