Reece Harding (Heval Bagok) was born as a son of Michel and Keith Harding in Middle Swan, Australia on 31 August 1991. When he was eight-year-old, he was a national swimming champion with Olympic potential. He was an eager fan of the local football team, West Coast Eagles, and loved travelling. Before his leave for Rojava, he was not quite interested in politics. His motive in travelling to Rojava and joining the struggle was his humanitarian spirit. He got furious while watching news about the ISIS atrocities and crimes against humanity.

SETTING OUT FOR A HUMANITARIAN DUTY

Taking the YPG (People’s Defense Forces) as a force fighting for democracy and equal rights, Reece decided to join them instead of watching them from far away. Realizing the fact that the YPG engaged in a relentless struggle against ISIS did not receive enough support from the West, he left for Rojava to become a part of this struggle as per a humanitarian duty. On 4 May, 2015, he came to Rojava and joined the ranks of the YPG with the Nom de Guerre Heval (Comrade) Bagok, the very same name adopted by Australian Ashley Johnston who had fallen a martyr in the Xesan village of Til Hemis on 21 February 2015.

MARTYRED WHILE ON A MINE-CLEARING MISSION

Bagok Serhed was known among his comrades in arms as a competent and brave fighter. After strong insistence, he joined the sabotage unit and focused on defusing mines and improvised explosive devices.

On Saturday night, 27 June 2015, his six-fighter unit was on a mine-clearing mission in the village of al-Musheirfa, about 35 kilometers north of Raqqa city. When they were walking on a field, they were attacked by ISIS terrorists. Reece stepped on one of the hidden wires of the anti-tank mine and was killed instantly, while his five comrades were injured. Reece was the second Australian martyr in the SDF. He was 23 years old at the time of his death.

His body was handed over to his family to be buried in Melbourne, Australia. In his memory, his photo was put on a memorial in Qamishlo city with other martyrs’ photos.

‘HE FELL IN PEACE’

Reece Harding’s brother Jordan said, “Reece would always look after his friends and do anything to help them. Reece fell knowing that he had made a difference. I know that he was martyred in peace. He lived more than what most people would in a 23-year lifetime.”

According to the YPG obituary at the time, “Harding was an intelligent and wise comrade, with a full sense of responsibility and sensitivity towards his friends, and a moral-boosting figure in the fight through his courage. It added that Harding would do anything, personal or military, to defend his friends and that he became a precedent person among his friends in a short time.”