David Stirling
Sir David Stirling (15 November 1915 – 4 November 1990) was a Scottish British Army officer and the founder of the Special Air Service (SAS), a regiment of the British Army renowned for its special operations capability. His contributions during World War II have made him a legendary figure in military history. Known as "The Phantom Major," Stirling revolutionized warfare tactics, specializing in stealth, sabotage, and counter-insurgency, which laid the foundation for modern special forces worldwide.[1]
| Sir David Stirling | |
|---|---|
_in_North_Africa_during_the_Second_World_War_E21340.jpg) Stirling in 1942 | |
| Nickname | The Phantom Major |
| Born | 15 November 1915 Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland |
| Died | 4 November 1990 Westminster, London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1937–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | No. 8 (Guards) Commando, Special Air Service |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order |
Early life and education
changeDavid Stirling was born on 15 November 1915, in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland, into a prominent Scottish family. His father was Brigadier General Archibald Stirling, and he was one of six children. Stirling attended Ampleforth College and later went on to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied briefly before his adventurous nature led him to drop out. As a young man, Stirling aspired to be an artist and mountaineer, eventually joining an expedition to Mount Everest in 1938, though it was cut short by the outbreak of the Second World War.[2][3]
Related pages
changeReferences
change- ↑ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ↑ Mortimer, Gavin (2015-04-20). Stirling’s Desert Triumph: The SAS Egyptian Airfield Raids 1942. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-0764-9.
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/06/obituaries/sir-david-stirling-74-the-founder-of-britain-s-elite-commando-unit.html