Derek William Andrews was born in Wyndham (WA) on 4 January 1950. He first served in the Citizens Military Forces (CMF) from 13 February 1968 to 18 November 1969 and then enlisted in the Australian Army on 24 November 1969.
After basic training he was posted to the Infantry Corps and underwent basic infantry training at the Infantry Centre, Ingleburn (NSW). Following completion of corps training, Derek was posted was to the 3rd Battalion, RAR. He served in South Vietnam with the Battalion from 15 February to 13 October 1971. The Battalion was involved in the "Pacification Program" during its tour - seeking out and destroying the enemy and helped create a secure climate for the local people.
Derek returned to Australia and took his discharge on 23 November 1972. He re-enlisted and served from 27 August 1973 to 5 December 1975, during which time he served with Armoured Corps. Following his discharge, Derek travelled to Rhodesia in February 1976 and enlisted for a term of three years in the Rhodesian Army, which formed part of the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF).
Derek served with Grey's Scouts, a mounted infantry unit and later transferred to the Selous Scouts, a special forces formation, in the Rhodesian Bush War against the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) and Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA).
The Rhodesian Forces conducted frequent cross-border operations taking the fight to the enemy in the strongholds. Derek attained the rank of sergeant and was serving with the Selous Scouts when he took his discharge in late 1978 and returned to Australia.
In February 1981, he enlisted in the South African Defence Forces (SADF) for three years. Derek served with the 44th Parachute Brigade, where he served with the newly-formed pathfinder reconnaissance unit of the Brigade, and later attained the rank of sergeant. He took part in many cross-border operations against a ruthless and determined enemy during his service with SADF during the South African Border War. At the expiration of his service, Derek returned to Australia in early 1984.
