David Stirling: Founder Of The Sas: The Authorised Biography of the Founder of the SAS

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Sir Archibald David Stirling DSO OBE (15 November 1915 – 4 November 1990) was a British officer in the British Army and the founder and creator of the Special Air Service (SAS). Virginia Cowles's The Phantom Major is a classic account of these raids, an amazing tale of courage, impudence and daring, packed with action and high adventure.

The other key player in the early SAS, who was never given the credit he deserved, says Mortimer, was Paddy Mayne.David Stirling would later insist that he came up with the idea of creating a small raiding unit to parachute behind enemy lines in the Middle East in the summer of 1941. During World War 2 David Stirling constantly fought to have his ideas heard and but for some good fortune and some luck may never have suceeded.

It began to dawn on me that Stirling was more Phoney than Phantom, and while he had shamelessly embellished his own image, it was to the detriment of the deceased Mayne, who had been portrayed as a wild, inarticulate, brooding and undisciplined Irishman, which he was not. Stirling was the founder of the Capricorn Africa Society, promoting freedom from racial discrimination in Africa.His formation of the Special Air Service in the summer of 1941 led to a new form of warfare and Stirling is remembered as the father of special. In mid-1970s, Stirling became increasingly worried that an "undemocratic event" would occur and decided to organise a private army to overthrow the government. Spotted by guards, Stirling abandoned his crutches and entered the building, only to come face-to-face with an officer with whom he had previously fallen out. On 1 February 1941, Layforce sailed for the Middle East, in support of the capture of Rhodes, but were soon disbanded after suffering heavy casualties in the Battle of Crete and the Battle of the Litani River. He invented anecdotes to bolster his daredevil alter ego, such as breaking into Middle East HQ to thrust his plans for the SAS into the hands of a startled senior officer.

He even added a couple of inches to his height, stating that he was 6ft 6in and thereby surpassing his brother Bill's 6ft 5in. At the same time Stirling was cultivating his contacts in the Iranian government and exploring the chances of obtaining work in Africa.One of the first veterans I interviewed was Johnny Cooper, who served 18 years in the Regiment between 1941 and 1959.

He was a trusted friend and confidant of David Stirling and wrote this book with the full cooperation of him and his family. Over the next few years, I interviewed scores of veterans and what struck me was the reverence in which Mayne was held, and to a lesser extent Bill Stirling, who raised a second SAS regiment in 1943.uk will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.