72647 Archibald David STIRLING, DSO, OBE, MiD, Scots Guards attached SAS

SAS founder's life story to be made into a film | Uk News | News | Telegraph

 

Sounds like a good commitment. Hope it is near to the truth and respectful of him and his men.

 

It was just over two years ago that an announcement was made concerning a film being made based on Alan Hoe's book "David Stirling: The authorised biography." with no small delight especially as it looked as if it could become a 21st version of David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia.

Two years on and the project has become a case of no news is... well, no news. The writer contracted to provide a screenplay, Rupert Walters, is busy working on an unrelated Leni Riefenstahl biopic which is currently in development.

Handmade Films, the company originally set up by George Harrison and producer of gems such as Life of Brian, Time Bandits and Withnail and I is the owner of the option on Hoe's book and the voice behind the original announcement. I got in touch with them this week to see just how things were going. Unfortunately the majority of them are in Cannes for the film festival, but the helpful and well-spoken young thing who's been left holding the fort assured me how someone would be in touch to discuss it. B)

Within a couple of days someone was indeed in touch. Quite amazingly so when you consider the hi-falutin' world which cinema is and me, a lowly citizen with no more profile than Nicholas Cage's left shoe. The project is still on, but mostly it's still on the back boiler with little progress made so far. It's that simple. I was invited to ring the chap back in six months for an update, which I will.

A trifle disapointing of course, but at least they haven't dropped it.

 

Thought this was worth sharing whilst going through my files;

 

Does anyone have the exact date of capture for Stirling in Tunisia? I know it’s January 1943, but just wondering about the day, can’t seem to find that..

My grandfather was 30/12/1942 for suspected and also confirmed PoW reports 1st Welch attached to 1 SAS.. seems pretty close potentially.

I’ve ordered both war diaries so hopefully they can shed more light.

 

23 January 1943. He then makes a run only to be recaptured on the 24th.

 

Lovely thanks

 

Hi Matt,

Carol Mather and his crew were captured in December 1942. I couldn't find an exact date but I suspect it was towards the end of the month from the context of other events happening at the time.

Regards ...

 

20th December apparently.. I just read about it after seeing your post as I hadn’t heard of him. Thank you

 

Thanks Charley

 

Not capture related, but a footnote from incarceration, From "DETOUR - THE STORY OF OFLAG IVC" published 1946.







Kind regards, always,

Jim.

 

Personal Number: 72647
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Name: Sir Archibald David STIRLING, DSO, OBE, MiD
Unit: Scots Guards


London Gazette : 24 February 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35465/supplement/893/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East:—
The Distinguished Service Order.
Lieutenant (acting Captain) Archibald David Stirling (72647), Scots Guards (Dunblane, Perthshire).

London Gazette : 30 June 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35611/supplement/2853/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East during the period July, 1941. to October, 1941:—
FOOT GUARDS
S. G'ds.
Lt. (actg. Capt.) A. D. Stirling, D.S.O. (72647).

London Gazette : 14 November 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37787/supplement/5605/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotion in, and appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field:—
To be Additional Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —
Colonel (temporary) Archibald David STIRLING, D.S.O. (72647), Scots Guards.

London Gazette : 7 May 1948
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38282/supplement/2814/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
S. G'ds.
2nd Lt. (War Subs. Maj.) A. D. STIRLING, D.S.O. (72647), from Supp: Res. of Offrs., to be Capt. (War Subs. Maj.), 1st Nov. 1947, with seniority 24th July 1947, and is granted the hon. rank of Lt.-Col.

London Gazette : 26 February 1952
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39476/supplement/1115/data.pdf
S.G.
Capt. (W ar Subs. Maj.) (Hon. Lt.-Col.) A . D. STIRLING, D.S.O., O.B.E. (72647), to be Maj. (Hon. Lt.-Col.), 1st Nov. 1947.

London Gazette : 16 November 1965
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/43814/supplement/10656/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
S.G.
REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS
Maj. (Hon. Lt.-Col.) A. D. STIRLING. D.S.O., O.B.E. (72647), having attained the age limit, relinquishes his commn., 15th Nov. 1965, retaining the hon. rank of Lt.-Col.

London Gazette : 30 December 1989
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/51981/supplement/2/data.pdf
THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to signify her intention of conferring the honour of Knighthood upon the undermentioned:
Knights Bachelor
Colonel David Archibald STIRLING, D.S.O., O.B.E.
For services to the Military.

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Stirling, Archibald David
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment: Scots Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Middle East (Egypt and Libya)
Award: Distinguished Service Order
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 24 February 1942
Date 1941-1942
Catalogue reference WO 373/18

 

London Gazette : 30 June 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35611/supplement/2851/data.pdf

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35611/supplement/2853/data.pdf

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Stirling, Archibald David
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 72647
Regiment: Scots Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: The London Omnibus List for Gallant and Distinguished Services in the Field
Award: Order of the British Empire
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 14 February 1947
Date 1946-1947
Catalogue reference WO 373/103

 

Recommendation for Award for Stirling, A D Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Service... | The National Archives
Name Stirling, A D
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 72647
Regiment: Scots Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Foreign to British: France
Award: Croix de Guerre
Date 1940-1947
Catalogue reference WO 373/185

 

Previously posted elsewhere but hopefully a worthy addition here for those who may not have seen it before (and by way of thanks to dbf's continuing superb efforts here on WW2 Talk)

Kind regards, always.

Jim.

 

THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH AFRICA 1940-1943
Catalogue number: E 21338
Object description: The Axis Offensive 1941 - 1942: A Special Air Service jeep patrol is greeted by its commander, Colonel David Stirling, on its return from the desert.
Label: Colonel David Stirling, founder of the Special Air Service, with an SAS jeep patrol in North Africa, 18 January 1943.
Creator: Keating, Geoffrey (Major)
No. 1 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit
Production date: 1943-01-18

 

A famous and dare I say iconic photo, which I've re-posted below to include David Stirling's desert boots (please forgive me dbf but they're a cracking pair of boots!).

The chaps, from back of photo to front, left to right are;

John "Jocky" Henderson (SRS casualty at Termoli, interred at Sangro River Cemetery), Jock Mcdiarmaid MM, Dave Goldie, John Taylor, William Kit Kennedy, and Lt Edward Mcdonald DCM (and last, but by no means least, David Stirling).

Many names that I don't doubt you've come across previously dbf.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.