Benjamin Roberts-Smith
Corporal, 2 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)
VC
Living holder
- Award
- Victoria Cross for Australia
- Rank
- Corporal all Corporals →
- Unit
- 2 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) all 2 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) VCs →
- Date of action
- 11 June 2010, Tizak, Shah Wali Kot district, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan on this day → all of 2010 →
- Conflict / campaign
- War in Afghanistan (Operation Slipper, Shah Wali Kot Offensive)
- London Gazette
- 23 January 2011 on this day → all of 2011 →
- Born
- 1 November 1978 at Perth, Western Australia
- Status
- Living holder of the Victoria Cross all living VCs →
- Medal held by
- On display at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra (Hall of Valour), together with his combat uniform; the display was updated in 2026 to note the criminal charges
- Investiture
- 23 January 2011, Campbell Barracks, Perth, by Governor-General Quentin Bryce
Summary of the action
On 11 June 2010, during a helicopter assault on the village of Tizak, Roberts-Smith's patrol was pinned down by machine-gun and RPG fire from three fortified positions. Advancing with his patrol under air support, he identified an enemy fighter preparing to fire an RPG and shot him, then deliberately exposed himself to draw fire away from his comrades. After his patrol commander grenaded one machine-gun post, Roberts-Smith stormed the remaining two positions single-handedly, silencing them and allowing the assault force to regain the initiative.
A summary in our own words; the official citation can be read in The London Gazette (link below).
Awarded after Alf's death. This entry was compiled by his family in 2026 from public sources so that the register remains complete. Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
Places connected with Roberts-Smith
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