MovieChat Forums > The Odd Angry Shot (1979) Discussion > National Servicemen in the SAS

National Servicemen in the SAS

posted 15 years ago by pgarrone
4 replies | jump to latest

One gets the impression from the movie that all the members of the SAS were regular soldiers, ie volunteers. However according to David Horner's book "In Action with the SAS" by 14 April 1971 25 out of 95 in the squadron in Vietnam were draftees.

I imagine they would have volunteered internally for the SAS? It hardly seems appropriate to send unwilling conscripts on small 10 day patrols deep into the jungle among the Viet Cong.

The casualty rate in the movie seems rather high also. There seem to have been about 35 serious casualties in the 100 man unit over about 5 years, which would be of the order of 5-10 percent per year. In the movie, the troop has about 80 percent casualties in one tour, mostly killed.

The selection criteria for the SAS would appear to emphasize great determination above all else.This seems at odds with the movie's anti-war message. Perhaps an infantry unit would have been better for the setting?

[–] bungara 14 years ago

Nashos would have to apply and pass selection for the regiment. They would not be conscripted into the regiment. The book that the movie was made from was written by a former member of the SAS who served in Vietnam with the 3rd squadron and he also wrote the screenplay.

The SAS often worked with regular infantry batallions as mentioned in the movie the 6th battalion is coming up from the rear. The SAS only lost two members in Vietnam.
In some scenes, such as the mortar attack on the base at Nui Dat, the dead an wounded would have not been from the regiment but likely from, 6 RAR, Pogos etc that members of the regiment may have served with prior to joining or knew through operating out of Nui Dat or Vung Tau.

Australia lost 502 KIA in Vietnam across all services.

[–] jsg_99 14 years ago

William Nagle served in US Special Forces, not Aust. SAS. Just click on his name to read his biography. I think he also wrote the screenplay for the movie "Firebase Gloria".
Realistically, a former member of the SAS regiment would not write about multiple deaths in operations because, as YOU state "The SAS only lost two members in Vietnam."

For a better understanding of SAS operations in Vietnam try Graham Brammers book "Uncertain Fate".

[–] bungara 14 years ago

Bill Nagel served with 3rd Squadron SAS "The Beagle Boys", the information is incorrect in the IMDB. He is listed in the SAS role of personnel who served in Viet Nam. A good suggestion for you to confirm his time in the regiment is to go and by the book "SAS: Phantoms of the Jungle". Bills picture is in the photos at a function at Campbell Barracks.

Also, if you have a chance to get a copy of the book, the inside cover notes state, that this book is based on experiences he had while serving with the SAS and that some of the people were representative of the Australian contingent not nescessarily the SAS.

[–] jsg_99 14 years ago

I stand corrected. Actually I'm quite pleased because I was always p'd off a yank would write a book about Diggers.