A BRIEF HISTORY

 

Formed in 1965 by the wives and partners of soldiers serving in the SAS, to provide support and promote friendship amongst the SASR community. 

 

The families of those posted to the SAS are particularly vulnerable to feeling isolated, as their partners can spend extensive time away from home for training and operations, often at very short notice and in dangerous conditions. Adding to the isolation, family members cannot access typical support networks due to the secretive nature of their partner's job. It is therefore critical for SAS families to be able to support each other, and the SASR Auxiliary is an important link in that support structure. 

 

The Auxiliary began in 1965 when Margaret Braithwaite, wife of then-CO Lt Col G.R.S. Braithwaite, organised an informal gathering of wives whose husbands were deployed to Borneo and Brunei. This was done at the suggestion of Peta Hunt, wife of then-Commander of Western Command, Brig George Percy Hunt CBE, who felt that a support group for wives of all ranks would be beneficial during this particularly stressful time in the newly-formed Regiment. About twenty women attended that first morning tea, and it was decided to hold a similar informal monthly meeting and information session. 

 

More than fifty years later, and the Auxiliary is has evolved into a fully incorporated committee-run community organisation, with a thriving and very active membership. From Borneo to Afghanistan, and all the deployments in between, the SASR Auxiliary has always been there to support and to promote friendships amongst the Regimental family.