Ben Roberts-Smith Wiki, Age, Real Name, Career, Education, Military, Parents, Siblings, Wife, Relationship, Children, Daughters, Nationality

Benjamin Roberts-Smith (born 1 November 1978) is a former Australian soldier. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia in 2011, which is the country’s highest award for bravery in battle. He also received other medals, making him one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers. However, in 2023, a civil defamation trial found that he had committed murder and other war crimes while serving in Afghanistan.

Early Life

Ben Roberts-Smith was born on 1 November 1978 in Perth, Western Australia. His parents are Sue and Len Roberts-Smith. His father, Len, was a Supreme Court justice in Western Australia and a former Army Reserve major general. His younger brother, Sam Roberts-Smith, is an opera singer. Ben studied at Hale School, where he played rugby and basketball, and graduated in 1995.

Military Career

>>Roberts-Smith joined the Australian Army in 1996 when he was 18 years old.

>>In 1999, he served twice in East Timor.

>>In 2003, he joined the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), Australia’s elite unit.

>>He later took part in missions in Fiji (2004) and Iraq (2005–2006).

>>Between 2006 and 2012, he was deployed six times to Afghanistan.

During his career, he received several honors:

>>Victoria Cross for Australia (2011)

>>Medal for Gallantry (2006)

>>Commendation for Distinguished Service (2012)

These awards made Ben Roberts-Smith a national hero and one of the most celebrated soldiers in Australia.

Personal Life

Ben Roberts-Smith met Emma Groom at an army ball in Sydney in 1998. They married on 6 December 2003 at the University of Western Australia. The couple had twin daughters in 2010. Their marriage ended in December 2020 after Emma discovered his affair.

Later Career

After leaving the army in 2013, Ben Roberts-Smith studied business at the University of Queensland. He later worked as a television executive:

>>Chairman of the National Australia Day Council (2014–2017)

>>General Manager of Seven Queensland (2015–2023)

Ben Roberts-Smith resigned from Seven West Media after losing his defamation case in 2023.

Legal Issues

In 2017, reports accused Ben Roberts-Smith of killing a teenager in Afghanistan. He sued several media outlets for defamation in 2018. But in June 2023, the Federal Court ruled that it was proven he had murdered four Afghans and committed other war crimes.

Ben Roberts-Smith appealed the decision in February 2024, but the Full Court dismissed his case in May 2025. On 4 September 2025, the High Court of Australia refused his final appeal and ordered him to pay legal costs.

Ben Roberts-Smith Fact Sheet

>>Full Name: Benjamin Roberts-Smith

>>Date of Birth: 1 November 1978

>> Age (2025): 46 years old

>>Birthplace: Perth, Western Australia

>>Nationality: Australian

>>Ethnicity: White / European descent

Family

• Father: Len Roberts-Smith (former justice of the Supreme Court of WA, Army Reserve major general, judge advocate general of ADF)

• Mother: Sue Roberts-Smith

• Brother: Sam Roberts-Smith (opera singer)

Education

>>Attended Hale School, Perth

>>Studied Business at the University of Queensland after leaving the army

Military Career

>>Allegiance: Australia

>>Service Years: 1996–2015

>>Branch: Australian Army - SAS Regiment

>>Rank: Corporal

Units Served:

• 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1997–2003)

• Special Air Service Regiment (2003–2013)

Battles/Wars:

• East Timor (1999)

• Iraq War (2005–2006)

• War in Afghanistan (2006–2012)

Military Awards

>>Victoria Cross for Australia (2011)

>>Medal for Gallantry (2006)

>>Commendation for Distinguished Service (2012)

>>Work After Army

>>Chairman, National Australia Day Council (2014–2017)

>>General Manager, Seven Queensland & Seven Brisbane (2015–2023)

Personal Life

• Spouse: Emma Groom (m. 2003; div. 2020)

• Children: Twin daughters (born 2010)

• Divorce Reason: Affair revealed in 2018

Controversies & Legal Issues

• 2017: Accused of unlawful killings in Afghanistan

• 2018: Sued media outlets for defamation

• 2023: Federal Court ruled he had committed murder and war crimes

• 2025: Lost final appeal at the High Court; ordered to pay legal costs

FAQs 

1. What is Ben Roberts-Smith real name?

- Ben Roberts-Smith full name is Benjamin Roberts-Smith.

2. How old is Ben Roberts-Smith?

- Ben Roberts-Smith was born on 1 November 1978, so he is 46 years old in 2025.

3. What is Ben Roberts-Smith nationality?

- Ben Roberts-Smith is Australian.

4. What is Ben Roberts-Smith education background?

- Ben Roberts-Smith studied at Hale School in Perth and later studied Business at the University of Queensland after leaving the army.

5. What was Ben Roberts-Smith military career like?

- Ben Roberts-Smith joined the Australian Army in 1996, served in East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and became part of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). He retired in 2015 as a Corporal.

6. Who are Ben Roberts-Smith parents?

- Ben Roberts-Smith father is Len Roberts-Smith, a former Supreme Court justice and Army Reserve major general. His mother is Sue Roberts-Smith.

7. Does Ben Roberts-Smith have siblings?

- Yes, Ben Roberts-Smith younger brother is Sam Roberts-Smith, an opera singer.

8. Who was Ben Roberts-Smith wife?

- Ben Roberts-Smith married Emma Groom in 2003, but they divorced in 2020 after his affair was discovered.

9. Does Ben Roberts-Smith have children?

- Yes, Ben Roberts-Smith has twin daughters, born in 2010.

10. Why is Ben Roberts-Smith controversial?

- Although once celebrated as a war hero, court rulings in 2023 proved that he murdered four Afghans and committed war crimes during his military service in Afghanistan. He lost his final appeal in September 2025.