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The Last Battle: Australian SAS, Commandos and our Greatest Victory in our Longest War
The thrilling true tale of Australia's greatest victory in our longest war. The explosive history of the Commandos and the SAS, and Ben Roberts-Smith's VC.
The SAS, THE COMMANDOS AND THE MAKING OF A VICTORIA CROSS
'The corporal made a decision that turned him into the most famous Australian soldier alive. It might have killed him. Instead, it ruined his life.'
Over five days in June 2010, in southern Afghanistan, 150 Australian commandos and SAS soldiers fought and won the Battle of Shah Wali Kot, our largest engagement since Vietnam.
Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, for his part in the battle, received our nation's highest military honour - the Victoria Cross. He became an instant household name. The bravery and heroism of the 2nd Commando Regiment remained in shadow.
After underestimating the size and skill of their enemy, the commandos found themselves in a fight for their lives. Within the SAS, disputes over recognition and what really happened split the unit apart, eventually leading to fellow senior soldiers to allege Roberts-Smith was a war criminal.
The Last Battle is the thrilling true tale of that fateful fight in Shah Wali Kot. It renders in compelling detail the personal stories of the commandos and SAS members involved, the conflict between our two special forces regiments, and the aftermath that both forged and destroyed our country's once most lauded hero.
The SAS, THE COMMANDOS AND THE MAKING OF A VICTORIA CROSS
'The corporal made a decision that turned him into the most famous Australian soldier alive. It might have killed him. Instead, it ruined his life.'
Over five days in June 2010, in southern Afghanistan, 150 Australian commandos and SAS soldiers fought and won the Battle of Shah Wali Kot, our largest engagement since Vietnam.
Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, for his part in the battle, received our nation's highest military honour - the Victoria Cross. He became an instant household name. The bravery and heroism of the 2nd Commando Regiment remained in shadow.
After underestimating the size and skill of their enemy, the commandos found themselves in a fight for their lives. Within the SAS, disputes over recognition and what really happened split the unit apart, eventually leading to fellow senior soldiers to allege Roberts-Smith was a war criminal.
The Last Battle is the thrilling true tale of that fateful fight in Shah Wali Kot. It renders in compelling detail the personal stories of the commandos and SAS members involved, the conflict between our two special forces regiments, and the aftermath that both forged and destroyed our country's once most lauded hero.
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
13 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Patrick
7 books1 followerAaron Patrick is the Chief Writer at The Nightly. He worked at the Australian Financial Review for 18 years, the Wall Street Journal, London Daily Telegraph, Bloomberg News and Herald Sun. He was the Washington Post's Australia stringer for seven years and an op-ed contributor to the New York Times. He lives in Sydney with his two children.
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November 10, 2025
The Last Battle, opened a can of worms. Patrick’s account reminds us what real courage looks like: soldiers who did their jobs in brutal, unforgiving conditions, only to come home and face a system that's lost in reports, inquiries, and excuses. What struck me most was the contrast between the battlefield and the aftermath.
Displaying 1 of 1 review