- SURNAME
Ball
- FORENAME
Royston George
- UNIT
B Squadron
- RANK
Sergeant + Warrant Officer Second Class + Captain
- NUMBER
21023228 + 485307
- AWARD
Member of the British Empire,Mention in Despatches (twice)
- PLACE
Malaya 1955 (MiD) Borneo 1966 (MiD) 1970 (MBE)
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit King's Royal Rifle Corps
CITATION:
Member of The British Empire : Captain Ball joined the SAS, from the Green Jackets in 1954 and has served continuously with them since that date.
He has had an outstanding career within the SAS, holding every rank from Trooper through to RSM and since 1968, commissioned rank.
Whilst in the junior ranks of the SAS Captain Ball proved himself an outstanding leader in jungle and jebel operations. Here he showed well above average expertise and had numerous successful contacts with the enemy. His leadership and personal courage were of the highest order and well above that normally accepted for his rank, when considered in terms of independent SAS operations of long duration and isolation. On assuming more senior NCO and Warrant Officer rank Captain Bell was, in Borneo and South Arabia, assigned to lead a number of small independent missions in enemy controlled territory. He carried out those tasks, often in conjunction with other Agencies, in an exemplary manner which was highly remarked upon by local military and political staffs. He was also largely instrumental, as SSM, in organising and training a new squadron when it was established to meet increased SAS operational commitments in the Middle and Far Easts. His example, quiet confidence and powers of leadership on active service during crisis ensured that this young squadron did not falter in battle.
In 1966 as RSM of 21 SAS Captain Ball showed exemplary powers of command capacity in a completely different and new environment to that of day to day operations and overseas service. Since commissioning Captain Ball (whose SSC commission will shortly terminate) has been responsible for the Selection of all officer and soldier SAS volunteers, He has not faltered in this task showing a wide understanding of human nature and his operational and world wide experience has enhanced this most vital of SAS appointments.
Captain Ball has already been Mentioned twice in Despatches for particular operations, though recommended at the time for a higher award. By normal Army standards his own long and continuous operational service, outstanding leadership and decisiveness in crisis and operations, combined with his other personal qualities of courage and resourcefulness under stress, should have been further recognised and rewarded.
Captain Ball's career and his selfless devotion to his Country and Regiment are such that it is most strongly recommended he should be given proper recognition for service well above the normal call of duty within the Army and Services as a whole.
Place : MALAYA/OMAN/BORNEO/SOUTH ARABIA
Date of Action : 1954-1969
How Employed : PATROL COMMANDER/TROOP COMMANDER/SQMS/SSM/RSM/INDEPENDENT MISSION COMMANDER/OIC SAS SELECTION AND INITIAL TRAINING
He has had an outstanding career within the SAS, holding every rank from Trooper through to RSM and since 1968, commissioned rank.
Whilst in the junior ranks of the SAS Captain Ball proved himself an outstanding leader in jungle and jebel operations. Here he showed well above average expertise and had numerous successful contacts with the enemy. His leadership and personal courage were of the highest order and well above that normally accepted for his rank, when considered in terms of independent SAS operations of long duration and isolation. On assuming more senior NCO and Warrant Officer rank Captain Bell was, in Borneo and South Arabia, assigned to lead a number of small independent missions in enemy controlled territory. He carried out those tasks, often in conjunction with other Agencies, in an exemplary manner which was highly remarked upon by local military and political staffs. He was also largely instrumental, as SSM, in organising and training a new squadron when it was established to meet increased SAS operational commitments in the Middle and Far Easts. His example, quiet confidence and powers of leadership on active service during crisis ensured that this young squadron did not falter in battle.
In 1966 as RSM of 21 SAS Captain Ball showed exemplary powers of command capacity in a completely different and new environment to that of day to day operations and overseas service. Since commissioning Captain Ball (whose SSC commission will shortly terminate) has been responsible for the Selection of all officer and soldier SAS volunteers, He has not faltered in this task showing a wide understanding of human nature and his operational and world wide experience has enhanced this most vital of SAS appointments.
Captain Ball has already been Mentioned twice in Despatches for particular operations, though recommended at the time for a higher award. By normal Army standards his own long and continuous operational service, outstanding leadership and decisiveness in crisis and operations, combined with his other personal qualities of courage and resourcefulness under stress, should have been further recognised and rewarded.
Captain Ball's career and his selfless devotion to his Country and Regiment are such that it is most strongly recommended he should be given proper recognition for service well above the normal call of duty within the Army and Services as a whole.
Place : MALAYA/OMAN/BORNEO/SOUTH ARABIA
Date of Action : 1954-1969
How Employed : PATROL COMMANDER/TROOP COMMANDER/SQMS/SSM/RSM/INDEPENDENT MISSION COMMANDER/OIC SAS SELECTION AND INITIAL TRAINING
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7631821
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