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My SAS Grandfather

by SASGrandson

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Contributed by听: SASGrandson
People in story:听: Max Andrews
Location of story:听: Worldwide
Background to story:听: Army
Article ID:听: A3045700
Contributed on:听: 24 September 2004

My grandfather was Max Andrews, and had served alongside Field Marshall Montgomery,
but also, according to my dad, he had been one of the key founding members of what is now the British Special Air Service with Captain David Sterling. I know little else, but would certainly like to know if this is indeed true. If it IS, oh how proud of my grandfather I'd be.

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Message 1 - My SAS Grandfather

Posted on: 07 January 2005 by Trooper Tom Canning - WW2 Site Helper

Dear SAS Grandson -
the very fact that your Grandfather served in the SAS in any capacity should be enough to make you extremely proud of him !

It was indeed David Stirling plus Paddy Mayne and later assisted by Roy Farran who instituted the SAS in the Desert by starting off as a real Air service - this was soon set aside and they depended therafter for the Taxi service of the L.R.D.G.to take them to and from their targets.
David Stirling's brother set up and commanded a second Battalion.
Don't know about serving 'alongside' Monty, only his Staff did that all the rest served UNDER him !
There are two books I would recommend - "Winged Dagger " by Roy Farran and the other is "SAS - an Illustrated History" by Barry Davies - you might be able to pick up those books at your local libray...and spot your Grandfather in one of the photos !

Message 1 - sas

Posted on: 13 October 2005 by unforeseenfreedom

My father who has sinse passed away told me of some of his exploits while in the armed forces.
He was in the scots guards before moving on to number 8 commando regiment and was later asked if he wished to join a small group of men for special training which would involve being dropped by parachute behind enemy lines which he agreed to and found himself being trained with about 50 other men which would work in small units behind enemy lines and was later to be known as the sas with david sterling in charge.
At times parachutes were used and sometime gliders ,known as bombay ducks.
When i was ten years old the war office contacted my father (1959)seeking information on a 19year old soldier as his parents were still trying to trace him.
Apparently when they parachuted into the desert the young man broke his ankle and they had no option but to leave him in the sand dunes as there were about another 11 people to think of but did expect the italians to find him,however the sand moved and he was buried where he was left.
My father was later captured and spent 3 years in a italian pow camp where he would queue for cabbage soup,if you at the head of the queue one day,you were last the next and got mainly water.
After three years he did with three others escape to switzerland after bribing a guard with a ten pound note one of his comrades had hidden down his socks for many years, as the war was getting close to an end the italian guard helped them with part of there journey, the french resistant helped get them to england.
While in switzerland though not much was done to help them and they slept in a barn, the germans although didnt bother them, it being a neutral country, but although the war was nearly over things could change.
The swiss were afraid the germans when pulling back could move/invade
into switzerland so it was better to care better for the germans.
Someone escaped back to england and told the authorities what was happening in switserland and my father and his companions finished up sharing a room which was a lot better
than a barn.
My father (john paterson robertson) did get his name in a book, THE PHANTOM MAJOR, which tells of some of the raids he was involved in prior to his capture, L DETACHMENT SAS.
Hope you enjoy the reading, theres much more to tell but feel i could run out of space.

Regards J (JOE) Robertson

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