Founded in 1940, the Special Boat Service was the world’s first maritime special operations unit. It started out as a small and inexperienced force, initially carried by its volunteers’ courage and enthusiasm. Their wartime missions included the destruction of enemy ships and railways, rescuing fugitive Allied soldiers and supporting local commando operations. Over four years, this extraordinary group helped turn the tide of the Second World War. Their actions left a legacy in special forces history and have served as a model ever since.
In this fascinating talk, Saul David uses brand new material to bring together an all-encompassing wartime history of the SBS, highlighting their missions, their ideals and their lives.
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About the speaker
Saul David is Professor of Military History at the University of Buckingham and Course Director and Tutor of Buckingham’s London-based MA in Military History by Research, The Art of War from Marlborough to Montgomery, 1701-1945.
He specialises in the history of the British Army and the wars of 19th and 20th centuries. His many publications include The Indian Mutiny (2002) – shortlisted for the Westminster Medal for Military Literature – Zulu: The Tragedy and Heroism of the Zulu War of 1879 (2004), and Operation Thunderbolt: Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe Airport (2015). He is also an experienced broadcaster and regularly appears in history programmes on British TV and radio.
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