Bob Tait, Special Air Service
Bob Tait was a founding member of the United Kingdom's elite commando unit, the Special Air Service and was responsible for designing the distinctive "Winged Dagger" insignia, which is still used today.[1]
Military Service[edit]
Bob Tait, from Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland first joined the Gordon Highlanders but later volunteered from commando training in 1940 and was sent to the Middle East in early 1941. In June 1941 at the Battle of Litani River in Syria his regiment, 11 Commando, were tasked with capturing the vital bridge from the Vichy French who eventually blew it up. Using a pontoon bridge, Tait and a group of men secured a bridgehead on the other side of the river but found themselves cut off and under attack. He disobeyed an order from his Commanding Officer to surrender and swam the river to reunite with Allied forces. On the back of his heroics he was invited to join L Detachment Special Air Service (SAS) by its founder, Lieutenant David Sterling.[2]
Tait was involved in the first SAS mission in Libya in November 1941, which proved a disaster. After parachiting into 30 mph winds, 22 men out of 60 were either killed or captured by German troops. The second mission, however, was far more successful. Tait was one of five commandos who attacked the Agedabia aerodrome deep behind enemy lines and laid explosives that destroyed 37 aircraft. In total, three airfields deep inside enemy territory in Libya were breached and attacked with delayed bombs. The raid caused major disruption for German general Erin Rommel's North Africa operations. The raid secured the future of the SAS as it convinced military chiefs a specially trained unit that could operate behind enemy lines was needed.[3]
The citation for Bob Tait's military medal reads: “The party showed the highest degree of skill in arriving undetected on the aerodrome and great determination in fighting their way out.“
Design of Special Air Service Insignia[edit]
At the request of David Stirling, in October 1941, the members of the newly-formed unit held an informal competition to design the insignia for L Detachment, Special Air Service. Tait's original design depicted King Arthur's sword Excalibur surrounded by flames - not a winged dagger as commonly thought - and was voted the best, forming the cap badge still in use today. This design was combined with a scroll with the motto for the unit which was created by David Sterling, "Who Dares, Wins."[4]
Continued Military Service[edit]
He returned to the UK in early 1944 in readiness for D-Day. After the landing he took part in operations and is believed at one time attached to an American unit as a scout and other recon duties. In April 1945 he was selected to visit the USA and many of the newspaper cuttings and photographs record this trip.[5]
Returning to the UK in 1946, the SAS had been disbanded in October 1945 and Bob reenlisted into the Army Air Corps in September 1946 seeing service in Palestine during the troubles. Discharged in 1949 he completed the Military Trio by joining the Royal Air Force Regiment being awarded the LS&GC Medal and with the rank of Flight Sergeant. In 1963 he was posted as an instructor to RAF Henlow.[5]
Nearing retirement age he drew on his SAS skills for one last covert operation, by breaking into the Headquarters block retrieving his personal records and changing the date of birth on them. However, his tampering was discovered and at age expired received his final discharge. “Bob” Tait will not only be remembered as a founding member of the SAS and his daring operations, but being the man who put pencil to paper and designed the most famous and coveted military cap badge in the world “The Winged Dagger”.[5]
References[edit]
- ↑ Macintyre, Ben, Rogue heroes : the history of the SAS, Britain's secret special forces unit that sabotaged the Nazis and changed the nature of war, ISBN 9780735288126, OCLC 1027030750, retrieved 2018-09-03
- ↑ Macintyre, Ben. "Chapter 4". Rogue heroes : the history of the SAS, Britain's secret special forces unit that sabotaged the Nazis and changed the nature of war (First ed.). New York. ISBN 9781101904169. OCLC 934676482. Search this book on
- ↑ Macintyre, Ben. "Chapters 6-8". Rogue heroes : the history of the SAS, Britain's secret special forces unit that sabotaged the Nazis and changed the nature of war (First ed.). New York. ISBN 9781101904169. OCLC 934676482. Search this book on
- ↑ Macintyre, Ben. "Chapter 8". Rogue heroes : the history of the SAS, Britain's secret special forces unit that sabotaged the Nazis and changed the nature of war (First ed.). New York. ISBN 9781101904169. OCLC 934676482. Search this book on
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 the-saleroom.com. "Special Air Service Regimentally Important SAS Founding Father's Military Medal & Bar Group of 8". www.the-saleroom.com. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
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