18 August 2009
NZSAS, The First Fifty Years, by Ron Crosby. Published by Viking, Auckland, 2009, 464pp, $65. Reviewed by *Ian McGibbon.
The award of a Victoria Cross to Corporal Willie Apiata in 2007 not only recognised a signal act of gallantry, it also threw the spotlight firmly on one of New Zealand’s most shadowy military units — the SAS. The SAS’s aversion to publicity of its personnel or their activities had ensured that the public generally had little idea of its role or composition, other than that joining it demanded successfully completing a notoriously difficult selection course. Now the veil was drawn back at least a little. The SAS basked in the glory of Apiata’s award.
The series of activities undertaken by the SAS in the last decade or so, and the emphasis since 9/11 on counter-terrorism, indicate that the NZSAS has a secure and respected place in New Zealand’s defence structure. Readers of this excellent account of the SAS’s first fifty years will find, perhaps to their surprise, that this has not always been the case. The NZSAS has struggled at times to secure acceptance. Even as late as 1999 its future still looked ‘decidedly shaky’ to its commander.
In part, this sense of insecurity derived from concern that politicians at the highest levels did not fully appreciate the important capacity residing in the NZSAS. But ill–informed or unsympathetic politicians were not the only threat. Senior and other officers in the military often either did not understand the SAS role or were jealous of the SAS’s privileged position. Successive NZSAS commanders had to use their initiative to get round obstacles thrown up by their obstruction, intentional or otherwise.
The corps originated in New Zealand’s decision in 1955 to send a specially recruited SAS unit to Malaya to join the newly formed British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve. More than 800 men applied and the 130–man unit left New Zealand in November 1955 under the command of Major Frank Rennie. During its two–year stint in the reserve, it hunted communist terrorists — or CTs, as they were known — in Malayan Emergency operations, achieving several important eliminations. Two members of the unit lost their lives, the first of eleven NZSAS to do so either on operations or in training during its half-century existence. Upon its return to New Zealand in 1957, the unit was disbanded.
Recreated in 1959, the NZSAS led a somewhat tenuous existence at first, as it fought to secure a viable role within the existing army structure, and to obtain the equipment it needed. But deployments in Thailand, Borneo and South Vietnam kept the unit busy for much of the 1960s in operations well described in this book. While the Thai sojourn did not involve any hostilities, SAS troopers took part in cross-border incursions in Borneo, and had occasional clashes with the Indonesian Army. In South Vietnam a troop served as part of an Australian SAS squadron from 1968 to 1971, and the operational tempo was much higher than in Borneo. The 155 patrols carried out by the troop were mainly reconnaissance but also often involved ambushes. Especially in 1968 clashes with the Viet Cong were frequent, and some patrols had narrow escapes from being surrounded and overwhelmed. Opportunity was also taken to spend periods with American special forces units, broadening the experience and abilities of the New Zealanders. One SAS sergeant was killed in Vietnam.
After Vietnam the unit experienced a quarter of a century of uncertainty. SAS troopers continued to improve their capacity, steadily acquiring new skills, but doubts remained about what role they might play. During this period, counter-terrorism emerged as a new facet of the SAS’s work. Its counter-terrorist or ‘black’ role was highlighted during the APEC Leaders’ meeting in Auckland in 1999, with the NZSAS heavily involved in protecting the visiting dignitaries. There is interesting material in this book about how the capacity of the SAS to deal with potential hostage situations was brought home to politicians like Robert Muldoon, who was surprised to find that live ammunition had been used in a demonstration in which he was a central character.
Not until nearly the end of the century did the SAS come into its own with a series of overseas deployments–in Bougainville, Kuwait, East Timor and Afghanistan. A 19-strong SAS detachment formed part of the Truce Monitoring Group in Bougainville in 1997-98. The deployment to Kuwait, prompted by a US-led build up against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, provided the opportunity for a 24-man squadron to practice in a desert environment. Forty NZSAS personnel were involved in the deployment of INTERFET in East Timor in 1999 and unit members returned to the island in the following year. But it is Afghanistan that has provided the NZSAS with its greatest opportunities this century. A squadron deployed there for a year in December 2001 following the 9/11 attacks on the United States, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan having been the training ground for the Islamic group responsible. This book throws light on the type of operations undertaken by the SAS, and the innovation and skill required to operate in Afghanistan’s difficult environment. Two further deployments took place in 2004 and 2005, and it was during the former that Apiata performed his gallant deed. Now in 2009 the government has decided to send the NZSAS back for a further stint.
Ron Crosby faced unusual problems in recounting the story of the NZSAS. Operational security considerations had always to be borne in mind. This is most evident in the use of first names or initials only of SAS members mentioned in the text in coverage of more recent operations and the blurring of faces in some photographs. Despite these difficulties, and the loss of records (made up for by the dedicated efforts of some SAS men to gather unit historical material), Crosby brings out clearly the elements that set the NZSAS apart from the rest of the army, not least its focus on the pursuit of excellence, commitment to high quality leadership and emphasis on flexibility. His account benefits from the many interviews he conducted with former and serving SAS personnel. He is better on the activities of the unit than on the political background to its formation or sustenance. One aspect that is conspicuously absent from Crosby’s treatment is the role of women in the NZSAS. This has been limited, to be sure. So far none have been badged members of the unit, though women are not prevented from attempting the selection course. Female soldiers have, however, served in the unit in a variety of specialist support roles and have even deployed overseas with it. The contribution of some does get mentioned behind the anonymity of initials, and will, of course, be recognised by SAS personnel if not by ordinary readers.
In describing the SAS’s overseas deployments and its problems between them, Crosby emphasises the qualities that go to make up the NZSAS — adaptability, determination, professionalism. These have as their basis very stringent selection procedures, intensive training and inculcation of traditions — and the recording of these traditions is an important function of this book. SAS members reading this book will gain a new perspective on the elite role they play as a ‘vital strategic tool’ for the government in responding to crises both here and abroad, and of the achievements — and tribulations — of their predecessors. Other readers will find the glimpse it provides inside a relatively secretive element of the armed forces both illuminating and fascinating. This useful corps history is strongly recommended.
*Ian McGibbon is a military historian and author of several history books.