A former elite soldier gave evidence in the Federal Court that he told Ben Roberts-Smith that the award “made me extremely uncomfortable”
An elite soldier who served alongside Ben Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan has told the Federal Court that he did not believe his former comrade deserved the Victoria Cross, Australia’s highest military honour, for his role in a highly publicised battle.
Person 18 agreed with Mr Roberts-Smith’s barrister, Arthur Moses, SC, that he couldn’t see all of his former comrade’s actions on that day in Tizak from his vantage point.He said “rumours were running wild” within the SAS in 2010 about what happened in Tizak.
“I don’t know,” Person 18 said. “I don’t recall who they were, and I don’t recall if they hated him.”“No,” Person 18 said. “I don’t hate Ben; I don’t know the guy. I know that I worked with him 12 years ago, but as a person ... I’ve got no idea.”Person 18 told the court that he believed Person 5, who received the Star of Gallantry, should “show some humility” and “calm down a bit”.