3rd SAS Shoulder Title

Pair of WW2 3rd SAS Shoulder Titles

After the fall of France in 1940, some men managed to escape and make their way to England. On September 15, 1940, on the orders of General de Gaulle, Captain Georges Bergé formed the 1st Air Infantry Company. These men were trained as commandos, and received Parachute training. In 1941, the unit travels to Beirut arriving on September 23 and the takes the name of 1st Company of Paratroopers (1st CCP). In January 1942, the men were transferred to the Kabrit base in Egypt, and it was here, under request of Major David Stirling, the 1st CCP incorporated into the Special Air Service. Here, the Free French volunteers with the SAS, carried out their first attacks on axis positions in Libya and Crete. The members carried on raids until January 1943, when they begin their to move back to the UK.

With a number of Free French volunteers arriving in Britain at the same time, it allowed two battalions to be formed; the 3rd SAS directed by Captain Yves Conan and the 4th SAS with Commander Pierre Bourgoin in control. The men go through tough training and after becoming parachute-qualified, they are then put through various commando training courses. In May 1944, the French SAS paratroopers were declared operational and ready to participate in the upcoming Allied invasion of Europe.

With the invasion, the 3rd SAS operates in the Limousin, Poitou-Charentes, Vendée, Saone-et-Loire, the Rhone and Doubs where they harass retreating enemy convoys. Despite significant losses, the mission was successful. The 3rd SAS goes on to carry out operations across France, Belgium and the Netherlands. 

The 3rd SAS was disbanded on October 6, 1945.

Each shoulder title is approximately 6.5 x 2.8 cm (2.5 x 1.1 inches) and uses light blue cotton on a Maroon backing.

Perfect for your Special Air Service collection!