The little-known hidden tribute to SAS hero David Stirling
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With the return of Steven Knight’s war drama series SAS Rogue Heroes, many viewers are keen to know more about the real history of the show, including details about David Stirling (played by Connor Swindells), who founded the secretive branch of the British Army.
As the series shows, Stirling came up with new methods of warfare during World War II to outwit the Nazis by going close to enemy lines and sneaking up on them through the desert before melting away into the night. What audience members may not know is the real-life Stirling was honoured for his heroic work with a road name in Surrey dedicated to him.
Stirling Drive is situated on the former Caterham Barracks and near the Guards’ Depot, which is now a residential area and is overseen by the Caterham Barracks Community Trust. Along, with Stirling Drive there are various other road names on the complex dedicated to other soldiers and references to the site’s heritage, including Brigade Place and Coldstream Road.
Meanwhile, the former Guards’ Depot gymnasium used by soldiers and army personnel has now been converted into a community space. However, the building’s rich history and legacy haven’t been forgotten with biographies celebrating famous soldiers, who were linked to the Guards’ Depot, having pride of place on the walls including Stirling.
Stirling trained at the Guards’ Depot in Caterham prior to the outbreak of World War II and was commissioned to the Scots Guard. As depicted in SAS Rogue Heroes, he ended up on crutches after a disastrous parachute accident - he’d initially believed this was the best way to get behind the enemy quickly and discreetly.
