I do hope the SAS guy in Kenya gets some recognition
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I would encourage you to withdraw that statement. Wrongly disparaging another man’s service record is a cheap and low thing to do. We don’t all get the opportunity to be a Lt Col John Frost, but everyone’s service is valuable.
EG
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<br /><br />One of the reports say that he was pulled out of country soon afterwards due to the worry he could be easily identified now.</div>
so ironically this chap will get a bit too much recognition for this caper...
Well it’s true they avoid publicity but, in the context of this thread about an award, not true to say they are not rewarded. I work closely with several ex-regiment members and one who just retired had an MC. No idea where from but I do know he was in Op Barras. Last night a couple of them were engaged in some banter about their mate in Nairobi.
As I understand what I have been told, non commissioned personnel do retain a link with their original regiment and start off as 'Troopers' and are promoted within the Regt after completing selection. The RSM of the Regt, rather like the Academy RSM at Sandhurst and the Garrison Sgt Maj London District, have special terms of service to 'compensate' for not taking a commission and they serve for a much longer period. Officer candidates who pass selection become Troop Cdrs and are ranked Captain. At the end of their tour they go elsewhere but can be invited back as a Major in due course but I suspect that this depends on how they did first time round!
In the Falklands conflict a sqn cdr who was seen/thought not to be keen on attacking the Argentine air base from which Super Etendards operated was removed from command and in Gulf War I, I understand that the RSM was sent to take over from another sqn cdr who wasn't 'pushy' enough. This is all in the public domain, so I'm not 'telling tales out of school'!
Old Duffer
In the Falklands conflict a sqn cdr who was seen/thought not to be keen on attacking the Argentine air base from which Super Etendards operated was removed from command and in Gulf War I, I understand that the RSM was sent to take over from another sqn cdr who wasn't 'pushy' enough. This is all in the public domain, so I'm not 'telling tales out of school'!
Old Duffer
How do they avoid a blue-on-blue in these circumstances? The Kenyan response was vastly better than in the Westgate catastrophe when the army shot the police response unit and then went on a looting and drinking spree leaving the bad guys bored and frustrated on the top floor. But it was still a very random disorganised response. So I cannot imagine that there was any awareness of the presence of foreign SF guys by the local responders.
Back in Nairobi and catching-up on the gossip. It is clear there were indeed blue-on-blue's in this incident too. Our hero gathered a group of Kenyans with him as he went in - I am sure a large part of that was simply to reduce the chance of being shot by friendlies. He must have felt incredibly vulnerable with his rather haphazard dress and a random bunch of trigger-happy locals all around, I suspect the bad guys were the least of his concerns.
Weve got one in the pub. The stuff he can 'sort out for you through his contacts.
Then again, were all human. I occasionally let slip that I was tail gunner in a harrier.
Bravo to the unidentified chap!
Then again, were all human. I occasionally let slip that I was tail gunner in a harrier.
Bravo to the unidentified chap!
Last edited by AR1; 22nd Jan 2019 at 11:04.
I think that I am right in saying that the first time the SAS was acknowledged in awards was the Falklands. Certainly the guy ahead of me in the queue to get his gong at BH was announced as such.
Mog
