The passing of another Australian military legend

[Targan]

Last week the founding commander of the Australian SAS Regiment, Lt Col Bill Braithwaite, died aged 91. I've just read an interesting article in my city's main weekday newspaper which talks about a letter that Lt Col Braithwaite was forced to sign by the top brass of the Australian Army in which he agreed to take full responsibility in the event that the SAS were slaughtered by the enemy in the Vietnam War; it seems that the Generals firmly believed that SAS patrols of only 4 to 6 men were too small and that the unit would be wiped out as a result.

As we all know now, Lt Col Braithwaite (and his fellow SAS commanders in the UK and New Zealand) were proved right in the way they set up SAS patrols.

[Schone23666]

Time is ultimately harsh to us all.

[LAW0306]

God bless him

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Originally Posted by Targan

Last week the founding commander of the Australian SAS Regiment, Lt Col Bill Braithwaite, died aged 91. I've just read an interesting article in my city's main weekday newspaper which talks about a letter that Lt Col Braithwaite was forced to sign by the top brass of the Australian Army in which he agreed to take full responsibility in the event that the SAS were slaughtered by the enemy in the Vietnam War; it seems that the Generals firmly believed that SAS patrols of only 4 to 6 men were too small and that the unit would be wiped out as a result.

As we all know now, Lt Col Braithwaite (and his fellow SAS commanders in the UK and New Zealand) were proved right in the way they set up SAS patrols.

Ah yeah, back in the day when most of our higher level military leaders where more political animals than military animals. They didn't want anything on their career that could spoil their chances of a cushy retirement package.
This man could have caved in to their demands to increase patrol sizes but he had the guts and the conviction to to stick to his beliefs and Australian special forces are better because of it - Lt Col Braithwaite does not get the credit he deserves but then he wasn't particularly interested in kissing political arse.
He grew up in Perth and this might have something to do with keeping the SASR in this city when a lot of politicians and political animal army officers wanted the special forces unit to be on the east coast - where they all lived.
He was the force behind getting SASR personnel to get their medical knowledge first hand - by being part of ambulance crews and working in hospitals. Like I say, a great man who deserves a lot more recognition from Australia, the Army and the vermin that infest parliament.

[Mohoender]

Originally Posted by Targan

As we all know now, Lt Col Braithwaite (and his fellow SAS commanders in the UK and New Zealand) were proved right in the way they set up SAS patrols.

And this reveals again what we all know, if it had to be proven, that most peacetime generals are low thinking overpaid state servants always trying to escape their own responsibilities.

[Cdnwolf]

Its funny that in North America we know so little of the Australian military history. Is there any good books you can recommend?

[Targan]

I thought The Amazing SAS by Ian McPhedran was a pretty good read. So was The Tiger Man of Vietnam by Frank Walker.