23 SAS (Reserve)

{{Main|Special Air Service#History}}

The unit was founded during 1959,Steven Morris - [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/jul/15/brecon-beacons-ta-reservists-deaths6 Brecon Beacons Territorial Army Reservists Deaths] published by The Guardian Newspaper 15 July 2013 (Guardian News and Media Ltd) [Retrieved 2015-04-26] as an additional regiment of the Territorial Army of the United Kingdom,(author is shown one of listed page 659, not available (shown) in copy) - [https://books.google.com/books?id=LXCjAQAAQBAJ&q=Encyclopedia+of+Insurgency+and+Counterinsurgency%3A+A+New+Era+of+Modern+Warfare Encyclopedia of Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A New Era of Modern Warfare (p.527)] ABC-CLIO, 29 Oct 2013 (edited by SC. Tucker) {{ISBN|1610692802}} [Retrieved 2015-04-26] and was created from the former Reserve Reconnaissance Unit (RRU), this unit having originated from an organisation known as Military Intelligence 9.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4JsL8v_sg5wC&q=commanding+officer+23rd+S.A.S.+1959&pg=PT651|author=R M Bennett|title=Elite Forces|publisher=Random House|date=31 Aug 2011| isbn= 978-0753547649 | access-date=2015-05-15}}G Pitchfork MBE - [https://books.google.com/books?id=EGxzvTDErVEC&dq=Military+Intelligence+9&pg=PA286 Shot Down and on the Run: The RCAF and Commonwealth Aircrews who Got Home from Behind Enemy Lines, 1940-1945] Dundurn, 2003 {{ISBN|1550024833}} [Retrieved 2015-05-15] The initial headquarters location was London, the headquarters were moved during 1959, to Thorpe Street, Birmingham, during 1966, to Kingstanding, Birmingham, within a Territorial Army centre.{{cite book |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/says-to-march-through-birmingham-to-receive-75447 |author=Benjamin Hurst|title=HOME»NEWS»WORLD NEWS»ASIA»AFGHANISTAN|publisher=Birmingham Mail | date=26 December 2008|access-date=2016-12-22}}

In 1985, David Stirling, founder of the SAS, commented "There is one often neglected factor which I would like to emphasize - the importance of the two SAS Territorial regiments. At the start of the Second World War, and during its early stages, it was the ideas and initiatives of these amateur soldiers which led to the creation of at least two units within the Special Forces and gave a particular elan to others. When, however, a specialist unit becomes part of the military establishment, it runs the risk of being stereotyped and conventionalized. Luckily the modern SAS looks safe from this danger; it is constantly experimenting with innovative techniques, many of which stem from its Territorial regiments, drawn as they are from every walk of civilian life."William Seymour British Special Forces: The Story of Britain's Undercover Soldiers, 1985, Pen and Sword, Preface

23 SAS was formed as a result of a direct military requirement of 1 (BR) Corps: because of the RRU's impressive performance during its annual exercise in 1957, when it tested their new techniques in battlefield surveillance and nuclear targeting, 1 (BR) Corps requested the unit to be included in its order of battle. The RRU evolved to become 23 SAS. The role of the SAS in the defence of West Germany was kept top secret but by the 1960s, the KGB and East German intelligence were well aware of what was being planned and even tried, unsuccessfully, to penetrate the unit. 21 and 23 SAS would have been mobilized and deployed to 1 (BR) Corps within 48 hours of an alert.{{Cite journal|title=Eyes on target: 'Stay-behind' forces during the Cold War|first=Tamir|last=Sinai|date=8 December 2020|journal=War in History|volume=28|issue=3|pages=681–700|doi=10.1177/0968344520914345|doi-access=free}} The regiment's first commander was Lt Col H S Gillies; Anthony Hunter-Choat OBE was the commanding officer of the regiment from 1977 to 1983.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9221907/Brigadier-Tony-Hunter-Choat.html Obituary of Brigadier Tony Hunter-Choat] published 23 Apr 2012 Telegraph Media Group Limited 2015 [Retrieved 2015-05-15] Peter de la Billiere, who later commanded 22 SAS and then became Director Special Forces, served as the adjutant of 21 for part of this period. He later wrote "People began to see that the Territorial SAS were first class and enhanced the reputation of the whole Regiment in a special way of their own."de la Billiere, Peter (1995). Looking for Trouble: SAS to Gulf Command. HarperCollins, P 161

In early 2003, a composite squadron of about 60 soldiers of 23 SAS, including soldiers from 21 SAS, were deployed to Afghanistan.{{cite news|last1=Rayment|first1=Sean |title=Overstretched SAS calls up part-time troops for Afghanistan |work=The Sunday Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html|location=London|date=28 December 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323000712/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/1450394/Overstretched-SAS-calls-up-part-time-troops-for-Afghanistan.html |archive-date=23 March 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=Rayment |first=Sean |title=SAS reservists withdrawn from Afghan front line |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7575034/SAS-reservists-withdrawn-from-Afghan-front-line.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413194545/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7575034/SAS-reservists-withdrawn-from-Afghan-front-line.html |archive-date=13 April 2010|url-status=dead}} There are conflicting accounts on the role of the squadron during this time with Rayment writing in 2003 that it was "long-range reconnaissance"{{sfn|Rayment|2003}} while in 2010 Rayment writes that it was to "establish a communications network across Afghanistan and also acted as liaison teams".{{sfn|Rayment|2010}} Neville writes that they were "instrumental in early efforts to unite various warlord factions" working with the SIS [Secret Intelligence Service] and that they also provided close protection for SIS officers.{{cite book|last=Neville |first=Leigh |others=Illustrated by Peter Dennis |title=The SAS 1983–2014 |series=Elite 211 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=2016 |isbn=978-1472814036}} In June 2008, three soldiers from 23 SAS were killed by a landmine that their Snatch Land Rover triggered in Helmand Province.{{cite news |last1=Harding |first1=Thomas |title=SAS chief quits after 'negligence that killed his troops' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/3332417/Exclusive-SAS-chief-quits-over-negligence-that-killed-his-troops.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 November 2008 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103051819/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/3332417/Exclusive-SAS-chief-quits-over-negligence-that-killed-his-troops.html |archive-date=3 November 2008 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Michael |last2=Starkey Kabul |first2=Jerome |title=Bryant was on secret mission in Afghanistan |work=The Sunday Times |date=22 June 2008}}

