Jock Lewes: Co-founder of the SAS: The Biography of Jock Lewes, Co-founder of the SAS

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But Mr Macintyre's book does also reveal how the SAS's contribution to Britain's victory in the war was actually not that significant.

He was depicted by Alfie Allen in the 2022 television historical drama SAS: Rogue Heroes. [10] Military career [ edit ] Given Britain's plight on the battlefield in North Africa at the time, permission was given to Stirling for him to assemble his unit, which was made up of soldiers who had proven themselves to be fearless. Like his comrade and SAS co-founder David Stirling, Lewes found his time in the Commandos frustrating. Many operations were cancelled and others ended in failure. Learning from this, Lewes sought to refine the commando concept and develop a more effective way of using these highly trained soldiers.

It’s completely fictitious,” says Mortimer. “As I said in my book, his brother Bill was the brains behind the SAS. Why on earth would Stirling break into HQ when he could just say to his brother, with whom he shared a flat, ‘Hey Bill, do you mind giving this to the general?’” Militarily we are marking time…the spirit of the army is fundamentally good, but no effort is made to kindle it…and set before us is the simple arithmetic of war. Macintyre, Ben (2016). Rogue Warriors. New York: Crown Publishing Group. pp.25–28. ISBN 978-1-101-90416-9.

Even the SAS's first raid proved to be disaster, with the men failing to achieve a single hit on the enemy. Instead, 34 of those who took part were killed, injured or missing, with only 21 returning to base. Instead, the consequence of eye-catching raids that did short-term damage to the enemy was a high casualty rate and the use of resources that could have been used elsewhere. John was a firm favourite amongst the Pen & Sword team. Always so kind, patient, grateful and pleasant to whomever he was dealing with. He will always be fondly remembered for ending every conversation with “bless you” and he’ll be sorely missed. If ever there was a model for the perfect author, John would be it!’ Stirling was captured by the Germans in January 1943 after yet another raid. Although he did initially escape, the officer was re-captured by the Italians and, despite another four attempts to get away, he was imprisoned for the rest of the war at the infamous Colditz Castle. SAS Rogue Heroes, the first episode of which airs on Sunday, depicts the real-life events that were revealed at great length by historian Ben Macintyre in his 2016 book of the same name.

A change of heart

Girls Aloud 'WILL perform Glastonbury in honour of late bandmate Sarah Harding and take to the stage for the festival's ICONIC legends slot' Blair was never in prison,” Mayne’s niece, Fiona Ferguson, told The Daily Telegraph. “Him fighting three military policemen never happened. The story was good enough without throwing stuff like that in.” For Gavin Mortimer, the competitive streak before Stirling and Mayne is one of the best elements of the series. “I don’t think they really had a scoreboard,” he says, “but there was a competitive element. Stirling was intimidated by Paddy Mayne. Mayne was a qualified solicitor, an international rugby player, and idolised by the men. And there’s Stirling, who in the Thirties had acquired a rep as a quitter and a loafer.

The overall depiction of Mayne is “OTT” according to Mortimer. “I sympathise with his family,” he adds. The fearsome trained killers have protected Britain's interests wherever required - most famously in the 1980 siege of the Iranian embassy, when they rescued 24 hostages as millions watched on the television news. Thanks very much to Pen & Sword for our review copy; highly recommended! Military Modelling Facebook, reviewed by Martyn Chorlton Child dies in horror Surrey car crash between Tesla and Vauxhall Astra - as cops arrest 'uninsured and unlicenced' man, 20, for 'dangerous driving'The Jewish man who shot up the explosives was Peter Haas. His act of heroism enabled Augustin Jordan to escape. “He decided to try and save us by sacrificing himself,” Jordan later said. Did Germans soldiers hunt down and capture David Stirling?

Jonathan Wright, History, Transport and White Owl Publisher, shared a few words about the experience of working with John Lewes:In reality, the mission was – as described by members of the Long Range Desert Group, which ferried the SAS in and out of enemy territory – “a Gilbert and Sullivan farce”.