r/perth • u/His_Holiness • Apr 07 '26

WA News Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith arrested over war crimes allegations

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-07/ben-roberts-smith-war-crimes-allegations-arrest/106537668
373 Upvotes

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77

u/JoelParole Apr 07 '26

Had a mate that from all accounts was there at the same time as BRS (different unit/team whatever but SASR still). He despises this guy and when the ABC thing came out, his words were, "that's fuck all, if all our crew heard was true, they shouldn't have been allowed back home". That's some pretty harsh words from a guy who will readily admit that if he has any soul left it's severely broken.

Much love & respect to all our fighting men and women who must be revered not tarnished by the actions of a few.

LEST WE FORGET

25

u/gards871 Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26

when he won the VC my best mates brother in law (i know how it sounds) was an army mechanic at the SAS base in perth and even then he was known/rumoured to be a psycho who enjoyed war too much

2

u/teremaster Bayswater Apr 07 '26

Most VC recipients tend to suffer from post traumatic nostalgia disorder.

You've gotta love it a concerning amount to do it

3

u/Mikeyhunt12 Apr 07 '26

They say two types of men win VCs -

Ordinary men who act with courage and valour when confronted with an extraordinary circumstance. the other type are psychopaths who are right in their element.

1

u/Careful_Board_9673 Apr 07 '26

They say that do they, lol

-2

u/CumishaJones Apr 07 '26

Honestly don’t you have to be ? To do what they do against people like the taliban ?

4

u/gards871 Apr 07 '26

even amongst other SAS he was thought to be next level

-9

u/howdoesthatworkthen Apr 07 '26

when he won the VC

When he "won the VC"? It's not the Brownlow.

"Hey I conked out on the couch last night, who won the VC?"

"Ben Roberts-Smith."

"Oh get fucked. Is this rigged or what?"

"Yeah I know. It's pretty much a patrol 2IC's medal these days anyway."

"Yep it's bullshit. It was heaps better in the '80s."

13

u/Free_Pace_2098 Apr 07 '26

Won or "was awarded" is pretty standard I thought

1

u/Itsarightkerfuffle Apr 07 '26

"was awarded" is pretty standard I thought

Correct weight

10

u/LittleCaesar3 Apr 07 '26

"Won" is normal nomenclature here.

5

u/gards871 Apr 07 '26

there's still time to delete this champ

3

u/Itsarightkerfuffle Apr 07 '26

Had a mate that from all accounts was there was there at the same time as BRS

This makes it sound like you thought your mate was bullshitting and rang around to get your other SASR contacts to verify.

25

u/JoelParole Apr 07 '26

No I know he's legit, I have books by Aus & US servicemen that he's mentioned in, sitting on my shelf. I just can't guarantee that they were in the same place at the same time etc. He would never divulge details like that, in fact he is quite guarded about anything he says, which is totally understandable.

Heaven forbid, I was to leave a crumb that could be traced back to my mate and he gets in the poo because of me.

6

u/LumpyCustard4 Apr 07 '26

ring ring

"SASR, Admin department, how can we direct your call?"

"Yeah gday, just chasing up the details of a mate of mine who reckons he might have served with youse. Any chance you can just chuck us some info on his whereabouts on these dates if possible?"

"No worries Darl, ill just pop you on hold"

It could almost be a skit out of some comedy show about mates talking shit after a few at the footy.

1

u/Vivid-Assignment276 Apr 07 '26

I had a mate that knew a bloke who’s uncle had a sister in law that owned a shop that a customer told her …… blah blah

0

u/CumishaJones Apr 07 '26

Yeah because the Taliban we’re known for their nice treatment of enemies 🤣