Passing of Mike Sadler 04/01/24

[BROOKIES]

Good morning all.

Just seen the news "Major Mike Sadler: Girton veteran who was founding member of SAS dies at 103"

Major Mike Sadler, a founding member of Britain's Special Air Service, has died in Girton aged 103. The World War II navigator died at Arlington Manor Care Home on Thursday (January 4).

His death was confirmed by John Allcock, the secretary of the Special Air Service Regimental Association, an organisation that represents the veterans of the elite unit to which Major Sadler belonged. He was the last surviving founding member of the SAS and the last survivor of the Long Range Desert Group (LDRG), a reconnaissance unit based in the North African desert.

Major Sadler joined the SAS in 1941 and became a navigator who used the skies to find his way across the Libyan desert. In December of that year, he was part of the first successful SAS raid on Wadi Tamet where his team destroyed 24 aircraft and a fuel dump.

He fought with the SAS in Italy and France after his time in the desert. He was later parachuted into the Loire after the D-Day landings in 1944, where he participated in sabotage operations behind enemy lines.

On one occasion, Major Sadler guided a group of men who escaped a German unit through the desert on a five-day trek that covered 100 miles. The group did not have a map or any food but managed to link up with the army.

He was awarded the Military Cross and later served in MI6 before retiring in 1984. In 2018, he also received recognition from France when he was awarded the Légion d'honneur.

One question re his medals - does Lord Ashcroft own them if not let us see how much they sell for if they are put up for auction.

Jonathan

[manchesters]

RIP

A legend.