Ben Roberts-Smith

Ben Roberts-Smith. He is a former senior corporal of the Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) who was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions during the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). His military career and subsequent civilian life have been overshadowed by serious allegations of war crimes, leading to a landmark defamation case in Australia. He is one of the most decorated soldiers in recent Australian history, yet his legacy remains deeply contested.

Early life and military career

Born in Perth, he attended Hale School before enlisting in the Australian Army in 1996. He initially served with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment before successfully attempting selection for the elite Special Air Service Regiment based at Campbell Barracks. He deployed on multiple operational tours to East Timor and Afghanistan, where he served as a patrol sniper and later a patrol commander. His early service was recognized with the Medal for Gallantry for actions during a 2006 mission in the Chora District of Uruzgan Province.

Victoria Cross action

He was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for conspicuous gallantry during a helicopter assault into the village of Tizak on 11 June 2010. During the intense engagement with Taliban insurgents, his patrol was pinned down by machine gun fire from three entrenched positions. He single-handedly assaulted the first position, eliminating it with grenades and his M4 carbine, which allowed his comrades to regain fire superiority. He then neutralized a second heavy machine gun position under sustained fire, actions described in his citation as decisive to the success of the mission by the International Security Assistance Force.

Post-military career and honours

Following his departure from the Australian Defence Force in 2013, he assumed a prominent public role, becoming a national figure. He served as a director for the Australian War Memorial council and held an executive position at the Seven Network in Queensland. In addition to the Victoria Cross for Australia and the Medal for Gallantry, his other honours include the Australian Active Service Medal and the NATO Medal for service with the International Security Assistance Force. He was also named the Father of the Year in 2013 by the Australian Father's Day Council.

War crimes allegations and defamation trial

From 2017, he was the subject of investigations by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force and later the Office of the Special Investigator regarding alleged breaches of the Law of Armed Conflict in Afghanistan. These allegations, reported by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, included claims of unlawful killings. In 2018, he commenced a defamation lawsuit against the three media outlets, a case that became one of the most expensive in Australian legal history. In 2023, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed the lawsuit, finding the media had established substantial truth to allegations of murder and bullying.

Personal life

He is married and has two children. His father, Len Roberts-Smith, is a former judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia. The allegations and subsequent trial have been reported to have placed significant strain on his family life. His standing in the community, once celebrated through roles with institutions like the Australian War Memorial, has been fundamentally altered by the findings of the defamation trial and ongoing criminal investigations.

Category:Australian military personnel Category:Recipients of the Victoria Cross for Australia