Operation Tamar patch : Warrant Officer II R Burgess, United Nations Assistance Mission to Rwanda

Black circular patch embroidered with the words 'COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS TROOP ASC2 UNAMIR II UNITED NATIONS OPERATION TAMAR RWANDA 1995'. Embroidered in gold in the centre of the patch is a satellite dish within a wreath. A red and white lightning flash is embroidered on each side of the wreath.

Associated with the service of Warrant Officer Class II Robert Burgess with the second United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR II). Burgess was deployed with the Australian contingent, named Operation Tamar, in February 1995 and served as supervisor of communications with the Australian Medical Support Force (AUSMED) until August. During his service Burgess was for a time kidnapped by soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Front and was also present at Kibeho following the massacre of 22 April. Here he worked as part of the team responsible for identifying and verifying the number of Rwandans killed. UNAMIR II was mandated in 1994 to work towards maintaining peace in Rwanda, re-establishing infrastructure and encouraging those who had fled during the conflict to return to their homes. Australia deployed two contingents and their primary role was to provide medical support to the 5 500 troops who were part of UNAMIR, however a large part of their workload involved treating local victims of the conflict.