An Army soldier, reported by the ABC to be a Tasmanian man, has been awarded a civilian Bravery Medal for his decisive actions during a horrific roadside attack in South Australia. The Department of Defence reported that Corporal Joshua Smith was driving on the North-South Motorway near Wingfield late at night on August 15, 2022, when he stopped to help with what he believed was car trouble.
According to an official citation from the Governor-General of Australia, Corporal Smith saw a woman on the side of the road with two children on the ground. The Department of Defence reported that as he got closer, he realised the woman was stabbing one of the boys with a knife.
The official citation states that when the woman was challenged, she threatened Corporal Smith. He responded by grabbing her arm, forcing her to the ground, and throwing the knife away. While restraining the woman, who continued to resist, he called out to the injured boys to keep them responsive.
Corporal Smith then flagged down passing motorists for help, who called emergency services. Using his military first-aid training, he directed other bystanders to provide life-saving treatment to the two children until paramedics arrived.
Police and ambulance crews took over upon arrival, with officers arresting the woman and paramedics treating the children, according to the Department of Defence report. Corporal Smith remained at the scene to provide a statement and dash-cam footage to the police.
For his actions, Mr. Joshua William Smith was awarded the Bravery Medal (BM). The Department of Defence confirmed Corporal Smith was presented with the medal at a ceremony in Melbourne on May 6, 2026. The original story flagging his heroic act was reported by ABC News.