L/Cpl Bob Tait, MM & Bar

Photo courtesy of Bob Edwards who adds the following detail:

Warrant Officer Bob Tait* MM & Bar a native of Greenock joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16.
In 1940 Bob enlisted into the Gordons (London Scottish). Posted to Aberdeen for training he decided on a more exciting army career and volunteered for Commando training. Joining No.11 Commando he was posted to the Middle East in January 1941 to serve with the Special Service Brigade Layforce under the command of Col Bob Laycock KCMG CB DSO KStJ. The Battle of Litani River took part on the 9th June 1941. No.11 Commando were tasked with the capture of a vital bridge, but, due to delay the Vichy French, blew the bridge. The Commando secured a small bridgehead via pontoon bridges, it appears that Bob’s group became separated and came under direct heavy attack from armoured cars. It was about this point that Bob disobeyed the order to surrender and swam the river to meet up with Allied Forces. The CO of no.11 Commando, Lt Col Pedder, was killed and the later Lt Col Geoffrey Keyes, VC, MC took command and the crossing was later secured.
Later in 1941 Bob was invited to join 'L' Detachment Special Air Service Brigade under the command of Major David Stirling DSO and took part in the first operation of the Regiment in November 1941. This was a parachute drop in support of the Operation Crusader offensive. Due to German resistance and adverse weather conditions which resulted in the loss of valuable RAF aircraft, the mission was a disaster; 22 men, a third of the unit, were killed or captured. Bob survived this and was selected to take part in the second operation.
The future of the SAS in the balance, they would attack three German airfields in Libya. Transported by the LRDG the raid has become legendary and confirmed the SAS’ place in the British Army and it’s reputation as the premier unit of the world’s Special Forces.
He returned to the UK in early 1944 in readiness for D-Day. After the landing he took part in operations and is believed at one time attached to an American unit as a scout and other recon duties.
Returning to the UK in 1946, the SAS had been disbanded in October 1945 and Bob re-enlisted into the Army Air Corps in September 1946 seeing service in Palestine during the troubles.
Discharged in 1949 he joined the Royal Air Force Regiment being awarded the LS&GC Medal and the rank of Flight Sergeant.
In 1963 he was posted as an instructor to RAF Henlow, nearing retirement age he drew on his SAS skills for one last covert operation, by breaking into the Headquarters block retrieving his personal records and changing the date of Birth on them. Alas his tampering was discovered and at age expired received his final discharge.


However “Bob” Tait will not only be remembered as a founding member of the SAS and by his daring operations, but being the man who put pencil to paper and designed the most famous and coveted military cap badge in the world “The Winged Dagger”.

Editors note: The article as submitted showed the first and middle names as Robert Duncan, however London Gazette Supplement 35799, page 5142 shows Duncan Robert Tait.