This RLI cap was donated by Dale Collett. Dale joined the Rhodesian SAS in 1971, was commissioned as an officer in 1973, then served with the RAR (Rhodesian African Rifles) due to his exceptional linguistic skills – he spoke Zulu/Ndebele fluently. However, he was recruited within months into the elite Selous Scouts Regiment, by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Ron Reid-Daly.
In 1974 he was awarded Rhodesia’s second highest award, “The Silver Cross of Rhodesia”, for “conspicuous gallantry and leadership in action”. Part of his citation reads as follows:
“…Collett displayed a high degree of personal gallantry, determination, leadership and tactical skill. Up to 17 May 1974, as a result of his own attacks, Collett accounted for 29 terrorists killed and 9 captured. This represented a major portion of Security Force successes at the particular stage of the war.”
In 1976 he received the Military Forces Commendation, once again for gallantry, leadership and determination in action.
In the same year, a bullet ricocheted off a wall and shattered Dale’s spinal cord during an assault on an enemy arsenal in Mapai, Mozambique, paralysing him from the chest down. He was 26 years old.
This RLI cap was donated by Dale Collett. Dale joined the Rhodesian SAS in 1971, was commissioned as an officer in 1973, then served with the RAR (Rhodesian African Rifles) due to his exceptional linguistic skills – he spoke Zulu/Ndebele fluently. However, he was recruited within months into the elite Selous Scouts Regiment, by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Ron Reid-Daly.
In 1974 he was awarded Rhodesia’s second highest award, “The Silver Cross of Rhodesia”, for “conspicuous gallantry and leadership in action”. Part of his citation reads as follows:
“…Collett displayed a high degree of personal gallantry, determination, leadership and tactical skill. Up to 17 May 1974, as a result of his own attacks, Collett accounted for 29 terrorists killed and 9 captured. This represented a major portion of Security Force successes at the particular stage of the war.”
In 1976 he received the Military Forces Commendation, once again for gallantry, leadership and determination in action.
In the same year, a bullet ricocheted off a wall and shattered Dale’s spinal cord during an assault on an enemy arsenal in Mapai, Mozambique, paralysing him from the chest down. He was 26 years old.
