Last wartime SAS originals die: Ex-MI6 officer who won the Military Cross and was the last surviving member of the famous L Detachment – and even had a chunk of Antarctica named after him – dies aged 103
The last surviving member of the original wartime SAS has died at the age of 103.
Major Mike Sadler was recruited by David Stirling, the founder of the British Army's elite Special Air Service regiment, which was formed in 1941.
He initially took part in night raids on Axis airfields in Libya before being parachuted into Nazi-occupied France after the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944.
He received the Military Cross for his actions in France and even had a piece of Antarctica named after him.
In 2018, he was further recognized with France's highest award: the Legion d'honneur.
Historian Damien Lewis, who has written several books on the wartime history of the SAS, said of X: 'Very sad news indeed. Another one gone. We remember them – the bravest of the brave.”
Major Mike Sadler was recruited by David Stirling, the founder of the British Army's elite Special Air Service regiment, which was formed in 1941.
In 1941, Major Sadler joined the Long Range Desert Group, a reconnaissance unit based in the North African desert.
He was then brought into the fledgling SAS and quickly became the unit's best navigator.
Major Sadler, after his time in the Desert War, fought with the SAS in Italy and France, before founding the SAS Intelligence Unit.
On August 7, 1944, Major Sadler was parachuted into the Loire as part of Operation Houndsworth.
The aim was to reach SAS squadrons behind the lines and help destroy fuel depots, encourage local resistance and prevent armored divisions from moving north.
By this time, Hitler had given instructions to execute all captured paratroopers.
Germans struck the convoy of two jeeps while Major Sadler returned fire, allowing the other jeep to flee before escaping himself. He later received the Military Cross for gallantry.
Major Sadler (left) initially took part in night raids on Axis airfields in Libya before being parachuted into Nazi-occupied France following the D-Day landings in Normandy in 1944
Those who formed L Detachment SAS called themselves 'the Originals', with Major Sadler considered an honorary member.
He was given the role of Lieutenant of Stirling, but this was reportedly never told to the authorities, so Major Sadler ended the war as a major.
In December 1941, Major Sadler was part of the first successful SAS raid – on Wadi Tamet airfield – in which a six-man team destroyed 24 aircraft and a fuel dump.
This was led by Lieutenant Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, a former Irish international rugby star who would become one of Britain's most decorated soldiers.
On the night of July 26, 1942, without headlights or a map, Major Sadler led 18 jeeps filled with two Vickers K machine guns across 70 miles of desert to within 200 feet of Sidi Haneish airfield.
The group then opened fire as they drove between aircraft, destroying at least 37 aircraft. But one of the SAS jeep drivers was unfortunately shot in the head and buried in the sand during the attack.
“I remember the people who did not survive and who did not have the opportunity to receive this great honor,” Major Sadler said after being awarded the Legion d'honneur.
He received the Military Medal for the Tamit and Sidi Haneish attacks.
Major Sadler was also one of the officers who followed Stirling during the last SAS operation during the Desert War in January 1943.
This involved trying to cross the Tunisian desert to meet the British-American 1st Army, but they were ambushed by a German unit.
Stirling was captured and would spend the remainder of World War II as a prisoner of war in Colditz.
Major Sadler managed to escape together with another SAS soldier and an Arabic-speaking Frenchman.
He guided the group on a five-day, 100-mile trek, without a map or any food supplies, to join the 1st Army.
American war correspondent AJ Liebling witnessed Mr Sadler as he arrived from the desert and wrote: 'This fellow's eyes were round and sky blue and his hair and whiskers were very fair.
'His beard started well below his chin, giving him the appearance of an emaciated and slightly speckled Paul Verlaine.'
After the war, Major Sadler married Anne Hetherington, but the union was dissolved after two years.
In 1958 he married Pat Benson, who died in 2001. He is survived by their daughter Sally.