He was a sergeant in 1 Recce Commando, qualifying in 1977. After years of operations, including as a mountaineering instructor, and team leader, he left for Wits University to study further. Soon, he was back at 1 Recce Regiment and eyed (wrongly) with much suspicion by the higher-ups. When he left 1 Recce he served for seven years with 2 Recce during periodical call-ups.
Gregory Ashton
served in the South African Special Forces
Military Service from 1977 to
SERVICE HISTORY
1977 joined 4 South African Infantry Battalion
national service call up
1977 joined 1 Parachute Battalion
for Basic Training (Bloemfontein)
1977 joined 1 Recce with rank of Sergeant/Staff Sergeant
deployed with Bravo Group, to the “Russian” front operating with D Squadron SAS, Rhodesia (Operation Uric aka Bootlace)
joined 2 Recce
