But almost two decades on from the conflict, the private civilian troops who put their lives on the line for Australia are yet to be recognised.

A never-before-seen trove of archived documents branded “not in the public’s interest” lays bare a fight for war medals which could embroil Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Such is the scope of the apparent mishandling by the PM’s department in honouring the 35 contracted security force of ex-SAS, former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has now been forced to step in.

His appeal includes a private letter to Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirming the civilian force was a “critical enabler” for Australia at that time and appealed to her to support a medal clasp, “consistent with the government’s commitment to honour veterans and their families”.

“That AusAID delivered the government’s humanitarian program amid the Iraq war without loss of life, serious injury or incident is remarkable and not at least in part to these people’s efforts,” he wrote last year.

A similar appeal was made by the then serving Foreign Minister Bob Carr eight years ago but was apparently overruled by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC).

A huge volume of documents secured under Freedom of Information – and unredacted for the first time on an upheld appeal by the Information Commissioner – detail the full extent of Australia’s diplomatic and aid conflict operations post the 2003 Iraq invasion and the insurgency that would continue for another eight years after the toppling of Saddam Hussein and critically wrangling over the awarding of medals.

They were heady times, daily mortar attacks, attempted ambushes of convoys and shootings as Australian officials, notably from AusAID, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade and Treasury, attempted to help build a government.

In 2003 to 2005 at the insistence of the US Government, the Federal Government commercially contracted a force of 35-40 men, mostly ex Australian and New Zealander SAS, Commando and special operations officers from Queensland Police and NSW Police for security, logistics and “life support” duties.

All were veterans of previous conflicts, some recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal, and had either left the ADF for other ventures or were taking extended leave before returning to full time duties.

Documents show the men were given “Top Secret” level security clearance and approval for official “government passports”, Coalition operations permits and were registered as “administrative and technical staff” of the Australian embassy in Baghdad.

The daily log of what they experienced reads like a Hollywood manuscript. A military intelligence report obtained under FOI confirmed the Australians were a direct target for six terror groups and rocket launcher armed Iraqi insurgent force.

At the end of hostilities the government officials the force was tasked with protecting were given the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM) – Iraq clasp. But the band of brothers was overlooked as they were employed by the Commonwealth through a commercial contract with Control Risk Group (CRG). CRG is London headquartered security outfit that works closely with the British Government and has a dozen offices globally, including in Sydney and Melbourne.

In 2012 PMC proposed a detailed amendment to the HOSM Iraq clasp, concluding “we consider a case exists for extending eligibility …” and noted the AusAID director general confirmed his agency’s work would not have been possible without the critical efforts of the CRG detail.

It further required the foreign minister of the day Bob Carr to endorse, which he did in writing in 2013 but there is no evidence the Carr letter was ever included in the file for consideration. PMC declared the file be closed.

Some of the 35 men spoken to by News Corp said their almost two decade battle for recognition was heart breaking.

“I’ve always thought it was an issue with civilians carrying guns, we look quite radical and in those days some looked at you like you were mercenaries,” said one of the team involved.

“They (government) didn’t know how to deal with you at that time, Australia was playing catch up in war and modern conflict that involves civilians and were still thinking in the days they sent in the AIF overseas (World War I).

“The Brits, Canadians and Kiwis all recognised the role of civilians and also the Americans of course … but there is such a hesitancy in Australia, they don’t want to recognise civilians overseas in these contemporary conflicts but it is such an unsung story in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.”

Another of the 35 contacted added: “There is no monetary value, no string attached … it’s just recognition that we only now are realising we were to get; operational service medals become family heirlooms, held in trust along the generations.”

Despite the emergence of the proposed HOSM amendment, Assistant Minister to Prime Minister and Cabinet Ben Morton MP and the PMC both advised as late as last month the group of men still did not meet eligibility requirements since they were technically working from a for-profit contractor.

It noted the letters from successive foreign ministers and AusAID director generals Peter Baxter and Richard Moore but these apparently carried no weight.

“It is understandable given recommendations provided by AusAID and foreign minister … you would be disappointed by this outcome,” PMC First Assistant Secretary John Reid wrote late last month to one of the would-be recipients.

But some of the men contacted this week said the fight would continue.

“We were Australian officials on contract with the Commonwealth, we were legitimate, accredited, badged-up administrative and technical staff to the Australian embassy. We had diplomatic immunity, we were travelling on official passports, we had Defence contractor IDs, accreditation for the US Government that cannot go to commercial contractors only Coalition government employees, we were compelled to comply with the Australia Public Service code of conduct all these sorts of things that mysteriously gets left out of deliberations,” one said.

Senator Payne’s office was contacted for comment.