Lachlan Armfield: From NBL role player to war hero

• Lachlan Armfield spent 15 years and four days in the army, including serving as a special forces medic in Afghanistan
• He is now the vice president of the Eden and District RSL
• Armfield spent eight seasons in the NBL with Canberra, Newcastle, Illawarra and Sydney

The horrors of war struck Lachlan Armfield before he even left Australian shores.

Having spent eight seasons in the NBL with the Canberra Cannons, Newcastle, Illawarra Hawks and Sydney Kings — the former Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder had faced almost every challenge there was on the court.

From crippling injuries, which brought his professional career to a premature end, to having to guard the GOAT of Australia’s top league in Andrew Gaze. But nothing could have prepared him for the “eye-opening” tragedies he faced as a special operations combat medic.

The Melbourne Tigers and Kilsyth Cobras guard was a standout in the junior ranks, moulding his talent at the AIS before making his NBL debut in 1991 with the Cannons. It was there he would go on to win the 1992 NBL Rookie of the Year.

Despite several stops at different clubs before retiring in 2001, joining the military was always Armfield’s biggest desire.

“When I retired, I thought I really wanted a purpose in life,” the 53-year-old told basketball.com.au.

“My grandparents and all that served and I've always loved the army, so, I decided to join in 2002.”

He would go on to spend 15 years and four days in service.

His time included several stops around Australia, including being based at the Townsville Hospital, where he gained his experience as a medic.

Armfield would later join the Special Operations Logistics Company then to Two Commando, spending time in Timor-Leste and then in 2010 he would join the war in Afghanistan as a special forces combat medic.

“That was a big eye-opener,” Armfield said.

“The trip to Afghanistan started really bad. We did our mission rehearsal down at Cultana in South Australia and we were doing live-fire assaults and one of the guys was shot in the head.

“It put a massive dampener on the mission. Then when we got to Afghanistan in 2010, we lost three guys in a helicopter accident, which was pretty devastating for the regiment.

“Over there, I treated a lot of kids and locals. It’s a beautiful part of the world but just run by mad people.

“It was pretty horrific over there, being in firefights and then obviously just how ruthless the Taliban were. But once they knew they were up against us Australians, they pretty much pissed off pretty quick. They just didn't like us because we were pretty well-trained soldiers.

“We in the Two Commando and SASR ended up getting battle honours in a battle in Shawali Kowt, where we neutralised, I think it was over 180 insurgents in one day.”

While Armfield and his regiment succeeded in their missions, the horrors of war didn’t stop when he returned home to Australia.

“I loved serving my country and I'd do it again, but you do come out of it in pretty bad shape,” he said.

“I had my spine fused and had to battle through a lot of serious injuries. Being a basketball guy and also being a special forces medic, you’re carrying a lot of weight around.

“I ended up getting pretty serious PTSD when I got home as well. With PTSD, eventually you have to be medically discharged and all that because you become ineffective as a medic.

“I didn't realise I had it and then my doctor diagnosed it, so I had to go and see psychiatrists and all that sort of stuff and it was pretty bad. But I thank God that I’m happy now, I’m married and have a fantastic wife and a beautiful daughter who’s 11-years-old and they’re both very supportive.

“But even with all those challenges, to serve my country was still the ultimate thing.”

Teamwork and having your mates back were essential to staying alive in places such as war-torn Afghanistan and Armfield credits the environment of professional basketball teams as a major factor during his time serving his country.

“It definitely meant a lot because I was disciplined. Being a basketballer, I always wanted to keep fit and learned how to eat well, train and lift weights, which were all pretty essential,” he said.

“Then just being a leader, I was 30 when I joined the army. So, I was yeah fairly mature and was like the grandpa of all the young fellas, so, it definitely helped me in that aspect.”

While Armfield considers himself a soldier before a basketball player, he still keeps up to date with the NBL and reflected on some of his highlights from his professional career, including a memorable story about defending, or trying to defend, Andrew Gaze.

“Playing with legends like Phil Smyth, The General, were definitely highlights. I still keep in touch with people like Cal (Bruton) and guys from those days,” he said.

“Funny story, I remember one game against Andrew Gaze, he came down at the start of the game and I blocked his shot. I thought ‘this is going to be a good game’ and he ended up end up scoring 54 on me, so, that was a highlight.

“Playing against such legendary imports like Leroy Loggins, there were so many fantastic players. Then playing against my AIS teammates, people like the legendary Brett Maher, look how good Brett ended up. He was just sensational.”

Now living in Eden, a town on the south coast of New South Wales, Armfield is keeping busy as the vice president of the Eden and District RSL.

While millions of Australians will gather to honour servicemen and women who have served at Anzac Day services around the country today, Armfield will march down the local streets of Eden with the memory of his close friends, who lost their lives at war, firmly on his mind.

“(Anzac Day) is a big day because I mean, I loved being in the army. My wife would kill me if she heard me saying that but it's just the mates you make and all the ones that you've lost that you think about all the time,” he said.

“Anzac Day brings back memories of all your good mates that were killed overseas.

“It's a very meaningful day for us all. Down here, we’ll gather and have a couple of beers here and just reminisce and share some stories.”

So, while you’re out, honouring the Anzacs – keep Lachlan Armfield in your mind when you raise a glass. One of the unsung heroes within the Australian basketball community, who should be celebrated, just like so many servicemen and women, who have paved the way and, in many cases, have sacrificed everything in the process.

Lest we forget!