Historians have called to remove displays of Ben Roberts-Smith from the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial, sparking debate.
This week, the former SAS soldier was arrested and charged with two counts of the war crime of murder and three counts of aiding or abetting murder over the alleged deaths of Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012.
A spokesperson for the Australian War Memorial confirmed the memorabilia, including his medals would remain on display at the Hall of Valour, which honours recipients of the Victoria Cross.
“The Memorial acknowledges media reports of the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith,” the spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
“Accordingly, the Memorial will review the wording of the interpretive panel associated with his display. The display of his uniform, equipment and medals remains in place.
“The Memorial will continue to monitor developments and consider updates as appropriate.”
Michael McKernan, who was the deputy director at the museum in the 1990s, and a senior lecturer in Australian history at the University of NSW told the Sydney Morning Herald that it was “ludicrous” to keep Roberts-Smith’s uniform on display.
“You can’t leave it there. It’s ludicrous. He is now charged with five murders. Let’s get real – that’s not good,” he said.
“He has every right to be considered innocent until found guilty, but the full bench of the Federal Court of Australia upheld that, on the balance of civil probability, he is a war criminal.”
In June 2023, Roberts-Smith lost a high-profile civil defamation case against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times.
The Federal Court found the publications had proven the “substantial truth” of several serious allegations on the civil standard of the balance of probabilities.
McKernan said the findings were a significant blow to Roberts-Smith and described it as an “utter disgrace” that his displays remain in the Hall of Valour.
Following the charges, a panel next to the display stating the soldier “has not been charged with any offence under criminal law” is now incorrect.
Peter Stanley, who is the Memorial’s former principal historian and a current professor at UNSW Canberra agrees with McKernan’s calls to a certain extent.
“My position is clear and simple. The Roberts-Smith display should be moved out of the Hall of Valour into the Afghanistan gallery, so his story can be portrayed as one of the tragic consequences of Australia’s involvement,” he said.
“I disagree with calls to remove the display. The Memorial shouldn’t be a shrine to heroes – it should tell Australia’s story honestly, and Roberts-Smith is a part of it. Removing the display would conceal the fact of his conduct.”
However, some Aussies have hit back on social media with one writing: “The uniform and the display in general should stay, regardless of the charges and the outcome. If, and it’s a big If, he’s found guilty, it should remain with amended information.”
“Whatever he allegedly did on other occasions does not change the fact that he did an act worthy of winning the VC. The two facts do not cancel each other out,” another added.
Others agreed with the historians, with one writing: “The Australian War Memorial still has this commemoration of alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith on display. When is the Australian War Memorial going to take it down as it’s an absolute travesty.”
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said that the government has “no power” in changing the display or any decisions associated with it.
“It is the job of the Australian War Memorial to tell the full story of war and conflict, including displays that may be controversial or provoke disagreement and debate,” he said.
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