A defiant letter sent by legendary SAS commander Blair 'Paddy' Mayne to a comrade just weeks after their elite unit had been disbanded has been found 80 years on.
Writing in late November 1945, Lieutenant-Colonel Mayne eulogised about the courage of the men under his command.
He told Major Harry Poat that they had fought in the 'best disciplined, most pleasant and best scrapping unit in the British Army'.
Lt Col Mayne, who died in a car accident a decade after writing the letter, added that he would 'never forget' their contribution.
His letter was sent a little over a month after the Special Air Service was disbanded by officials despite its contribution to the Allied victory in the Second World War.
