Special forces heroes

Over the last century, Britain's Special Forces have performed a whole host of operations with unequalled skill, secrecy and bravery. From the Cockleshell Heroes' daring 1942 raid deep into Nazi-occupied Europe, to the dangerous sorties into enemy territory during the Gulf wars. It takes a truly special sort of courage to go undercover behind enemy lines, or to be part of a small, elite unit in a hit-and-run raid against a far larger power. Michael Ashcroft set about assembling what is believed to be the largest private collection of British Special Forces medals in the world. Here he traces…