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
NicknameThe Phantom Major
Born15 November 1915
Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Died4 November 1990
Westminster, London, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1937–1946
RankLieutenant Colonel
UnitNo. 8 (Guards) Commando, Special Air Service
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Order

Early Life and Education

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David 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]

See Also

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References

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  1. "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  2. Mortimer, Gavin (2015-04-20). Stirling’s Desert Triumph: The SAS Egyptian Airfield Raids 1942. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-0764-9.
  3. https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/06/obituaries/sir-david-stirling-74-the-founder-of-britain-s-elite-commando-unit.html