Keir radnedge biography of william

Special Air Service commando (1911–1983)

Lieutenant ColonelWilliam Joseph "Bill" Stirling of Keir (9 May 1911 – 1 January 1983) was a Scottish officer of the British Army who served during the Second World War.

Initially joining the Special Operations Executive, he would go on to command No. 62 Commando and then the 2nd Special Air Service (2 SAS). He was the elder brother of David Stirling, one of the founders of the SAS, but Bill has been described as the "real brains behind the operation".^[1] He was, however, removed from his command of 2 SAS by Frederick "Boy" Browning two days before D-Day because they clashed over how best to deploy his unit, thereby ending his army career.

Early life and education

Stirling was born on 9 May 1911, the eldest son of Brigadier General Archibald Stirling of Keir, a Scottish laird and Margaret Fraser, daughter of Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat.^[2][3] His parents had m