Who Dares Wins - Pete Scholey

The Special Air Service (SAS) is the toughest regiment in the British Army and is fted as the best Special Forces unit in the world. Members of the SAS live in a shadow world, unable to divulge their whereabouts or mission details, living a hard life of combat and secrets. This book brings to life the stories of 20 soldiers who were genuine heroes, although many were never recognised as such during their lives or even in death.

Who Dares Wins contains former SAS soldier Pete Scholey's memories of some of those men. It is a book about soldiers who bravely fought for their country in extreme circumstances with no desire to be famous, fted or rewarded. Each chapter tells us about the life and combat stories of the men who, although capable of superhuman effort, were very much human beings. Some of the stories of Pete's heroes have never been heard before and certainly none of these dramatic tales of combat and life in the regiment have been told in such a touching and compelling manner.

Pete Scholey was lucky enough to discover what he wanted to do with his life at a young age, and he stuck with it. He was, as he put it, 'a lifer' in the most respected, admired and toughest British Army regiment, the SAS. For 20 years Pete served in some of the world's most hostile terrain, patrolling, cooking, fighting, fixing and even laughing as enemy soldiers sought to expel him and his small band of fellow soldiers from whatever foxhole, jungle or sand dune that they were holed up in.

However, Pete did not want to be a soldier when he signed up. He wanted to join the RAF but, having twice failed the entrance exams, he ended up doing his National Service in the Royal Army Service Corps. When he was discharged, he immediately re-enlisted, ending up in the Parachute Regiment and eventually, in 1963, in the SAS. Pete served in Borneo, Aden, Oman and Northern Ireland as well as with the regiment's CRW anti-terrorist team. On leaving the regiment in 1982, Pete worked as a security consultant before settling down in semi-retirement with his wife, Carolyn, in Hereford. The author lives in UK.

"His stories vary in tone and scope as well as locale. From the steaming jungles of Borneo to the aforementioned Iranian Embassy incident to the windswept islands of the Falklands in winter, the stories unfold mixing action with humor quite nicely."- Kevin Powers, modelingmadness.com (May 2008)


"Pete Scholey served in the SAS until 1983 and this is his tribute to some of the men he knew and their predecessors. The stories are in chronological order from the foundation of the SAS and including actions in all the Regiment's theatres from World War 2 to the First Gulf War, including the Iranian Embassy action that many watched on live TV and ending with "Brave Two Zero."... Some of these stories are hair-raisingly gripping, and anyone interested in the SAS or in Special Forces should make sure to get this book. Very highly recommended!" -John Prigent, Internet Modeler (April 2008)

"The history of Britain's SAS provides fine stories in a new memoir of a 20-year SAS veteran who served in some of the world's most dangerous areas from 1963-83. His memory recounts remarkable soldiers, missions, and many names of thsoe who have died in obscurity, unheralded for their bravery and achievements. Any military history library will find this survey of SAS heroes to be both inviting and absorbing." - California Bookwatch (May 2008)