Flawed Hero : Truth, Lies and War Crimes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Masters, Chris.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Roberts-Smith, Ben.

Roberts-Smith, Ben--Trials, litigation, etc.

McKenzie, Nick.

Masters, Chris.

Australia. Australian Army. Special Air Service Regiment.

Australia.

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Casualties.

Afghan War, 2001-2021.

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Atrocities.

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Participation, Australian.

Afghan War, 2001-2021--Press coverage.

Civilian war casualties--Afghanistan.

Civilian war casualties.

War crimes--Afghanistan.

War crimes.

Military offenses--Australia.

Military offenses.

Soldiers--Australia.

Soldiers.

Trials (Libel)--Australia.

Trials (Libel).

Special forces (Military science)--Australia.

Special forces (Military science).

Afghanistan--History, Military--21st century.

Afghanistan.

Afghanistan--History--2001-.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (608 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Sydney : Allen & Unwin, 2023.

Summary:

With a Victoria Cross and Medal for Gallantry, Ben Roberts-Smith was the most highly decorated Australian soldier, the best of the best. When he returned to civilian life, he became a poster boy for a nation hungry for warrior heroes. He embodied the myth of the classic Anzac, seven-foot-tall and bulletproof. But as his public reputation continued to grow, inside the army rumours were circulating. Gold Walkley Award winning journalist Chris Masters was the first to investigate the rumours of summary executions, bloodings and bullying, and began to examine more closely the man we wanted to hero-worship. When the stories hit the headlines, and with a billionaire media baron's backing, Ben Roberts-Smith sued. So commenced the defamation trial of the century, a courtroom contest of tightrope tactics and fierce wit. Chris Masters tells the extraordinary story of Ben Roberts-Smith, the man at the centre of this de facto war crimes trial, from the battlegrounds of Afghanistan to the front lines of the Federal Court.

Contents:

About the Author

Title page

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Map

Pseudonyms

Abbreviations and Acronyms

A rumour of war crimes

Chapter 1: 2 June 2006

Chapter 2: 2 June 2015

Chapter 3: Lifting the Tin

Chapter 4: Achilles

Chapter 5: The Anzac Avatar

Chapter 6: A Spectator to a Troubled Soul

Chapter 7: The Rose Garden

Chapter 8: The Cliff

Chapter 9: Shooting Bambi

Chapter 10: Scoop

Chapter 11: Un-Australian

Chapter 12: Whiskey 108

Chapter 13: Battlelines

Chapter 14: The Scout

Chapter 15: Chinartu

Chapter 16: The Sergeant

Chapter 17: Blue-on-Blue

Chapter 18: Perth

Chapter 19: 'H'

Chapter 20: The Tangled Web

Chapter 21: The Great Hall and The Black Eye

Chapter 22: Stay Kind

Chapter 23: The Terp

Chapter 24: The SSE

Chapter 25: Leonidas

Chapter 26: 'You Weak Dog'

Chapter 27: Emissaries

Chapter 28: Seven vs Nine

Chapter 29: Secrets, Lies and Newsprint

Chapter 30: History Wars

Chapter 31: Fasil

Chapter 32: Showdown at the East

Chapter 33: Killer Angels

Chapter 34: A Game of Arithmetic

Chapter 35: Protected Identity

Chapter 36: The Whistleblower

Chapter 37: Global Warriors

Chapter 38: The Phoney War

Chapter 39: 60 Minutes

Chapter 40: Exodus

Chapter 41: Annus Horribilis

Chapter 42: The Killing Field

Chapter 43: The Lunch Box

Chapter 44: Entitled Pricks

Chapter 45: D&amp

Ms

Chapter 46: Reverse Ferret

Chapter 47: The Paps

Chapter 48: 'Possibly the Most Disgraceful Episode...'

Chapter 49: Brereton Backlash

Chapter 50: Lawyers, Love and Loss

Chapter 51: Secrets of War

Chapter 52: Feeling the Heat

Chapter 53: 'Credulous'

Chapter 54: A Target on My Back

Chapter 55: Softly, Softly

Chapter 56: The Devil in the Detail

Chapter 57: 'There Were No Men in the Tunnel'.

Chapter 58: 'The Respondents Should be Ashamed'

Chapter 59: Good Luck with That!

Chapter 60: Protection Racket

Chapter 61: 'I Know What I Saw'

Chapter 62: The Greater Sin

Chapter 63: 'The Most Beautiful Thing'

Chapter 64: Valentine's Day

Chapter 65: Tunnel Vision

Chapter 66: 'A Bullet in the Back of the Head'

Chapter 67: Coolness Under Fire

Chapter 68: Dodging a Bullet

Chapter 69: The PI and the VC

Chapter 70: A Legitimate Target?

Chapter 71: Brothers-in-Arms

Chapter 72: The Country Wives' Club

Chapter 73: The Anti-Bullies

Chapter 74: An Exhibition Execution

Chapter 75: Not Walking Away

Chapter 76: 'Simultaneously in Love and Afraid'

Chapter 77: 'Terrible for Our Country'

Chapter 78: 'Your Honour, I'm Unwilling'

Chapter 79: Roadkill

Chapter 80: Where Nobody Wants to Be

Chapter 81: Deal or No Deal

Chapter 82: A Witch-Hunt

Chapter 83: Rats and Snitches

Chapter 84: Ricochet

Chapter 85: A Patrol Divided

Chapter 86: Something That Would Attract Scandal

Chapter 87: Friends

Chapter 88: 'That's Not True, Sir'

Chapter 89: An Orchard Too Far?

Chapter 90: Tough Enough

Chapter 91: Hot Wash

Chapter 92: Holding Firm

Chapter 93: Leadership in the Stand

Chapter 94: A Stark Choice

Chapter 95: Unwritten Rules

Chapter 96: Zero Damages

Chapter 97: A Nonsense Case

Chapter 98: Looking Truth in the Eye

Chapter 99: Improbabilities

Chapter 100: Missing Treasure

Chapter 101: Truth Wins

Chapter 102: Lest We Forget

Picture section

Appendix: Gong Hunting

Acknowledgements

Notes.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781761187896

1761187899

OCLC:

1389610085