Rob's Background
Rifle Demo: Robert training South African Special Forces
At the age of sixteen, Robert Stirling joined the British Army as a Junior Leader Paratrooper and so spent his first year of service undergoing a strict training regime which alternated weapons skills, drill, physical exercise and education all designed to prepare a soldier for leadership.
Entering adult service and passing P Company, the Parachute Regiment selection, led to four tours in Northern Ireland and some covert experience wearing a donkey jacket and carrying a 9mm pistol.
After transferring to the Royal Hussars, and completing tank training, Robert Stirling was probably the second youngest ever to pass selection for the SAS at 19 years of age. The youngest, of course, was the famous John "Lofty" Wiseman - legendary SAS soldier, author of several books and generally good guy. Lofty was Robert Stirling's Sergeant Major when Lofty ran the training wing at 22 SAS Regt.
Train hard - fight easy
Robert left the British Army and joined the Rhodesian Army towards the end of the Bush War motivated by a distaste for Communism. In Rhodesia, now called Zimbabwe, he led his own unit of up to 200 men which at one time included his friend the military author and war correspondent Yves Debay, a number of ex-French Foreign Legionnaires and a range of other soldiers of fortune against the terrorist leader Robert Mugabe.
Rhodesian Armoured Car Regt. Support Troop
Robert was in constant action and wounded twice. Once in Rhodesia and a second time during an "external" operation in Mozambique.
In Rhodesia he was in a vehicle ambush when, amongst other things, a piece of shrapnel zipped across his face cutting the front of his left eyeball, opening up his cheek and cutting the tear duct by his nose as it went.
In Mozambique, during an external operation, Robert was one of ten men sent to storm an anti-aircraft position on top of a hill protecting a terrorist camp. Almost at the top of the hill the assault team found 600 terrorists dug in and were pinned down. From 20 feet above them the terrorists rained down grenades resulting in both Robert being wounded and an American Lieutenant being hit and presumed dead.
Robert was hit by 13 pieces of shrapnel from a Russian grenade which exploded a yard from his head. One piece ran along his temple and closed his right eye while another managed to penetrate the sole of his boot with the others scattered over his body. The piece over his eye remains to this day and still sets off metal detectors.
A Welshman (Robert sends his thanks to the fearless Taffy Davies) gave covering fire to allow Robert to move between covering rocks but his FN rifle was shot out of his hands and fell away down the hill. Reduced to his side-arm Robert was able to lead his men in a fighting withdrawal. The Lieutenant – who shall remain nameless – had taken a piece of shrapnel in his back-side and limped into camp later that night.
Robert, top left, with his South African Special Forces team
After the fall of Rhodesia Robert met the Brigadier commanding South African Special Forces and was offered the post of instructor to the Reconnaissance Commandos at the Bluff, Durban. After some months here, making a fair job of turning keen young men into special forces operators, Robert was accused of spying for British Intelligence.
After spending Christmas in a South African Military prison, waiting for the diplomats to do their thing, Robert was released and discharged from the SADF. Strangely this led to working with South African Intelligence (BOSS):
Corned beef or Kudu?
Besides extensive combat experience in numerous other conflicts over the years, Robert has been contracted to recover stolen diamonds, work undercover against mercenary operations, teach unarmed combat to riot police & special forces and provide close protection to VIPs.
The reader will notice that most pictures used on this site come from early on in his career. This is principally due to the confidential nature of much of his work since then.
Future clients of Stirling Tactical can be assured of similar confidentiality.
Today Robert acts as a consultant and trainer for several governments, some private companies and the European Military Parachutist Association based in Germany. He has written several non-fiction books, available from this web site, and is heavily involved in charity work for soldiers and veterans.