Sas Founders Memorial

Anafi over Monument to Sir David Stirling the founder of the SAS

Monument to Sir David Stirling the founder of the SAS, situated near Keir House, his ancestral home. Memorial statue of David Stirling, founder of the Special Air Squadron (SAS), Doune, Stirlingshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

David Stirling Memorial

The David Stirling Memorial stands in the countryside, near Doune. David Stirling was an officer in the British army, and was a founder of the Special Air Service (SAS). I had been driving home from Doune, when I came across the memorial, and I decided to visit it, while I was there.

David Stirling Memorial Statue Hill of Row Scotland

Tour Scotland video of the David Stirling Memorial Statue at Hill of Row. The memorial is to Lieutenant Colonel Sir David Stirling OBE DSO, also known as the Phantom Major, who founded the Special Air Service at the height of WWII. Field Marshall Montgomery, who commanded the Allied forces in North Africa at the time, said, The boy Stirling is quite mad, quite, quite mad. However, in a war there is often a place for mad people. In 1943, Stirling was captured by the Germans, then escaped, but was captured by the Italians and became a prisoner of war. Hitler had ordered that all members of the SAS and other special forces should be executed but to his credit Field Marshall Rommel was the only German commander to ignore the order. During his time as a POW, he escaped four times and was eventually sent to the famous Colditz Castle where he remained for the rest of the war. In the meantime, his brother had taken over as commander of an SAS Brigade. The SAS expanded and became involved in escapades in many parts of Europe. The principles established led to the creation of the crack SAS Regiment which today forms the UK's premier special forces unit. David Stirling was awarded the OBE and DSO for his actions in war and was knighted in 1990 but died a few months later. The B824, from Doune to Junction 11 on the M9 motorway runs past it, and as a result it is easy to find and visit

David Stirling Memorial -- Founder Of The S.A.S. (Please Read Info)

Colonel Sir Archibald David Stirling DSO OBE (15 November, 1915 - 4 November, 1990) was a Scottish laird, mountaineer, World War II British Army officer, and the founder of the Special Air Service.
Stirling was born at his family's ancestral home, Keir House in the parish of Lecropt in Perthshire (near Stirling). He was the son of Brigadier General Archibald Stirling of Keir and Margaret Fraser, daughter of Simon Fraser, the Lord Lovat (a descendant from King Charles II of Great Britain). His cousin was Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat. He was educated at Ampleforth College and Trinity College, Cambridge. A tall and athletic figure (he was 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m)] tall), he was training to climb Mount Everest when World War II broke out.

In 1941 Lieutenant David Stirling and Lieutenant Jock Lewis gathered a small unit of 66 volunteers. This unit was named the L. Detachment of the Special Air Service Brigade. The main objective of this group was to conduct raids against the lines of communication of Axis forces in the Western Dessert.

They hoped insert their raiding parties by parachute. However the first attempt ended in disaster do to poor weather conditions. Although many troops were lost, they continued their raids and by using vehicles that were driven across the dessert to enter behind enemy lines.

Lewis was killed in an early operation, but under Stirling's Leadership, the SAS Regiment was very successful during the remaining 18 months of the campaign. They were responsible for the destruction of several hundred enemy aircraft on the ground and large quantities of war material. In addition, they were responsible for frequent disruption to the infrastructure and communications targets.

David Sterling was captured in January 1943 and his command ultimately passed to Major Blair 'Paddy' Mayne. Sterling was eventually sent to the notorious POW camp at Colditz Castle.

The 2nd SAS Regiment was raised and commanded by William Stirling, David's brother. The 2nd regiment was responsible for the Operation Torch landings in Algeria.

The memorial to Sir David Stirling is on a hill looking north towards the hills and mountains of Perthshire
How to Get There
The memorial statue is beside the B824 road between the M9/A9 the main road north from Stirling and Doune.

(Official) SAS Regimental Association David Stirling Memorial Film

This is a short film to show viewers what it is like to visit the David Stirling Memorial in Stirling, Scotland.
To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the formation of the Regiment new plaques were added listing the WW2 casualties.
The SAS regimental Association is at marsandminerva.co.uk
The music is Stirling of Kier.
Video production by v102.net

David Stirling, SAS Memorial

Sir David Stirling, Founder of the Special Air Service (SAS)

`UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE`

David Stirling, a Natural Leader

From SAS: Rogue Heroes, The Authorised Wartime History
by Ben MacIntyre

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Memorial statue of Colonel Sir David Sterling, founder of the SAS located outside Doune and Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland.