- SURNAME
McRae
- FORENAME
James Robert
- UNIT
Special Air Service (Territorial Army)
- RANK
Major
- NUMBER
497779
- AWARD
Member of the Order of the British Empire
- PLACE
New Year Honours 1982
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
London Gazette 49212, 30th December 1982, Page 6
CITATION:
Member of the Order of the British Empire : Major McRae first joined the Army in 1959 as a National Serviceman in 1st Battalion The Black Watch. On completion of his National Service he immediately enlisted as a Territorial in 15th Battalion The Parachute Regiment. Over the next five years he worked his way through the ranks until he was finally promoted Staff Sergeant.
In 1965 Major McRae joined 23 SAS. On joining the SAS as a substantive Staff Sergeant, aware of this Regiment's very special requirements and the complexity of our selection and training system, he voluntarily reverted to the rank of Trooper in order to start at the bottom again. Over the next six years he not only mastered all three complex individual SAS skills - demolitionist, signaller and medical assistant - he also became an Army Parachute Jumping Instructor, and worked his way up through the ranks again to become Squadron Sergeant Major in 1972. He was commissioned in 1975 and in 1977 took over command of an ailing Squadron. Since that date, largely owing to his leadership, personality and dedication his Squadron, which on average participates in twelve overseas exercises each year, has gone from strength to strength.
Since joining the SAS Major McRae has given up virtually all his spare time to plan and administer exercises, and then lead his own patrol in the field. He represents all that is best in the Territorial Army - the epitomy of the selfless, devoted volunteer who gives so very much beyond the call of normal duty.
In 1965 Major McRae joined 23 SAS. On joining the SAS as a substantive Staff Sergeant, aware of this Regiment's very special requirements and the complexity of our selection and training system, he voluntarily reverted to the rank of Trooper in order to start at the bottom again. Over the next six years he not only mastered all three complex individual SAS skills - demolitionist, signaller and medical assistant - he also became an Army Parachute Jumping Instructor, and worked his way up through the ranks again to become Squadron Sergeant Major in 1972. He was commissioned in 1975 and in 1977 took over command of an ailing Squadron. Since that date, largely owing to his leadership, personality and dedication his Squadron, which on average participates in twelve overseas exercises each year, has gone from strength to strength.
Since joining the SAS Major McRae has given up virtually all his spare time to plan and administer exercises, and then lead his own patrol in the field. He represents all that is best in the Territorial Army - the epitomy of the selfless, devoted volunteer who gives so very much beyond the call of normal duty.