Catch up on the latest newsCatch up on the latest news and events of the SAS Historical Foundation
News and Events ArchiveCheck out all the news and events from previous years
r
SASHF FacebookKeep up to date with news and information on Facebook SASHF ShopThe SAS Historical Foundation has a ever increasing range of products that are available for purchase. All monies go toward the maintenance of the Collection 
VICTORIA CROSS FOR AUSTRALIA
The Victoria Cross is awarded for the most conspicuous gallantry, or a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the face of the enemy.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'VC'.
SASR Recipients
Trooper Mark Gregor Strang DONALDSON
Afghanistan - 2 September 2008
Corporal Benjamin ROBERTS-SMITH, MG
Afghanistan - 11 June 2010
Click here to read citation for Trooper DONALDSON
STAR OF COURAGE
The Star of Courage is awarded only for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril to recognise acts of bravery in other than warlike situations.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'SC'.
SASR Recipients
High Range Townsville, Queensland - 2
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
The Distinguished Service Cross is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'DSC'.
SASR Recipients
East Timor - 1
Iraq - 2
Afghanistan - 10
Bar to DSC - Afghanistan - 1
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
The Member of the Order of Australia is awarded for exceptional service or performance of duty.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'AM'.
SASR Recipients
For service to SASR - 8
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRISTISH EMPIRE
The Member of the Order of the British Empire is awarded for valuable and useful service to the Empire.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'MBE'.
SASR Recipients
For service to SASR - 2
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS
The Conspicuous Service Cross is awarded for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of skills, judgement or dedication, in non-warlike situations.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'CSC'.
SASR Recipients
High Range Townsville, Queensland - 1
For service to SASR - 2
NURSING SERVICE CROSS
The Nursing Service Cross is awarded for outstanding performance of Defence Force nursing duties in both operational and non-operational situations.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'NSC'.
SASR Recipients
Afghanistan - 1
MILITARY CROSS
The Military Cross is awarded for gallant and distinguished service in action.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'MC'.
SASR Recipients
Vietnam - 4
MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY
The Medal for Gallantry is awarded for acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters MG'.
SASR Recipients
Vietnam - 1
East Timor - 1
Rwanda - 1
Iraq - 1
Afghanistan - 10
Afghanistan (posthumous) - 1
BRAVERY MEDAL
The Bravery Medal is awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'BM'.
SASR Recipients
High Range Townsville, Queensland - 3
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL
The Distinguished Service Medal is awarded for distinguished leadership in action.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'DSM'.
SASR Recipients
East Timor - 2
Iraq - 3
Afghanistan - 24
Afghanistan and other locations - 1
Bar to DSM - 5
MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
The Medal of the Order of Australia is awarded for meritorious service or performance of duty.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters OAM'.
SASR Recipients
East Timor - 1
Iraq - 1
Afghanistan and service to SASR - 2
Afghanistan and other location - 1
For service to SASR - 17
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL
The Distinguished Conduct Medal is awarded for distinguished conduct in action in the field.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'DCM'.
SASR Recipients
Vietnam - 2
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL
The Conspicuous Service Medal is awarded for meritorious achievement or devotion to duty, in non-warlike situations.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'CSM'.
SASR Recipients
High Range Townsville, Queensland - 1
Somalia - 1
Timor - 1
Iraq - 1
Afghanistan and service to SASR - 3
For service to SASR - 12
MILITARY MEDAL
The Military Medal was awarded for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty under fire.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'MM'.
SASR Recipients
Vietnam - 4
BRISTISH EMPIRE MEDAL
The British Empire Medal is awarded for meritorious service worthy of recognition by the crown.
Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters 'BEM'.
SAS Company Recipients
Avon River, Western Australia - 1
For service to the SAS Company - 2
COMMENDATION FOR GALLANTRY
The Commendation for Gallantry is awarded for acts of gallantry which are considered worthy of recognition.
SASR Recipients
East Timor - 1
Afghanistan - 11
COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT
The Commendation for Brave Conduct is awarded for acts of bravery which are considered worthy of recognition.
SASR Recipients
High Range Townsville, Queensland - 2
COMMENDATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
The Commendation for Distinguished Service is awarded for distinguished performance of duties in warlike operations.
SASR Recipients
East Timor - 2
East Timor and Afghanistan - 1
Iraq - 3
Iraq and Afghanistan - 2
Afghanistan - 30
MENTION IN DESPATCHES
The Mention in Despatches was a device used by commanders to bring the services of deserving subordinates to the attention of higher authority. The individual reported on was said to have been “mentioned in despatches”.
SASR Recipients
Borneo - 2
Vietnam - 16
East Timor - 1
Afghanistan - 1
FOREIGN AWARDS
A number of SASR personnel have been granted awards while serving with the Armed Forces of countries with whom Australia has defence agreements. These awards include: the United States’ Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Meritorious Service Medal; and the United Kingdom’s Mention in Despatches.
