“They knew”: Ben Roberts-Smith photo resurfaces, exposing chilling detail in ADF cover-up

A photo of the former special forces soldier has resurfaced, exposing a chilling detail covered up by the Department of Defence.

A photo of the former special forces soldier has resurfaced, exposing a chilling detail covered up by the Department of Defence.

In the wake of decorated war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith losing his defamation case against Nine newspapers, a photo of the former special forces soldier has resurfaced, exposing a chilling detail covered up by the Department of Defence.

The photo, released by the department in January 2011, shows Mr Roberts-Smith on-duty in Afghanistan wearing a blank shield shaped patch on the front of his uniform.

But through their investigations, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age obtained the original photo – taken on April 6, 2010, revealing that patch was bearing a contentious symbol: the Crusader’s cross.

Never forget that Ben Roberts-Smith wore the Crusaders' Cross in Afghanistan. It was a symbol used by Europeans when they murdered 1 million people conquering Muslim countries. The ADF, rather than choosing another picture, photoshopped it away.

THEY KNEW. pic.twitter.com/H9H3l5t9rz

— James Jansson 🟦 (@jamesjansson) June 1, 2023

The photo resurfaced on social media just hours after the Federal Court found that the Nine Newspapers had proven their claims the 44-year-old Victoria Cross recipient was a murderer and war criminal.

A tweet showing a side-by-side comparison of the original and unedited images went viral online on Thursday shortly after the judgement.

“Never forget that Ben Roberts-Smith wore the Crusaders‘ Cross in Afghanistan,” developer James Jansson wrote.

“It was a symbol used by Europeans when they murdered [one] million people conquering Muslim countries. The ADF, rather than choosing another picture, photoshopped it away.”

The original photo (left) of Mr Roberts-Smith displaying a Crusader’s cross on his uniform while on duty in Afghanistan. The symbol was later edited out (right) in the official photo released by the ADF.

The Crusader’s Cross dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries when it was worn by Crusaders from western Europe when they seized parts of the Middle East from Muslim control.

The symbol is considered offensive to many Muslims especially when displayed by western soldiers in their country.

Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James told the newspaper at the time that displaying the symbol was “wrong morally” and “counter-productive”.

Mr James said it was “simply unprofessional” and reflected the poor cultural standards unearthed in the Brereton inquiry – a four-year investigation that into the conduct of special forces soldiers.

The inquiry’s report, released in 2020, found credible evidence of 39 unlawful killings of Afghan civilians or prisoners by unnamed Australian soldiers. It also raised concerns about a “warrior culture” within Australia’s special forces based on a “a misplaced focus on prestige, status and power”.

Mr Roberts-Smith received a Victoria Cross, Medal for Gallantry and other medals, what were put on display in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial. Picture: Strange Ray

“We know from the Brereton report that a lot of the things that were allegedly done were due to unprofessional actions,” Mr James told The Age in its reporting of these photos.

“You’re fighting people motivated by Islamist extremism, and you’re in effect kicking an own goal by providing them with propaganda. That’s exceptionally dumb to do in a counterinsurgency war.”

A spokesperson for Defence told the paper it did not “condone or permit the use, display or adoption of symbols, emblems and iconography that are at odds with Defence values”.

However, displaying symbols was widespread within the ADF at the time the photo was taken.

Defence policy permits the department to make minor alterations to images to protect operational security or privacy. The Defence spokesperson said the department has been unable to identify at what stage of the approval process the image was modified and whether it occurred in Afghanistan or Australia.

The altered image of Mr Roberts-Smith was among several released to coincide with his presentation of the Victoria Cross in 2011 and was published on the Defence image gallery, as well as by a number of media outlets – including News Corp Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age – and the Australian War Memorial.

Mr Roberts Smith sued Nine for defamation over reports he committed war crimes while serving in the Australian Special Air Services in Afghanistan. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

On Thursday, the decorated war veteran lost his long-running defamation case against Nine.

Justice Anthony Besanko found that Nine had proven the truth of its claims that Roberts-Smith was a murderer and war criminal.

The 44-year-old did not front the Federal Court as Justice Besanko officially dismissed the case, finding the most serious imputations alleged across six articles by The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times were substantially true.

He said the allegations of threats and domestic violence could not be proven, but was “satisfied” the newspapers had upheld the defence of contextual truth.

Justice Besanko also found that while not every murder could be established, two key killings had taken place.

As well as being found by the judge to be a murderer, Mr Roberts-Smith was also found in the judgment to have “broken the moral and legal rules of military engagement and is therefore a criminal”.

The judge also found he disgraced his country and the Australian Army through his conduct.

The publication of the full reasons for the long-awaited outcome in the multimillion-dollar defamation trial will be delayed.

– with NCA NewsWire

Defence All-hours support line – The All-hours Support Line (ASL) is a confidential telephone service for ADF members and their families that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1800 628 036.

Defence Member and Family Helpline – Operates 24-7, if you need support, help, or advice at any time, call 1800 624 608.

The Defence Member and Family Helpline is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists.

A full list of welfare support services is available at: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/afghanistan-inquiry/welfare-support

Originally published as “They knew”: Ben Roberts-Smith photo resurfaces, exposing chilling detail in ADF cover-up