Raiding Support Regiment

[s dawkins]

Having just read a posting about the Raiding Support Regiment I would like to give an accurate,but brief description.I should point out that my late grandfather served in the unit and I have spent 8 years or so researching them.

The unit was formed in 1943 by Raidng Forces (Middle East/CO Brig' DJT Turnbull) and was never part of 2 SS Brigade.In fact they wore the beige beret and SAS wings and not the green beret like those of 2 SS Brigade.When operating in the Adriatic they carried out joint ops with the commandos in support of the Partisans,but were never part of the same brigade as them.Until June of 1944 they came under command of Force 266 when operating in the Adriatic and after that they and 2 SS Brigade came under the theatre command of Land Forces Adriatic.The elements of the RSR that served in the mountains of Greece giving close support to the partisans and also operating on their own came under command of Force 133.

It is worth noting that the RSR was formed primarily to give support to the SAS Special Boat Squadron,SAS Greek Sacred Squadron(both part of Raiding Forces,Middle East),Balkan Guerrillas and to operate on it's own carrying out ambushes,demolitions etc.The unit was not formed to support the Commandos it was simply that both formations were deployed in the Adriatic and so operated together.There was to be fair a few ops where RSR sub-units came under temporary command of the Commandos.The unit often operated as the close fire support group to the partisans and in fact a few members of the RSR undertook basic Yugoslav language courses(this is mentioned in the unit war diary).

The unit is actually considered by the SAS to be part of their regimental family and was included in the SAS Roll of Honour which was dedicated in London last year.