The early days of the S.A.S.

One of the world's most famous regiments was nearly disbanded after one disastrous mission.

I forgot to say that David Stirling was twenty-five years old when recovering from his injury and dreaming up the future SAS. Within two years, all the major airfields within 300 miles of the front had been raided by the SAS, some of them up to four times.

The camouflage used on the vehicles of the LRDG, and later the SAS, was rose pink and olive green, and by all accounts it worked very well.

Main sources: "SAS Rogue Heroes" by Ben Macintyre, "Eastern Approaches" by Fitzroy Maclean.

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Lindybeige: a channel of archaeology, ancient and medieval warfare, rants, swing dance, travelogues, evolution, and whatever else occurs to me to make.

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[MorningGIry]

I like the idea of three people coming back having been told, “go out and steal what is necessary to fight the axis, ” with a piano

[thishonestgrifter]

"You can't repair a dead pilot"-Lindybeige 2017

[jollygood]

I know a chap who was in the LRDG then went into the SAS. He turned a hundred a few weeks ago and the SAS sent him a card. Lovely chap.

[coxyish]

Loving being able to say “it was a bit more complicated than that” to my friends watching the BBC series on the SAS. Thanks Lindy for making me seem more erudite than I actually am

[fakecubed]

This is like the most British way of creating an elite military unit, ever.

[goodsous]

As a South African, that image of the Special Air Service and the South African Surveyors running into each other and arguing about who came up with the name "SAS" first is top comedy material.

[AnimateWithBlender]

Lloyd, you have an unrivalled ability to speak clearly and humorously without the unscrupulous cutting that has become commonplace on youtube. Bravo sir! Glad to have watched this channel grow

[OneJazzyBoye]

That story about Benghazi NEEDS a movie made about it. I can imagine a great mix of comedy and action in that

[melware]

Im proud to say my older brother was in the S.A.S. during the war - ending up in the S.B.S. - he survived the war, but sadly lost his life in 1948 in a motor cycle accident - I was 10 at that time - I still have his letters home and many unpublished photos he took - I did write to a number of surviving S.A.S. a few years ago - one described him as one of the hard men ! quite a complement .

[Swoost]

“This video is getting too long as it is, frankly”

I disagree SIR

[NetherlandsAtArms]

I wish this guy was my history teacher

[maul_grab]

Paddy Mayne was born in my hometown of Newtownards, in Northern Ireland. There is a statue of him in the town square! My primary school is located about 100 meters from the "Movilla Cemetary" where you can find his gravestone. We used to go on trips to visit it and would take rubbings of the gravestone, with permission.

[killzinshadows]

I rather like having Lloyd doing a longer video like this it always feels like he's cutting his ramblings short. This is a Amazing Story and I'm glad it didn't get cut up into three or four separate videos it breaks the magic of a good story.

[mickey]

He really can't mention Napoleon without calling him a git. Even in the middle of a sponsor message. What a legend!

[twobyfour]

Little did Captain Stirling know, that the Special Air Service would become the worlds greatest regiment of authors.

[davidharrison]

i was very honoured to have met and talked with one of the original members of the long range desert group . by that time he was a very old man . i sat and looked through his album of small black and white photos of groups of young fit healthy sun burnt bearded lads . it made me feel very humble . true heroes .

[Samir-yel]

You are the most listenable and engaging man in the entire world.

[TomFynn]

Ranulph Fiennes said that during training in the SAS he was given the exercise to plan how to rob the local bank. He lost the plans in the train and they found their way to the local authorities. Who after much needless excitement asked the SAS to not set this exercise ever again, thank you so very much.

[seanassociateproductions]

“It’s all going to get ever so bullety”

[nomdeplume]

In the book "Commandos" by Charles Messenger there is a litany of failed missions due to bad luck, being spotted by the odd sentry, strong tides of currents, holed boats, faulty fuses, wet explosives or radios with the wrong crystals. So much of this kind of mission could go wrong. But sometimes they got lucky.