Description
Book SynopsisDrawing on recently declassified files and interviews with veterans, this is a fascinating history of Bill Stirling and 2SAS pioneering founders of modern special forces. David Stirling is the name synonymous with the wartime SAS, but the real brains behind the operation was in fact Bill Stirling, David's eldest brother. Bill was described in the SAS War Diary as a man from the shadows'; it was an apt description for, unlike his attention seeking brother, Bill shunned the spotlight. Now for the first time the truth and the triumph of 2SAS is revealed. Having originally joined the SOE in March 1940, Bill Stirling sailed for Cairo in 1941 and there had the idea for a small special forces unit to be led by his mercurial brother. But despite some success, David allowed the legendary 1SAS to drift under his leadership. Following his capture, Bill re-directed 2SAS, under his personal command, to the strategy he had originally envisaged: parachuting behind enemy lines to ga
Trade ReviewVivid and meticulously researched... Gavin Mortimer has certainly done the history of the SAS justice in this book. -- Paul de Zulueta * The Spectator *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chronology Prologue: Stirling and Stirling Chapter 1: Commando College Chapter 2: Territorial Dispute Chapter 3: Cleaning up the Chaos Chapter 4: Warmer Climes Chapter 5: Training-ville Chapter 6: The Best Die First Chapter 7: Eyeing Up Italy Chapter 8: Use Your Initiative Chapter 9: Hitler's Henchmen Chapter 10: The Farren Phenomenon Chapter 11: The Hell of Termoli Chapter 12: Blinded by Science Chapter 13: Difference of Opinion Chapter 14: Hushed Up Chapter 15: Hell Raisers Chapter 16: Thick with Germans Chapter 17: The Winter War Chapter 18: Up Close to Evil Chapter 19: Boy's Own Finale Epilogue
Glossary Notes Bibliography Index
