Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good campaign group of five awarded to Staff Sergeant Roy Dove, Royal Tank Regiment and Special Air Service Regiment

U.N. Korea; General Service 1918-62, E.II.R., 2 clasps, Malaya, Arabian Peninsula (22122080 Tpr. R. Dove, SAS); General Service 1962, 2 clasps, South Arabia, Northern Ireland (22122080 S Sgt R Dove RTR); U.N. Cyprus; Regular Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (22122080Sgt. R. Dove, RTR) good very fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Awards to the SAS and Special Forces.

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Roy Dove was called up for National service on St Patrick’s Day 1949 and served 18 months with 7 Royal Tank Regiment. On completion of his Conscription he joined the County of London Yeomanry (TA) and served 12 months with the Territorials before he enlisted into 5 Royal Tank Regiment early in 1952. Whilst serving as MT driver with the Fifth in Korea he volunteered for 22nd Special Air Service Regiment then serving in Malaya. On completion of his parachute training and selection course at Singapore he was posted to “A” Squadron 22 SAS, and joined them in the middle of operation ‘Termite’ being conducted in the deep jungle of Malaya. He subsequently took part in a number of operations and deep penetration patrols against the Communist Terrorists and throughout his service parachuted from Valetta aircraft and helicopters, being one of the early pioneers of the SAS technique of ‘Tree-jumping’ - parachuting into deep jungle. He left 22 SAS in 1957 on demobilisation.

Dove re-enlisted into 2 RTR in 1960 and subsequently served with the Second in Libya, Ulster, Cyprus and BAOR until 1965 when he went as House Sgt to Major General Ward, who was the Comd 1 Div HQ & Sig Regt. He remained in this position when Lt. Gen Sir Alan Taylor took over and remained with General Taylor for 8 years throughout the General’s appointments as Comd 1 Div, GOC S.E. District, and Dep Commander UKLF. In 1976 Staff Sergeant Dove joined 1 Royal Tank Regiment and served as Officer’s Mess Steward until his retirement.

The above notes were written by Dove’s CO for the RTR Journal on his retirement. He goes on to say that Dove was ‘currently the most be-medalled soldier in the Regiment (I’ll be glad to see him go!). Having served in the SAS myself I probably understand Roy Dove better than anyone else in the regiment - he’s nuts! Seriously though, I can testify to his determination and courage, his loyalty and sense of comradeship, his generosity.’