AUSTRALIAN SAS MAROON AND SANDY BERETS PROVENANCED TO A VIETNAM WAR WIA AND MID TROOPER/LCPL.
AUSTRALIAN ARMY HISTORY OF THE MAROON AND SANDY BERETS
The Australian Special Air Service was established on 25 July 1957 as the 1st Special Air Service Company. Then in 1960 the company became part of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) and was given the responsibility for commando and special forces operations in the Australian Army, During this time the Maroon beret with the Infantry Corps badge was worn. The SASR was expanded to three sabre squadrons and gained regimental status on 20 August 1964 when the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) was established and the sandy beret with the SASR badge was introduced.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
The Maroon ‘company’ beret with Infantry Corps badge named to 5411465 DEGRUSSA. Sandy beret with interior lining removed also belonged to Degrussa with period 2-piece brass S.A.S. badge with slider. Lance Corporal Noel Stuart Degrussa served two tours with the Australian S.A.S. in Vietnam. 1 Squadron 2/3/67 - 30/8/67. He was wounded in action 11/8/67 with a gunshot wound to his left thigh & returned to Australia. As a result, he was awarded a Mention in Despatches. Second tour was with 3 squadron 22/2/69 - 24/9/69. Degrussa is mentioned several times in the book ‘Phantoms of the Jungle’ of note the heavy contact when he was hit (page 224 – 226). ‘It was a stunning blow, like being hit with a sledge hammer and not knowing initially where I was hit as my left leg from my backside to my toes was completely numb. I was unable to walk and very concerned about the long range radio in my pack. I shouted that I had been hit and told Gerry Israel to take my pack. I had expected to be left there because of the situation. A wounded member of a five man patrol would render the patrol ineffective if two members were engaged in carrying a wounded man. This was something we had all discussed at one moment or another and in this particular situation I was waiting for Bill to say to me… that he would have to leave me. He did not do this and suddenly all was quiet, the shooting had stopped and Bill decided to take me with him’. After successfully breaking contact a tourniquet was applied to his leg and he was safely evacuated.
These berets were traded in to me by a good client who has changed his collecting focus. He had purchased the berets at the leading JB Military Auctions here in WA on October 18 2020 for $1700 plus commission (end total around $2000). The service and history of Lcpl Degrussa has been fully researched by LTCOL Neil C. Smith AM Retd of Mostly Unsung Military History Research and Publications which is supplied to the buyer.
This is a great opportunity for the SAS collector to purchase items from a SASR Trooper/Lcpl who was there during the formation period of the SASR and deployed to Vietnam for two tours, was wounded and awarded a Mentioned in Despatches.