Ex-soldier, Neil James, pushes back at fury over stripping of military medals

Some military groups are furious about stripping medals from commanders who oversaw troops accused of war crimes in Afghanistan.

But one prominent former soldier thinks their anger is overblown.

Up to nine officers have lost their medals and citations, drawing scorn from the RSL and SAS association.

Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James said the process was no different to other awards.

“This is just part of the whole process that is going on - it shouldn’t be a shock to anyone but it’s being painted as somehow unfair,” he told AAP.

Martin Hamilton-Smith, from the Australian SAS Association, vehemently disagreed.

He told AAP the “disgraceful” decision to strip medals betrayed the courage and sacrifice of Australian soldiers sent to fight and die in Afghanistan.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said the final decision on revoking military honours would sit with the governor-general.

“I would hope on behalf of veterans the governor general takes independent advice before responding to the government,” he said.

An inquiry into the actions of Australian troops in Afghanistan found credible evidence of 39 civilians being unlawfully killed.

The exhaustive investigation headed by Paul Brereton implicated 25 Australian troops in possible war crimes.

Mr Hamilton-Smith said the report was being treated as a finding of guilty, but it had not gone through a proper legal process.

He described the approach as “outrageous and unjust” and said accused soldiers had a right to their day in court.

Mr James took a different view.

“The Brereton report itself stated while none of the commanders were legally responsible, they were morally responsible, so in all good conscience the medals can’t be retained,” he said.

Soldiers had a chance to state their case when told their accolades were under threat and some voluntarily handed theirs back.

“I can’t understand the emotiveness some people are putting into this,” he said.

Command accountability was crucial to restoring Australia’s international reputation, he said.

The International Criminal Court could step in if Australia proved it could not hold its military to account.

“We have to prove to the rest of the world we’re taking allegations of war crimes seriously,” Mr James said.

Mr James’ views were also at odds with the RSL, whose national president expressed deep concern about the medals being revoked.

Significant strain was being placed on veterans in no way connected to alleged war crimes, Greg Melick said.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie, a former soldier, wants people higher in the chain of command held to account.

If commanders were not aware of the alleged crimes they should have been, she said.

“We have to hold people accountable, you can’t throw the diggers under the bus, these guys up here were making decisions.”

Her views were shared by Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie, who served five years as a captain in the SAS.

Former chief of the defence force Angus Campbell, who served as Middle East commander when some of the alleged crimes occurred, will retain his distinguished service cross.

The Afghanistan inquiry recommended removing awards from commanders at troop, squadron and task-group level.

This recommendation did not extend to Mr Campbell’s command position.

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