Brought up in poverty in the West of Ireland, Chris O’Dowd ran away
to join the Irish Guards aged 18. In no time he tasted bitter action in
Norway but hungry for more he
volunteered for the newly formed Commandos. After intensive training he sailed
for Egypt, serving with Churchill’s son
Randolph, novelist Evelyn Waugh and, most significantly, David
Stirling.
When Stirling got the go-ahead to
form the SAS, his handpicked team included the young Chris O’Dowd. After his
part in the early SAS behind-the-lines raids on enemy airfield, O’Dowd was
promoted to Lance-Sergeant and awarded the Military Medal.
When Colonel David Stirling was captured, the SAS’s future was in
danger (it was always threatened by enemies within the Army) but Ulsterman Major
Paddy Mayne managed to keep it alive. O’Dowd’s courage and toughness typified
the spirit of the SAS and he became a key member of this elite
band.
The SAS spearheaded the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 and then was ordered to
the Italian mainland. Tragically Chris O’Dowd was killed in action along with
fourteen others in October 1943.
