War Memorial reviewing Ben Roberts-Smith Victoria Cross exhibit

The exhibit displays medals and a military uniform belonging to Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.

Decorated war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith. Picture: Getty Images

The Australian War Memorial is reviewing its exhibit displaying medals and military uniform belonging to Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, revealing it’s considering what “additional content and context” should accompany the collection items.

War Memorial chair and former Labor leader Kim Beazley confirmed on Friday that the memorial council was weighing how to acknowledge the judgement which found the former SAS soldier committed serious war crimes including murder while serving in Afghanistan.

Mr Beazley said the War Memorial’s role was to remember Australia’s history and involvement in war but also its “causes, conduct and consequences”, in response to mounting calls for the memorial to acknowledge Mr Robert-Smith’s now tarnished legacy.

“Collection items relating to Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, including his uniform, equipment, medals and associated art works, are on display in the Memorial’s galleries,” Mr Beazley said.

“We are considering carefully the additional content and context to be included in these displays.”

The display honouring the nation’s Victoria Cross recipients includes the SAS uniform Mr Roberts-Smith wore in the assault on the Afghan village of Tizak in 2010 for which he was awarded his VC, during which he exposed his position to draw enemy fire away from a pinned down patrol and stormed two machine gun posts. It also includes his war medals, military equipment and a sign describing his achievements.

Mr Beazley said the judgement was the outcome of civil action and “one step in a long process”, amid mounting speculation that Mr Roberts-Smith could face criminal charges that could lead to him being stripped of his medals.

Australian War Memorial chair Kim Beazley confirmed the memorial council was considering how to acknowledge the landmark judgment in the Ben Roberts-Smith case in its display. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

“The memorial assists in remembering, interpreting and understanding Australia’s experience of war and its enduring impact,” Mr Beazley said.

“This includes the causes, conduct and consequences of war.

“The memorial acknowledges the gravity of the decision in the Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG defamation case and its broader impact on all involved in the Australian community.

“This is the outcome of a civil legal case, and one step in a longer process.”

Anthony Albanese said the international standing of Australia’s defence force remains “extraordinarily strong” and declined to comment on the details of the case given the potential for “future actions that the government might be a party to”.

The Prime Minister also confirmed his government‘s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Brereton inquiry.

It is an area in which we have a responsibility and we’ve indicated very clearly that we would take up that responsibility,” he said.

“To this point, I make in regard to our international standing is that Australia’s international standing is extraordinarily strong, including the standing of our defence forces and our defence personnel.”

Roberts-Smith committed serious war crimes, including murder, while serving with the SAS in Afghanistan. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Opposition leader and former defence minister Peter Dutton said Thursday had been a “tough day for the country”, cautioning that the judgement was the result of a civil trial not a criminal case and investigations remain ongoing.

Mr Dutton said the decision if it was appropriate to strip Mr Roberts-Smith of his medals was a matter for Defence Minister Richard Marles, Governor-General David Hurley and Defence Force chief General Angus Campbell to consider.

“There has been a lot of speculation, and rightly so, about the recurring tours people went to in Afghanistan,” he told Channel 9’s Today.

“That doesn‘t excuse somebody operating outside the law. There’s obviously a huge impact.

“I want to acknowledge the families of SAS soldiers, those that have been accused, those who are witnesses, those who carried the burden of the whole incident, or the whole episode but have done nothing wrong except be in the SAS and they‘ve served their country with great distinction.”

He added the reputation of the nation’s defence force personnel was “second to none”, noting that there had been a significant shift in the culture of the ADF in recent years.

“We are trusted partners, we have worked alongside the US and UK, Canada, our other Five Eyes partners and other bilateral partners for a long time,” Mr Dutton said.

“They‘ve seen the worth and the value of the Australian Defence Force and we should never forget that.”

Though there is historical precedent for VCs to be stripped of their medals following a criminal conviction, only eight men have lost their medals for various offences, with George V declaring in 1920 that the decoration should not be forfeited even if a recipient was “sentenced to be hanged for murder”.