In 1944, the Western Allied invasion of Europe required more than the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy. To keep as many German troops away from the invasion zone, specially trained commandos were needed to cause maximum disruption behind enemy lines. Among these formidable soldiers were the men of Britain’s Special Air Service.
Between June and September 1944, the 1st SAS Regiment carried out guerrilla operations against German forces while working alongside French Resistance fighters. Under direct orders from Winston Churchill, 1st SAS ambushed enemy convoys and conducted various acts of sabotage. However, these operations came at a heavy price, with captured commandos receiving no quarter from the Nazis.
Fighting among the SAS was a young Londoner: Trooper Alec Borrie, who was barely
