Emotional ex-SAS witness disputes how Roberts-Smith won bravery award
A former SAS soldier who faced down brutal enemy fire alongside Ben Roberts-Smith resulting in his prestigious Victoria Cross says the medal became politicised for a “good news story”.
The witness codenamed Person Four told the Federal Court on Wednesday the âhighlight of my professional careerâ was the 2010 Battle of Tizak in Afghanistan.
Mr Roberts-Smith, 43, is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times for defamation over reports that he committed war crimes and murders in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012.
One of a handful of Australian recipients of the Victoria Cross since 1970, he has suggested some claims stem from jealous associates spiteful of the achievements which resulted in his medals.
Person Four recalled the war veteranâs face looking âashenâ during the raid, and the âabsolute feeling of dread and fearâ due to the heavy, accurate and sustained fire the troop was under immediately after helicopter insertion.
The two comrades decided they would âfight forwardâ and in concert began âmutually supporting each other enabling us to close with the enemy,â he said.
Under rapid-fire from two machine guns, the pair advanced while the former SAS sergeant indicated a window near their target to Roberts-Smith, he said.
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The retired SAS corporal made a âbold moveâ to clear the window and confirmed âone enemy deadâ, while the witness exposed himself to provide security, he said.
Soon after Person Four says he again exposed himself to provide âsustained and accurate cover for Benâ while he threw a grenade over a wall, that never exploded, he said.
Person Four â100 per cent believedâ at this moment he successfully killed one of the machine gunners, something he says the decorated soldier later confirmed.
Person Four became emotional on his third day in the witness box, saying the moment stood out âbecause I didnât let him downâ.
âAnd that we both supported each other. And that we overcame overwhelming odds together.â
He explained the âgravityâ of facing machine-gun power meant a standard infantry would âthrow 30 people at it,â and â100 peopleâ at more than one such heavy weapon.
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âThere was only two of us on that day, plus Person 32 ⌠to overcome those odds ⌠is why that action is so poignant for me.â
According to the official government statement, Roberts-Smith killed both machine gunners and was awarded the VC in 2011.
Person Four said initially he was told that he would be receiving the medallic honour, but three days later âit changedâ.
âI was upset something as outstanding as what both Ben and myself did was politicised.
âThey could have accepted the fact that both of us did as much as each other that day.â
While Person Four does believe Roberts-Smith deserved the award, he suspects other factors played upon âthe government and heads of defenceâ.
â2010 (was) the most violent year in the period in Afghanistan, we lost a lot of people and they wanted a good news story.
âI believe people jumped on, or seized the opportunity for their own benefits.â
Person Four suspected both soldiersâ accounts were too similar, and it created a problem due to medal restrictions, and he was given one for gallantry in 2013.
Under cross-examination he agreed it caused him hurt, disappointment and was something he ruminated over.
The trial continues.
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