SAS soldier Matthew Locke was a genuine hero who won high bravery honours before his death in Afghanistan, it has been revealed.
The Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) sergeant, fatally wounded in a firefight yesterday with Taliban militia in the province of Oruzgan in Afghanistan, was recognised only last year for his courage under fire.
Sgt Locke was awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his fearless conduct in battle during his first deployment to Afghanistan.
The Medal for Gallantry ranks behind only the Victoria Cross and the Star of Gallantry in military honours.
The Perth-based father and husband was hailed for displaying "courage of the highest order" during an operation on June 2 last year, in a rugged area known as the Chora Pass.
While second in command of an SAS patrol charged with setting up an observation post over a Taliban sanctuary, Sgt Locke was recognised for numerous acts of bravery as his team faced attack from the enemy.
After trudging 10 hours up the side of a mountain, the patrol was called into action to support coalition forces engaged with Taliban fighters set up in a nearby valley, his citation says.
When the battle was over, Sgt Locke's patrol remained in place, calling in air strikes over the next day in an attempt to disrupt the enemy.
But the enemy fighters managed to turn on the small and isolated Australian unit.
As the Taliban attempted to overrun and surround the patrol, Sgt Locke, without regard for his safety, led a two-man team which found and killed them, regaining the upper hand and protecting the patrol from being overrun.
During another episode, Sgt Locke was subject to intense rifle and machine gun fire as he moved to an exposed area of higher ground, where he blunted the Taliban attack until air support arrived.
His actions ultimately ensured the patrol was able regain the initiative from Taliban forces and eventually leave the area safely on foot.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson praised Sgt Locke for his efforts, which meant the patrol achieved its mission without loss of life.
"His efforts under extremely hazardous circumstances significantly contributed to the ultimate success of his patrol in achieving their mission without loss of life," Dr Nelson said in a statement.
"Under sustained heavy fire, and showing total disregard for his own safety, Sgt Locke ventured out of the relative security of his observation post to neutralise the advance of the enemy on their position and in doing so regained the initiative."
Map of Afghanistan showing Orūzgān Province. 
Matthew Locke, an Australian special forces soldier with the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) has been shot and killed while taking part in a 300-man special operatives attack against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The death, Australia's third combat soldier death since the Vietnam War, is the second to occur in October. 

The soldier, believed to be employed in Perth, Australia in the State of Western Australia and married with an unknown amount of children, was immediately lifted from the scene by the aero-medical helicopter evacuation team and was pronounced dead early this morning after suffering critical wounds throughout his chest. It is reported that he had received "high bravery honors" just before the battle.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston was quoted saying fine details of the operation, which took place in the Orūzgān Province, would not be released as it would "aid the Taliban and ... add to the dangers already facing our special operations troops."

"The soldier's mates reacted to the incident by extracting the soldier from further danger and providing immediate first aid. Their courage under fire and their determination to help a fallen mate is to be commended," added Houston who also stated that no other soldiers were injured or wounded during the fighting.