War Grave from L/Cpl Jimmy "Curly" Hall in Les Ormes (Yonne, France)
Who Dares Wins (Greek: Ο Τολμών Νικά, O tolmón niká; Latin: Qui audet adipiscitur ; French: Qui ose gagne; Italian: Chi osa vince; Portuguese: Quem ousa vence; German: Wer wagt, gewinnt; Dutch: Wie niet waagt, die niet wint; Hebrew: המעז מנצח) is a motto made popular in the English-speaking world by the British Special Air Service.[1]
The German: Wer wagt, gewinnt is attested from at least the 18th century.[2] Slight variations go back further. The same is likely true of other languages.
As the motto of the SAS, it is normally credited to its founder, Sir David Stirling.[3] Among the SAS themselves, it is sometimes humorously corrupted to "Who cares [who] wins?".[4]
The expression appears in a medieval Arabic book of fairy tales, translated and published in 2014.[5]
The catchphrase "He Who Dares Wins" was commonly used by Del Boy in British sitcomOnly Fools and Horses. The shortened form "Qui Audet" is also heard on the second episode of Pennyworth.
The motto has been used by twelve elite special forces units around the world that in some way have historical ties to the British SAS.
Active since 1 July 1966. Participated in Indo-Pak War 1965, 1971, Battle of Chamb, Op-Bluestar, Op-Cactus, Op-Pavan, Op-Sunrise, Op-Golden Bird (Kargil War), Op-Rakshak, Op-Khukri, 2015 Counter Insurgency Op, many more surgical strikes.
Heirs to the traditions of the 3rd and 4th squadrons of the WWII SAS whose members were Free French paratroopers. Their motto remains the same as the British one ("Qui ose gagne", meaning "Who dares wins").
On 21 September 1945 5th SAS was transferred from the British Army to the newly reformed Belgian Army. Renamed the 1st Regiment of Parachutists, they served independently as a mobile airborne unit until 1952 when the regiment joined with the Commando Regiment to form a battalion of the Para-Commando Brigade. From 1952 on, the traditions of 5th SAS were continued by 1st Parachute Battalion (1 PARA) of the Para-Commando Brigade.
After disbandment of 1 PARA in 2011 the traditions were inherited by the Special Forces Group.
'C Squadron (Rhodesia) Special Air Service' Mil. Abbrev. 'C Sqn SAS'. Later 'Rhodesian Special Air Service Regiment' in Kabrit Barracks, Salisbury (now Harare).
^Thompson, Leroy (1994). SAS: Great Britain's Elite Special Air Service. Zenith. p. 9. ISBN978-0879389406.
^al-hikayat al-'ajiba wa'l-akhbar al-ghariba [Tales of the Marvellous and News of the Strange]. Translated by Malcolm C. Lyons. Penguin. 2014. p. 76. ISBN9780141395036.
