The Australian War Memorial has amended its display for Ben Roberts-Smith following the former Special Air Service corporal being charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. The changes, implemented on Friday, update the plaque in the Hall of Valour to include details of the charges and the ongoing legal process.
Previously, the display noted that Roberts-Smith had not been charged with any criminal offence. The new text states: 'In April 2026, Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. The legal process is ongoing.' Nearly half of the descriptive plaque now covers events after his military service, starting with initial misconduct reports in 2016.
Matt Anderson, director of the Australian War Memorial, said at a media conference that the museum is committed to keeping the public informed while respecting the presumption of innocence. 'The memorial’s commitment … has been to ensure that the panel in the galleries is up to date and covers the facts,' Anderson said. He emphasised the importance of allowing justice to take its course and stated that Roberts-Smith's equipment, uniform, and medal groups will remain on display due to his actions on 11 June 2010 in Afghanistan, for which he received the Victoria Cross.
The update comes as Roberts-Smith awaits a bail hearing, coinciding with the opening of 7,000 square metres of gallery space as part of the memorial's $500 million expansion. The panel is expected to remain unchanged until a verdict is reached in any criminal trial.
