The Australian War Memorial has updated the display dedicated to Ben Roberts-Smith after the former Special Air Service corporal was officially charged with five counts of the war crime of murder.
The changes were implemented on Friday and affect the plaque in the museum’s Hall of Valour. According to the updated text, nearly half of the descriptive panel now refers to events that took place after Roberts-Smith’s military service ended, beginning with the first reports of misconduct that emerged in 2016.
The revision comes in response to the latest developments in the legal process surrounding the former soldier. The amended wording now includes references to the war crime allegations and makes clear that the matter remains before the courts.
Roberts-Smith, a former SAS corporal, had previously been recognised in the memorial’s Hall of Valour. The updated display reflects the fact that the public record around his case has changed significantly since the original plaque was installed.
The memorial’s decision means the display now places greater emphasis on the allegations and subsequent proceedings than it did before. The plaque’s revised wording shifts the focus away from his military service alone and toward the events that followed, including the initial misconduct reports in 2016 and the ongoing legal process.
The Australian War Memorial has not been alone in confronting the challenge of how to present figures whose reputations have changed after service recognition. In this case, the update underscores the significance of the formal charges and the continuing attention surrounding the matter.
The memorial’s action was implemented on Friday, and the revised plaque is now part of the Hall of Valour display.
