David Stirling

Statue of David Stirling near Doune, Scotland

Colonel Sir David Stirling, OBE, DSO (1915 - 1990) was a Scottish laird, a keen mountaineer, an officer in the British Army during World War 2, and the founder of the Special Air Service.

He was educated at Ampleforth College and the University of Cambridge.

David Stirling joined the Scots Guards as a subaltern in 1939, and in June 1940 volunteered for the new No.8 Commando under Lt. Col. Robert Laycock which became part of Force Z (later named "Layforce"). After Layforce (and No.8 Commando) were disbanded on 1st August 1941, Stirling remained convinced of the need for a certain type of raiding force in North Africa.

Aware that going through the chain of command would not work Stirling decided to go straight to the top. On crutches following a parachuting accident he snuck into Army headquarters in a effort to see Commander-in-Chief General Claude Auchinleck. Taking cover in an office Stirling came face to face with Deputy Commander Middle East General Ritchie. Stirling explained his plan to Ritchie and Ritchie convinced Auchinleck to allow Stirling to form a new Special Forces unit. The unit was given the deliberately misleadingly name "L Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade" to enforce an existing deception of a parachute brigade existing in North Africa.

Stirling was captured by the Italians in January 1943 and spent the rest of the war at Colditz prisoner of war camp.

He was knighted in 1990, and died later that year.