Accused war criminal and Australia’s most highly-decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has attended an Anzac Day Dawn Service a week after being released on bail.
Mr Roberts-Smith was seen at the Currumbin RSL service on the Gold Coast on Saturday morning.
Residents nearby to the strongly-attended event draped a large custom printed banner over their balcony, reading: “We support BRS”.
Mr Roberts-Smith, who is on bail after being charged with five counts of war crime murder, was seen speaking to wellwishers and fellow soldiers.
The RSL Queensland state president had on Friday publicly endorsed Mr Roberts-Smtih attending any Dawn Service he so chose to be at.
Mr Roberts-Smith, 47, was earlier this month charged with five counts of war crime murder relating to alleged conduct during his service in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
The Victoria Cross recipient has yet to enter pleas to any of the charges, but has denied the allegations. He was released on bail on April 17 after 10 days in custody.
On Saturday his Victorian Cross citation was among the string of medals attached to the breast of his suit.
Speaking to reporters after the service on Saturday, Mr Roberts-Smith said he had received “overwhelming” support.
“I never thought about not coming,” he said.
“I was always going to be here.”
RSL Queensland president, Major General Stephen Day, had publicly given Mr Roberts-Smith blessing to attend.
“He is absolutely welcome to any service that he chooses to join,” Major General said on Friday.
After being arrested in front of his children at Sydney airport on April 7, Australia’s highest-decorated living soldier spent 10 days in custody at Silverwater Correctional Centre.
Court documents released this week, related to his bail application, include an affidavit from Mr Roberts-Smith saying he had run down his life savings after unsuccessfully bringing a defamation case against the Nine newspapers, and that he was living on a $4500-per-fortnight Services Pension.
An affidavit from his partner also said the 47-year-old has been unable to secure stable employment since leaving the Seven Network in the wake of his defamation loss in June 2023.
Issuing a public statement last week after being released from remand, Mr Roberts-Smith again denied the war crime murder allegations.
“For the past 10 years my family and I have been subject to a campaign to convince Australians that I’ve acted improperly in my service in Afghanistan,” he said.
“As I’ve always maintained, I categorically deny all these allegations.”
“And while I would’ve preferred these charges not have been brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name.”