Colonel Sir David Stirling

David Stirling was educated at Ampleforth College, and Cambridge University. Stirling joined up when WW11 started. Sterling served in Scots Guards, No. 8 Commando, Layforce. The unit was later disbanded. Sterling took up Parachuting, which was rare at this time.

In 1941, Stirling was bed ridden in Cario, Egypt, afer being injured in a parachute accident. During this time, he came up with the idea of a small unit to strike the enemy fast. He proposed the idea to senior officers.

Stirling called his new unit "L Detachment Special Air Service". The SAS was born working along side of the LRDG (Long Range Desert Group).

During WW 11, Stirling was captured in 1943. Stirling escaped four times, but was caught each time. He was placed in Colditz and later released after the war.

It has been said by many, that Stirling was the "most under-decorated soldier of the war". David Sterling was knighted in 1990. He died a few months later at his home in Scotland. He was awarded the OBE and DSO for actions during WWII. He was nicknamed the "Phantom Major" by his peers.



Origins OF the British SAS
David Sterling: Founder British SAS
SAS In Falklands War
The Iranian Embassy Siege
SAS Selection
Peterhead Prison
SAS In Iraq
The SAS Motto
SAS Books


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