Australian businessman and former Australian Army soldier, Roberts-Smith, was awarded the Victoria Cross for the most conspicuous gallantry in action in circumstances of extreme peril as a Patrol Second-in-Command, Special Operations Task Group on Operation SLIPPER.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, on 11 June 2006.
Benjamin Roberts-Smith joined the Australian Army in 1996. In 2003, he successfully completed the selection course for Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment.
In June 2010, on his third deployment to Afghanistan, Corporal Roberts-Smith was part of a helicopter assault into Tizak, Shah Wali Kot in Kandahar Province, aimed at capturing or killing a senior Taliban commander.
Immediately upon insertion, the troop came under heavy fire. Two soldiers were wounded and the troop was pinned down by fire from multiple machine gun positions situated both on the high ground and the buildings to their front.
The Victoria Cross (VC) in 2011 and the Medal for Gallantry (MG) in 2006 made Roberts-Smith the most highly decorated serving member of the Australian Defence Force.
He was also awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service for leadership as a patrol commander in 2012.