The shocking story of the case against Australia's most highly decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, and the defamation trial of the century.
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.
'If there was a Victoria Cross for bravery in journalism, Chris Masters deserves to receive it.' - Phillip Adams
'There's seriously no one else in Australia with the knowledge that Chris Masters has in relation to Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan.' - Former Commando Major
By:
Chris Masters
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 153mm,
Weight: 700g
ISBN: 9781761069819
ISBN 10: 1761069810
Publication Date: 10 July 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
MapPseudonyms Abbreviations and acronyms 1 2 June 2006 2 2 June 2015 3 Lifting the Tin 4 Achilles 5 The Anzac Avatar 6 A Spectator to a Troubled Soul 7 The Rose Garden 8 The Cliff 9 Shooting Bambi 10 Scoop 11 Un-Australian 12 Whiskey 108 13 Battlelines 14 The Scout 15 Chinartu 16 The Sergeant 17 Blue-on-Blue 18 Perth 19 'H' 20 The Tangled Web 21 The Great Hall and the Black Eye 22 Stay Kind 23 The Terp 24 The SSE 25 Leonidas 26 'You Weak Dog' 27 Emissaries 28 Seven vs Nine 29 Secrets, Lies and Newsprint 30 History Wars 31 Fasil 32 Showdown at the East 33 Killer Angels 34 A Game of Arithmetic 35 Protected Identity 36 The Whistleblower 37 Global Warriors 38 The Phoney War 39 60 Minutes 40 Exodus 41 Annus Horribilis 42 The Killing Field 43 The Lunch Box 44 Entitled Pricks 45 D&Ms 46 Reverse Ferret 47 The PAPs 48 'Possibly the Most Disgraceful Episode...' 49 Brereton Backlash 50 Lawyers, Love and Loss 51 Secrets of War 52 Feeling the Heat 53 'Credulous' 54 A Target on My Back 55 Softly, Softly 56 The Devil in the Detail 57 'There Were No Men in the Tunnel' 58 'The Respondents Should Be Ashamed' 59 Good Luck with That! 60 Protection Racket 61 'I Know What I Saw' 62 The Greater Sin 63 'The Most Beautiful Thing' 64 Valentine's Day 65 Tunnel Vision 66 'A Bullet in the Back of the Head' 67 Coolness Under Fire 68 Dodging a Bullet 69 The PI and the VC 70 A Legitimate Target? 71 Brothers-in-Arms 72 The Country Wives' Club 73 The Anti-Bullies 74 An Exhibition Execution 75 Not Walking Away 76 'Simultaneously in Love and Afraid' 77 'Terrible for Our Country' 78 'Your Honour, I'm Unwilling' 79 Roadkill 80 Where Nobody Wants to Be 81 Deal or No Deal 82 A Witch-hunt 83 Rats and Snitches 84 Ricochet 85 A Patrol Divided 86 Something That Would Attract Scandal 87 Friends 88 'That's Not True, Sir' 89 An Orchard Too Far? 90 Tough Enough 91 Hot Wash 92 Holding Firm 93 Leadership in the Stand 94 A Stark Choice 95 Unwritten Rules 96 Zero Damages 97 A Nonsense Case 98 Looking Truth in the Eye 99 Improbabilities 100 Missing Treasure 101 Truth Wins 102 Lest We Forget Notes
- Long-listed for Anzac Memorial Trustees' Military History Prize 2024 (Australia)
- Long-listed for Walkley Book Award 2023 (Australia)
- Short-listed for Non-fiction 2024 (Australia)
- Short-listed for Victorian Premier's Literary Awards 2024 (Australia)
