21, 23, 264 Special Air Service (TA)

Following the disbandment of the wartime units
in 1945, the Special Air Service was reformed
in the following year as a unit of the
Territorial Army.
Amalgamated with the Artists Rifles, it was
designated the 21 SAS Regiment (Artists)
(TA). The TA suffix was later changed to V,
denoting Volunteers. The number 21 is
derived from the wartime 1 and 2 SAS
Regiments, but in view of the fact that at the
time there was already a 12 Battalion, The
Parachute Regiment (TA), the numbers were
reversed to 21.

In 1950 the regiment formed M Squadron
for operations in Korea, composed of volun-
teers with wartime experience, under Major
Tony Greville-Bell. The war, though, ended
before it was deployed, Instead, the squadron
was sent to Malaya where it became B
Squadron Malayan Scouts (SAS) which in
1952 was redesignated 22 SAS Regiment (22
SAS). Since then 21 SAS has remained a part
of the British Army's order of battle. The reg-
iment is based in the south of England with
its headquarters, headquarters' squadron,
training wing and two of its four Sabre
Squadrons located in London; the other two
Sabre Squadrons are based in locations in the
south of England. The regiment recruits from
civilian volunteers, some of whom have had
previous military experience.

23 Special Air Service Regiment

In 1959 23 SAS Regiment (23SAS) was established
as a Territorial Army unit from the Reserve
Reconnaissance Unit, a joint service unit
responsible for the planning and conduct of
escape lines in any future war in Europe;
this role was previously carried out by the
wartime MI9 organization.
Organized and recruited along the same lines
as 21 SAS, its role during the Cold War was to
support British I Corps in West Germany. Its
headquarters, headquarters' squadron and
training wing are located in Birmingham,
while its four Sabre Squadrons are located in
the Midlands, the north of England and
Scotland.
Both 23 and 21 SAS receive communica-
tions support from 63 SASD Signal Squadron
(Volunteers).

264 (SAS) Signals Squadron

This squadron's origins date back to 1951
when a signals troop was attached to the Malayan
Scouts (SAS), which was redesignated 22 SAS
Regiment (22 SAS) in the following year, for
operations during the Malayan Emergency
campaign. The troop remained with 22 SAS
after the end of the Emergency but by 1966
SAS commitments were such that the commu-
nications support requirement was too great
for a single troop. In July of that year, therefore,
264 (SAS) Signals Squadron was formed as a
fully independent unit co-located with 22 SAS
at the latter's base at Hereford. It is a Royal
Corps of Signals unit providing radio and
satellite communications support for 22 SAS
for whom it operates the Communications
Centre (Commcen) while also providing rear
link communications for Sabre Squadrons
deployed on operations. In addition, the
squadron's radio technicians carry out mainte-
nance and servicing on all communications
equipment used by the regiment,
All ranks within the squadron wear the
SAS beige beret with the Royal Signals badge,
for which privilege they have to pass a proba-
tion course which lasts five weeks. During the
first three weeks candidates are tested in
physical fitness, navigation, weapon han-
dling, shooting and signalling skills. The
fourth week is devoted to physical fitness
tests, all of which have to be passed before
candidates are permitted to undergo the fifth
and final Test Week, This comprises a number
of endurance marches, carried out in four-man
patrols, with radio communications being
established and worked each night from patrol
basha locations. Candidates who pass the
course undergo parachute training. Initial ser-
vice is with the squadron's Communications
Troop, after which a signaller is posted to one
of the squadron's four Sabre Squadron signal
troops. Members of the squadron are subse-
quently permitted to volunteer for SAS
Selection and service with 22 SAS.
Communications support for the two
Territorial Army regiments, 21 SAS (V) and
23 SAS (V), is provided by a sister unit, 63
(SAS) Signals Squadron (V).

Demolitions training with 21 SAS

Mining a Landrover