Explore the remarkable journey of William Stirling, the unsung hero behind the SAS, as depicted in the new season of SAS Rogue Heroes
Cairo: So, have you heard about the new season of SAS Rogue Heroes? It’s set in 1943 and follows Paddy Mayne, played by Jack O’Connell, after David Stirling gets captured. The show shifts from North Africa to Europe, and things are getting intense.
In this season, Paddy faces some serious challenges as the higher-ups question the future of the SAS. Plus, there’s a new unit and fresh recruits joining the mix. Gwilym Lee steps in as William ‘Bill’ Stirling, David’s brother, which adds another layer to the story.
Without giving too much away, let’s just say that Paddy and William’s paths cross in some pretty complicated ways. Both characters are inspired by real-life heroes from the war, which makes it even more interesting.
William Stirling started with the Special Operations Executive and was a Chief Instructor at Inveraillort. He even set up Popski’s Private Army during the war, which was later led by his cousin. This unit did some wild operations across Italy and the Balkans.
Even after being captured in North Africa, Lieutenant-Colonel Stirling showed incredible leadership. He led a second SAS unit while in captivity, pushing for his vision of parachute operations behind enemy lines to gather vital intel.
Bill Stirling is often called the “brains behind the operation” of the SAS. He was a bit of a shadowy figure, preferring to stay out of the spotlight, but his contributions were massive.
He joined the SOE back in March 1940 and headed to Cairo in 1941, where he came up with the idea for a small special forces unit led by his brother David. But things got a bit rocky under David’s leadership, and the first SAS regiment lost its way.
Eventually, Bill took charge of a second SAS regiment, 2SAS, and led them with fierce determination. They moved from Italy to France, then through Holland and into Germany. Sadly, their achievements often get overshadowed by David’s story.
If you’re curious about this fascinating history, you can now stream SAS Rogue Heroes season 2 on BBC iPlayer.