On 1 September 2014, 21 and 23 SAS were moved from United Kingdom Special Forces and placed under the command of 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade.Janes International Defence Review, May 2014, p. 4Army Briefing Note 120/14, NEWLY FORMED FORCE TROOPS COMMAND SPECIALIST BRIGADES, Quote . It commands all of the Army's Intelligence, Surveillance and EW assets, and is made up of units specifically from the former 1 MI Bde and 1 Arty Bde, as well as 14 Sig Regt, 21 and 23 SAS(R). The units then left that brigade before the end of 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/umbraco/Surface/Download/Get/10550|title=Force Troops Command Handbook|publisher=Ministry of Defence|accessdate=11 January 2021}} Today the two reserve regiments, 21 SAS and 23 SAS are back under the operational command of the Director Special Forces, as an integrated part of United Kingdom Special Forces.{{Cite web|title=21 & 23 SAS (Reserve)|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/|access-date=2020-12-29|website=www.army.mod.uk|language=en-GB}}

The unit structure is as follows:

• 23 SAS(R) RHQ (Birmingham){{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Ben |title=SAS to march through Birmingham to receive freedom of city |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/sas-to-march-through-birmingham-to-receive-75447 |access-date=5 November 2022 |work=BirminghamLive |date=26 December 2008 |language=en |quote=The regimental headquarters ... moved to the TA Centre Kingstanding.}}{{cite book |last1=Asher |first1=Michael |title=The regiment : the real story of the SAS |date=2008 |publisher=Penguin Books |location=London |isbn=9780141026527 |quote=23 SAS, with its HQ in Birmingham...}}
• HQ Squadron (Birmingham){{cite book |last1=Firmin |first1=Rusty |title=The Regiment : 15 years in the SAS |date=2016 |location=London |isbn=9781472817372 |edition=Revised |quote=23 SAS headquarters in Kingstanding, Birmingham ... My job was to be the squadron quartermaster sergeant PSI in HQ squadron ... other permanent staff in Birmingham ...}}
• B Squadron (Leeds){{cite news |title=Army Reserve units in the North East |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/37043.aspx |url-status=dead |access-date=5 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419154909/http://www.army.mod.uk:80/structure/37043.aspx |archive-date=19 April 2016 |quote=B Squadron, 23 SAS, Carlton Barracks, Carlton Gate, Leeds, LS7 1H}}{{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Reserve forces and cadets association |title=B Sqn 23 SAS |url=http://www.rfca-yorkshire.org.uk/Units/Leeds/B%20Sqn%2023%20SAS.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522000245/http://www.rfca-yorkshire.org.uk/Units/Leeds/B%20Sqn%2023%20SAS.htm |archive-date=22 May 2010 }}
• D Squadron (Scotland){{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=D Squadron 23 SAS (R) |url=http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/scotland/rolesandregiments/ta/pages/dsquadron23sas(r).aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105053049/http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/scotland/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/DSquadron23SAS%28R%29.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2010 }}
• G Squadron (Manchester){{cite web|access-date=18 March 2010 |publisher=Ministry of Defence |title=G Squadron, 23 Special Air Service Regiment (R) |url=http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/northwest/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/GSquadron,23SpecialAirServiceRegiment(R).aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016112023/http://www.armyjobs.mod.uk/northwest/rolesandregiments/ta/Pages/GSquadron%2C23SpecialAirServiceRegiment%28R%29.aspx |archive-date=16 October 2009 }}{{cite news |title='She dreamed of being a soldier. Now she won't be coming home' |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/she-dreamed-of-being-a-soldier-now-she-won-t-be-coming-home-father-s-agony-over-daughter-killed-in-afghanistan-6880107.html |access-date=5 November 2022 |work=Evening Standard |date=19 June 2008 |language=en |quote=Two of the SAS reservists were members of 'G' Squadron of 23 SAS Regiment, based in Manchester.}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/uk-special-forces-reserve/21-23-sas-r/ 21 & 23 SAS British Army Website]
• [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9904772/Revealed-nearly-half-of-Special-Forces-could-go-in-deepest-cuts-in-50-years.html article published by Telegraph Media Group Limited]
• Pratt Doug - [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205232636 Photograph catalogued HU 111247 (others shown)] published by the Imperial War Museum [Retrieved 2015-10-30]
• Z. Chamberlain - [http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/midland-sas-medics-widow-tells-6288183 Article: SAS medic] published by Birmingham Mail 10 November 2013 (please see also: α [https://www.gov.uk/government/fatalities/corporal-sarah-bryant-corporal-sean-reeve-lance-corporal-richard-larkin-and-paul-stout-killed-in-Afghanistan ] & β [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/7464220.stm Part-time SAS man dies in action])
• Thorpe Street, Birmingham - [http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/major-investigation-after-targeted-shooting-11813924 (Nicholas McMurphy, Birmingham Mail)] 29 August 2016

{{United Kingdom Special Forces}}

Category:Military special forces regiments

Category:Special Air Service

Category:Army Reserve (United Kingdom)

Category:Army reconnaissance regiments