SAS Cap badge - Design History required

[silverwash]

obviously influenced by a visit to Cairo Museum.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by trackman

there was a competition to see who came up with the best badge design, Duncan Tait's design was chosen

Found this explanation :

Cap badge, a downward pointing flaming sword worked in cloth of a Crusader shield. Designed by Robert Charles 'Bob' Tait, then Corporal (subsequently Squadron Sergeant Major in both the wartime British Regiments and latterly an officer in the RAF Regiment).

The sword depicted is King Arthur's Excalibur (references to it as the Sword of Damocles derive from an article originally published in Mars and Minerva, the Regimental Journal written by a highly respected veteran of both British Regiments and the post-war re-raised Regiment. He was subsequently proved to be incorrect, but the story was picked up by the media and still gets repeated.)

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[bess55]

Very informative thread.

Interestingly, my copy of 'The Phantom Major' appears to have been at one time, part of the station library at RAF Hornchurch, catalogued as 'C.32' . . .

[Colin S]

Definitely a flaming sword of Damocles when designed because, as Johan says, the ‘winged dagger’ only came from Roy Farran’s book title.

[grey_green_acorn]

Self deleted

[Jolly Jack]

I am somewhat late to the party as this is an old thread. However, i once knew an ex member of 1st SAS. To my recollection, the badge represents the sword of Damocles suspended from a pair of wings. To symbolise that the wearers lives were continually at risk wherever they went. As opposed to the original sword of Damocles that was suspended by a hair above him.
The motto is paraphrased from a poem by The Great Montrose,
"He either fears his fate too much or his deserts are small,
Who dares not put it to the touch, to win or lose it all "

[Farang]

As a scion of a Clan family David Stirling would have been raised with a full understanding of that great Covenanter rallying call of Montrose’s Toast.

[Padre]

The original motto on Tait's design was 'Strike and Destroy', which was apparently considered 'too stern' by David Stirling and dismissed. His next suggestion was 'Descend to Ascend' which didn't find favour either, and so came 'Who Dares Wins'. That direct from Bob Tait himself.