War crime allegations: Elite soldiers furious at being disbanded

Special forces soldiers are in “absolute uproar” at plans to dismantle their squadron in the wake of a report into alleged war crimes.

Special forces soldiers are in “absolute uproar” and threatening to discharge from their positions in protest of their squadron being disbanded in the wake of the Afghan war crimes report.

Chief of Army Rick Burr last month removed 2 Squadron Special Air Service Regiment from the Army’s Order of Battle following the release of the Brereton Report, arguing the group was a “nexus of activities” related to the war crimes allegations.

It is the squadron in which Australia’s most decorated living soldier and Victoria Cross recipient — Ben Roberts-Smith — served.

Former officer in the Sydney-based special forces 2nd Commando Regiment Heston Russell told The Daily Telegraph “more than 60” current serving and reservist SAS members “have or intend” to submit their discharge paperwork in disgust over the “group punishment”.

Victoria Cross recipient and Afghanistan veteran Ben Roberts-Smith used to serve in the squadron in question. Picture: Toby Zerna

“The 2nd squadron has been there since 1964 and has generations of veterans who fought in Borneo, Vietnam and many other deployments in between, many of whom never even deployed to Afghanistan,” he said.

“Disbanding punishes nearly 60 years, multiple generations, of those who served.”

Mr Russell said the squadron members were in “absolute uproar” but unable to mount a public defence.

“I think over 350 letters have been written to the Prime Minister because that’s all they’re allowed to do,” he said.

“They can’t get on social media or get their voice out in public.”

It comes as a scheduled parade to “farewell” the squadron scheduled to take place ­tomorrow has been cancelled.

A Defence spokeswoman confirmed the planned “activity to mark the removal of 2 Squadron” at Campbell Barracks in Perth would not go ahead at this time.

A screen grab from a Four Corners investigation alleging that unarmed civilians were unlawfully killed by Australian special forces in Afghanistan

“In light of sensitivities related to the inquiry, the Chief of the Defence Force has requested the Chief of Army delay the activity until the implementation plan for the inquiry is fully developed,” she said.

The spokeswoman said Defence “acknowledges the long history” of 2 Squadron and the “service” of its veterans.

“Defence will work with the 2 Squadron veterans community and ex-service organisations to appropriately acknowledge their service,” she said.

However one veteran told The Daily Telegraph the event was not going ahead as many people, including people in the SAS Association, had decided to boycott it in protest of the handling of the decision to axe the squadron.

Originally published as War crime allegations: Elite soldiers furious at being disbanded