This particular incident is based on the war movie, BREAKER MORANT !!
Sad, but true, we just can’t see it any other way...because the alternative to it being based on any other theory we are discussing are much more frightening than BREAKER MORANT
You have to be someone who thinks the higher ups have something to hide.
Still, concerning Australian military parallels, there's an element of Gallipoli in this ~ civilians totally disinterested in the outcome make decisions that get troops killed, then stop by for dinner at a 4 star restaurant or something.