French Squadron 2nd SAS Regiment

( For illustration only as the lava stone panel is being created)

• Memorial Text
• “The Men of the French Squadron 2nd SAS Regiment”
• Those forgotten heroes
• Only a few dozen men chose to join the ranks of the Special Air Service in the spring of 1943, when 2nd SAS Regiment was created in North Africa by Lt. Col. William Bill STIRLING from the original No 62 Commando Small-Scale Raiding Force (SSRF).
• The French Squadron 2nd SAS Regiment was officially on the 1st April 1943. Commanded by Capt. Raymond COURAUD, alias LEE.
• The French Squadron was made up of volunteers from various French Army Units including the Foreign Legion, Zouaves, Tirailleurs, a few dozen at most.
• The French Squadron took part in the operations with their regiment in North Africa, Italy and finally in Europe: France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Norway, for those who chose to stay.
• In June 1943, during OP Buttercup, LEE and around fifteen of his men took part in a raid on the island of Lampedusa. They also took part in other operations in Italy, including landing at Taranto on the 10th September 1943.
• On the 14th September 1943, it was the French Squadron 2nd SAS Regiment that prepared and led a train requisitioned for the liberation of the PISTICCI PoW camp in Southern Italy, behind German Lines, and freed some 180 prisoners who were taken to Taranto. During the Italian Campaign, several operations were carried out behind enemy lines.
• When the 2nd SAS Regt. returned to the UK in March 1944, Most of the men of the French Squadron were posted to the 3rd SAS Regt. (French). Only a few would continue operations in Europe with the 2nd SAS Regt. At this point the French Squadron 2nd SAS Regt. ceased to exist in its originally intended form.
• The few remaining Frenchmen and others including Spaniards, Germans, Canadian, Russians and one from Luxembourg…..were then fully integrated into the 2nd SAS Regt. They continued the battle for the liberation of Europe until the end of the war and the eventual disbandment of the whole SAS Brigade.
• “THEY STAY ALIVE AS LONG AS WE REMEMBER THEM”
• Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove

Memorial Location in the Allied Special Forces Memorial Grove.

Page updated 8th March 2026