Special Air Service
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Displaying 1 - 67 of 67'Special Air Service'
The Special Air Service (SAS) has its origins in the North African desert. It was formed in 1941 to undertake small-scale raids behind enemy lines. Many of its men were drawn from Commando units in the Middle East including Nos. 7, 8 and 11 and also operated under the title L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade. A brigade was usually made up of around 5,000 men, so this name was a fiction designed to deceive the enemy.
'Special Raiding Squadron'
ALMONDS, John Edward
AUSTIN, Raymond Charles

BACKHOUSE, Charles, R.

BANWELL, Keith Demer

BENNETT, Robert
BOLDEN, Stanley
BOLLAND, Stanley

BROOK, Harold
BROUGH, William Gordon
BROWN, Leslie Jock

BYRNE, John Vincent

CHEYNE, John

DAVIDSON, Alexander
DRONGIN, Anthony
Regimental Sergeant Major Anthony Drongin of No 8 Commando gave up his rank to join L Detachment SAS when 8 Commando was disbanded. He served as a Corporal and is reported to have died of wounds inflicted during SAS operations near Benghazi.
DUFFY, Joseph Aloysius
Private Joseph Duffy joined L Detachment, SAS, from No 11 Commando on the 28th August 1941 and was accidentally killed in training due to a parachute failure, along with his friend and fellow Seaforth Highlander, Private Kenneth Warburton. Location given as East side of the Great Bitter Lake. The pair became the Regiment's first casualties.
FARRAGHER, Kieran Joseph

Warrant Officer Kieran Farragher, attached to the Special Air Service, died in a climbing accident in Botswana. He had joined the SAS in 1973 having previously served in 95 Commando and 29 Commando Regt RA.
FASSAM, Joseph William

FITZPATRICK, Michael Benedict

FITZSIMMONS, Lee Michael
Corporal Lee Fitzsimmons died when the Puma helicopter he was travelling in crashed during operations. [Source: AFM ROH / Media reports online.]
FOSTER, William Johnstone

- 6 October 1933 attested into the Royal Artillery.
GOLDSMITH, Ernest Edward William Frederick
HEARN, William Alec, V.
HEARN, William Herbert
HERSTELL, Ernest Maxwell
HILDRETH, Sidney James
Lance Corporal Sidney Hildreth, formerly 7 Commando, was reported missing, later confirmed killed, whilst attached to 'L' Detachment SAS. He left the Commando to join the SAS on the 30th August 1941 and was fatally injured parachuting into the SAS first raid, Operation Squatter, an abortive attack against airfields at Tmimi and Gazala. He has no known grave.
KEAY, J.H.

KEITH, Douglas
LAPPIN, James

LAPRAIK, John Neilson
LAYCOCK, Robert Edward

Born 1907; educated at Eton College and Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst; joined Royal Horse Guards, Mar 1927, 2nd Lt, 1927; Lt 1930; Capt 1934; married Angela Claire Louise (née Dudley Ward), 1935; instructor on anti-gas and air defence measures, School of Military Engineering, Chatham, Dec 1937; General Staff Officer, Grade 3 (passive air defence) in department of Chief of Imperial General S
LEE, Jack William Raymond
LEWES, John Steel
LILLEY, Ernest Thomas
He had previously served in No. 8 Commando [2].
LIVINGSTONE, Richard Percy
LOWSON, Robert Charles

MARTIN, Michael John

McCLEMENTS, Thomas
MCGONIGAL, Eoin Christopher

MCNINCH, William Matthew

Lance Sergeant William McNinch died during operations at Termoli Italy with the Special Raiding Squadron having left the Commando. A veteran of the Litani River raid he died when a shell hit the truck that he was sitting in. He was awarded the Military Medal in recognition of distinguished service during operations on the day before his death.
Recommendation
MUNACHEN, James
Corporal James Munachen was reported missing during operations in Cyrenaica on 16/17 November 1941, later found to be a prisoner of war.
MUNRO, George
MUSK, Eric

Lance Corporal Eric Musk was wounded during operations in Crete on 28 May 1941 whilst his unit were designated as part of Layforce. He avoided capture at Crete and later served in the SAS.
NIXON, Malvern
PINCKNEY, Philip Hugh

Captain Philip Pinckney was executed whilst a prisoner of war. At the time he was serving with 2 SAS and had been captured on Operation Speedwell after parachuting with 6 others into Bologna, Italy. The aim of the operation was to disrupt enemy railway movements.
POWELL, Adrian Mark
Trooper Adrian Powell died in a road traffic collision whilst serving with the SAS. He had previously served with 7 and 148 Btys. of 29 Commando Regt. RA, and 7 RHA. He died when the vehicle in which he was travelling overturned while on way to training exercises near Nairobi in Kenya.
Also killed in this collision was 24648153 SSgt. Martin Halls, SAS, formerly Royal Engineers.
PROUT, Charles Leslie

RALPHS, Edward
REED, Neville
- Post war he was RSM of 22 Special Air Service Regiment in Malaya. [1]
- 28th May 1957 it was announced that he had received a Mention in Despatches in recognition of distinguished services with 22 SAS in Malaya for the period 1st July to 31st December, 1956. [2]
RILEY, Charles George Gibson
ROBINSON, Joseph Henry

SEEKINGS, Albert Reginald

SEEKINGS, Robert William

SENIOR, Fred

Lance Sergeant Fred Senior died when his jeep patrol was attacked whilst en route to harass the enemy in Southern Tunisia. He was serving with 1st SAS ('B' Sqn.) at the time of his death having left the Commandos.
SHORTALL, James Patrick
SHORTEN, Raymond Herbert
Dec 40, 52 ME Cdo
Jan 41, wounded
Mar 41, merged into D Bn,Layforce
Apr 42, merged into ME Cdo and 1st Special Service Regiment C Sqn
SILLETT, Thomas John
STAPLES, Montague
STONE, Sidney James
Sergeant Sidney Stone was serving with "L" Detachment, S.A.S. Bde Special Air Service Regiment, A.A.C. at the time of his death, having previously served in No. 8 Commando.
TAIT, Duncan Robert

TERRY, Jack

TINNION, Bradley

Mentioned in Despatches (posthumous) in recognition of gallant and distinguished service. Former service included 29 Commando RA until 1998.
WAND-TETLEY, Peter Michael
WARBURTON, Kenneth
WESTWATER, Alexander
WHITE, Harold

(by Lt. Col. A.D. Stirling, D.S.O.)
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