Australia’s most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, charged into enemy fire during a fierce battle in Afghanistan, securing the nation’s highest military honor for remarkable courage. Years on, he faces custody over allegations of grave war crimes.
The Pivotal Mission in Tizak
On June 11, 2010, Roberts-Smith’s patrol deployed by helicopter into the village of Tizak to target a senior Taliban commander. Enemy forces unleashed heavy machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire from elevated, fortified positions, wounding two soldiers and pinning down the team.
Roberts-Smith exposed himself to intense fire to divert attention from his comrades. He advanced to within meters of enemy lines, eliminating one insurgent at point-blank range after spotting him with a grenade. Displaying total disregard for his safety, he assaulted fortified positions equipped with machine guns and rocket launchers, neutralizing multiple fighters.
These actions shifted momentum, enabling the patrol to clear the village against a larger enemy force. His Victoria Cross citation highlights “the most conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of extreme peril,” noting his selfless valor directly facilitated the mission’s success.
Post-Military Achievements
Awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011, Roberts-Smith reached new heights. He left the army in 2013, earned an MBA scholarship from the University of Queensland, and received the Commendation for Distinguished Service in 2014.
His prominence grew as chair of the National Australia Day Council, Australian Father of the Year in 2013, and deputy chair of a mental health advisory committee under Tony Abbott in 2014. In 2015, Kerry Stokes named him deputy general manager of regional television for Seven Queensland, followed by a promotion to general manager two months later.
Arrest and War Crimes Charges
Legal challenges emerged in 2018 with a defamation lawsuit against newspapers over reports of alleged war crimes, which courts later deemed substantially true on the balance of probabilities.
On Tuesday morning, Australian Federal Police arrested Roberts-Smith at Sydney Domestic Airport in front of his daughters after a probe into deaths during his 2009-2012 Afghanistan deployments. He faces two counts of murder as a war crime and three counts of aiding or abetting murder.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated the victims were unarmed, detained, and under ADF control at the time. “It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused or shot by subordinate members of the ADF in the presence of and acting on the orders of the accused,” she told reporters.
The charges specify Roberts-Smith intentionally caused two deaths in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Investigations into potential others continue, per the Office of the Special Investigator.
Court Proceedings
Roberts-Smith skipped an initial online NSW Bail Division Court hearing on Wednesday. His lawyers, led by Jordan Portokalli, sought an in-person listing at Downing Centre Local Court but accepted delays. “We understand that’s a bit of a pipe dream,” Portokalli remarked.
The judge scheduled the next hearing for June 4, keeping the Victoria Cross recipient in custody for at least two months. Roberts-Smith denies all allegations.
