Well, we don’t agree with the title of this book by some two bit journalist, so we edit it out. “Last Battle”?, “Greatest Victory”?, “Our Longest War”? Pull the other one!
Only soldiers know what happens in combat. Only SAS (we presume) same. But they don’t tell fibs and actually don’t tell.
Author Aaron Patrick was never a soldier, let alone a Commando nor SAS. So he reads and writes what he reckons as a Civvy of interest, if not envy may me, but why?
Free country, Australia, to do so, thus far.
Yet, sadly more woke agenda and another ‘holier-than-thou’ propaganda tabliod in book form from another ignorant privileged leftist luxuriating in a sheltered inner urban workshop.
Aaron Patrick: ‘The Last Battle: Australian SAS, Commandos and our Greatest Victory in our Longest War’
BOOK PROMO QUOTE:
“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 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.”
Praise for The Last Battle
‘Epic. One of Australia’s finest military feats – savage, bloody, and hard-won.’ – Mark Wales
‘An intense account of combat and lost honour. The Last Battle reminds us that truth is the first casualty of battle. Fear, fatigue and ego distort our perception, making recalling the past difficult and reconstructing it precarious.‘ – Harry Moffitt
Author Information
Aaron Patrick is a highly experienced journalist and a former Senior Correspondent at the Australian Financial Review, currently working at The Nightly, published by Seven West Media. He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. He is the author of four previous books about Australian politics. The Last Battle reflects his deep and life-long fascination for military history and the personal experience of warfare. He lives in Sydney.
Another Promo:
“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. While 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.
About the Author:
[Quote: “Aaron Patrick is a highly experienced journalist and chief writer at The Nightly, a Seven West Media publication [someone’s opinion]. He was senior correspondent and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. He has written for the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. He is the author of four previous books on Australian politics. The Last Battle reflects his lifelong interest in military history and the personal experience of warfare. [military sign up envy?] . He lives in Sydney. ” [could have made a wiser choice, like Castlemaine?]”
Aaron’s book specs: ‘The Last Battle: Australian SAS, Commandos and our Greatest Victory in our Longest War’
- Published by: Pan MacMillan, Australia
- Pub Date: 28/10/2025
- ISBN: 9781761776533 / Format 1: Paperback
- ISBN-10: 1761773100 / Format 2: Audiobook
- Category: Autobiography: Historical, Political & Military, Memoirs, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Military, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
Imprint: Macmillan Australia Audio - Pages: 304
- Price: AUD $39.99
- Language: English
- Country of Publication: AU
- Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 15.8 x 2.8
- Weight (kg): 0.4 [care factor?]
Enjoy the fiction.
