The S.A.S memorial was constructed in dedication to the Australian Special Air Services. Unveiled on 19 July 2003, this memorial was donated through the Special Air Service Association of South Australia. The insignia of the S.A.S can also be seen on a separate plaque above the main memorial inscription. The insignia features the flaming sword Excalibur along with a ribbon with their motto ‘Who Dares Wins’.
The memorial inscription reads:
This Memorial Is Dedicated To All Members Of The Australian Special
Air Service Regiment Past And Present And To Those Members Who
Have Been Injured Or Killed In Training And On Operational Service
These Soldiers Dedicated Themselves To Defending
Our Democratic Way Of LifeUnveiled on 19th July 2003
Donated by S.A.S Assoc (S.A Branch) and D.V.A
SAS – Who Dares Wins
The first Special Air Service Company was raised on 25 July 1957 in Western Australia. While its origins can be attested to World War II and the British campaign in the Western Desert, the formation of this company would be the first fully Australian corps focused on these operations. In 1960, the S.A.S became part of the Royal Australian Regiment and was renamed as the SASR. The date of its rename was chosen for the 4th September 1964 as it co-incided with the 21st anniversary of the first Australian land, sea and airborne operation in New Guinea. This being the Lae-Nadzab operation in World War II code-named Operation Postern which secured the port and airfield for future operations in Papua New Guinea.
Since its raising in 1957, its first operational service was during the Indonesian confrontation in 1965. During the campaigns in both Borneo and Vietnam, over 1400 patrols were coordinated which surveyed the movements of over 5600 enemy troops. After this conflict the regiment was active in peacetime activities between 1972-1993 and evolved their recovery capability in the event of terrorism. The SAS’ extensive training during this period has also placed this regiment on several United Nations missions. In most recent years, the SAS has also seen active duty in East Timor in 1999, Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.