US BRONZE STAR MEDAL
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. When awarded for bravery, it is the fourth-highest combat award of the U.S. Armed Forces and the ninth highest military award (including both combat and non-combat awards) in the order of precedence of U.S. military decorations.
US MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States. This award also may be bestowed for meritorious achievement in a designated combat theatre.
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO)
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL
The NATO Meritorious Service Medal was first awarded in 2003 to commend NATO staff whose personal initiative and dedication went beyond their duty to make a difference both to their colleagues, and to NATO as an organisation. The Medal is the personal Award of The 
Secretary General of NATO, who signs each citation. Less than 50 medals are awarded each year and it remains the only significant award for individual personal effort for NATO staff; and can be awarded to Military and Civilian staff alike. When assessing nominations for the award, there are several criteria taken into consideration: the performance of acts of courage in difficult or dangerous circumstances; showing exceptional leadership or personal example; making an outstanding individual contribution to a NATO sponsored programme or activity; or enduring particular hardship or deprivation in the interest of NATO.
MENTION IN DESPATCHES
Australian service personnel are no longer eligible to be mentioned in despatches. Since 15 January 1991, when the Australian Honours System was established, the MID was replaced by two Australian decorations – the Commendation for Gallantry, a fourth level gallantry decoration, and the Commendation for Distinguished Service, a third level distinguished service decoration.
UNIT CITATIONS
Meritorious Unit Citation (March 2000)
The Meritorious Unit Citation was awarded to 3 Squadron Group, Special Air Service Regiment for sustained outstanding service in warlike operations. Given at Government House, Canberra on 25 March 2000.
Meritorious Unit Citation (December 2002)
The Meritorious Unit Citation was awarded to the Special Air Service Regiment for sustained outstanding service in warlike operations in Afghanistan in support of the International Coalition against Terrorism. Given at Government House, Canberra on 19 December 2002.
Unit Citation for Gallantry (November 2003)
The Unit Citation for Gallantry was awarded to 1 Special Air Service Squadron in recognition of acts of extraordinary gallantry in action. Given at Government House, Canberra on 27 November 2003.
Unit Citation for Gallantry (November 2006)
The Unit Citation for Gallantry was awarded to Special Air Service Regiment, 4th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) in recognition of acts of extraordinary gallantry in action. Given at Government House, Canberra on 22 November 2006.
The Special Air Service Regiment
SPECIAL OPERATIONS TASK GROUP – ROTATION XII
The battle honour Eastern Shah Wali Kot is awarded to the Special Air Service Regiment and 2nd Commando Regiment to recognise the extraordinary heroism, exemplary combat performance and the relentless destruction of a highly trained and fanatical Taliban enemy of numerical superiority within the extremely inhospitable region of Eastern Shah Wali Kot, Afghanistan, from May to June 2010. During this period a series of daring daylight strike operations succeeded in disrupting and confusing the enemy and set the conditions for two decisive actions.
During the early hours of 10 June 2010, Alpha Commando Company Group audaciously established a position inside the insurgent stronghold of Chenartu. Shortly after first light, the enemy surrounded the commandos and employed sophisticated tactics in an attempt to overrun them throughout the day. Holding their exposed positions under heavy and sustained attack, the commandos, determined to regain the initiative, launched several aggressive counter attacks. Surprised by the ferocity of the commando response, combined with having lost significant numbers of fighters, the enemy withdrew to the village of Tizak in the late afternoon to conduct deliberate planning.
Receiving intelligence that a high-level Taliban commander had been drawn to the village of Tizak, a troop from the 2nd Special Air Service Squadron deployed on the morning of 11 June 2010. Upon landing in Tizak, the troop was immediately engaged by small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades, resulting in two friendlies being wounded and four helicopters sustaining battle damage. Despite being outnumbered and suppressed by machine gun fire, the troop inched forward until being checked by the interlocking fire of three machine guns. Drawing on the deepest reserves of collective courage, combined with notable acts of individual valour and gallantry, the initiative was regained. Exploiting a tenuous tactical foothold, the troop unflinchingly cleared the remaining positions in close-quarter combat throughout the remainder of the day.
The Shah Wali Kot Offensive was superbly supported by elements from all Special Operations Command units, the wider Defence organistion and Task Force No Mercy from the United States 101st Airborne Division.
The battlefield orchestration, courage, gallantry and determination displayed by the combat elements of the Special Operations Task Group Rotation XII, under extremely adverse and hazardous conditions has set them apart, and by their achievements they have brought distinguished credit on themselves and the Australian Defence Force.
^TOP
Copyright © 2021 SAS Historical Foundation