SAS ROGUE WARRIORS

[Gil Boyd]

For those that might be interested, tonight in the UK on BB2 at 9pm is the start of the above series.
New facts from family documents of the LEWES family who I have been working with for a few years now on the intended recovery of the body of Lt Jock Lewes killed in Libya whilst returning from a raid on the 31/12/41, come to light about who, even David Stirling says in his own words was the founding father of the Regiment.
Photos I held of Reg Seekings and others from that "Original" team make up some of the missing links.....enjoy.
I will see if I can put a link up tomorrow for those abroad

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[mrclark303]

Got back from the office to catch the last few minutes Gil, it looks really good. I will watch it on iPlayer.

[Flying10uk]

It was fascinating and very interesting.

[CINDERS]

Just a question the Commando's, LRDG and the SAS in WWII were they one and the same or different training for the group one volunteered for as I have seen a pic of the LRDG with their S/F knives in view in a group with their vehicles. It is just a question as I would have thought the individual was trained across all environments making them more deployable to create chaos and take out specific targets no matter where.

[Gil Boyd]

They were in fact separate units that the lads came from, pulled together on word of mouth or knowing Jock or Paddy or one of the lads who could put in a good word of their Military prowess having served with them already in action.
Now thats what you call selection. They were tough outcasts in their own units who wanted purpose in life and a reason for why they were in such a desolate location in those early days of WW2

[CINDERS]

Thanks Gil when you think of just how crude some of their gear was but on the day it was cutting edge the folboats gave them some fun especially under sail they were very brave as there was no hope of the enemy sparing your life H*tlers infamous Commando order, the German Paratroopers were incredibly well trained & disciplined a great fighting force equal to the best of our own. Although after the fiasco and appalling loses on Crete the boss forbade any type of that warfare again not sure of the figures but it was substantial around 6,698 from all causes in the battle. The SS were ruthless thugs and I think they had a certain type one without a conscious thought for anything I mean their boss was a thug any way Herr Himmler.

[Gil Boyd]

Was quite dissapointed in the BBC presentation last night, lots of quiet moments and black screens where a lot of additional training methods that Jock Lewes brought in which still endure today could have been spoken about and filled those silences nicely. Vehicles shown were wrong for the period. All the lads had were Ford F30 short trucks, not Chevrolets and Jeeps which didnt get into the desert campaign until America joined the war!

Nothing about Jock changing, and personally testing new hooks, following the death of two of his men when their chutes were not pulled from the bags as they did the static jumps from the aircraft, due to the weak RAF clips being used.

Nothing about David Stirlings letter to Jock Lewes father after his death saying those immortal words "Jock could far more genuinely claim to be the founder of the SAS than I".

Stealing 66 parachutes off the airfield in Cairo which were destined for India and the forming of the first Indian Airborne unit...............all very relavant points that showed these lads were misfits and rogues, but what a bunch of brilliant soldiers, who a few I had the pleasure to know!!!

[Gil Boyd]

As promised:

BBC iPlayer - SAS: Rogue Warriors - Series 1: Episode 1

[Badger]

As promised:

BBC iPlayer - SAS: Rogue Warriors - Series 1: Episode 1

Only works if your location is in the U.K. ..

Regards,
Doug

[Flying10uk]

The program did explain the differences in roles, quite well, between the Long Range Desert Group and the SAS although they did sometimes work together. The program went onto explain that the LRDG provided a kind of taxi service to the SAS in the desert, on occasions, to transport them to and from their targets. The LRDG was intended primary as an intelligence gathering force although it did from time to time attack targets.

I am looking forward to the next program in the series, next week.