Two years ago his comments about mercy killings of Iraqis caused a storm among fellow SAS veterans, as. I then found the RMP and explained my situation and who I was. These ranged from Sniper Commander, Driver Commander, Instructor on Selection Training Wing, Surveillance Operator, Forward Air Controller, Medic, Bodyguard, SF Exchange Programme with Delta Force and Seal Team 6. Copyright 2021 - The Motivational Speakers Agency Limited. But there was a problem. var countInvisible = 0; Blindfolded, battered and stripped naked, he had a gun pressed to his head and the trigger pulled as his captors held mock executions. And for potentially putting another soldiers life at risk? Colin was fortunate enough to have been involved in some of the more high profile and daring missions of the recent period. Knowing the militia posed such a threat to the missing soldiers, the SAS commander in Basra was willing to storm any building to save his men. But we have literally hundreds of veteran suicides every year and that doesnt get in the news.. Published: 01:37 GMT, 21 October 2016 | Updated: 07:37 GMT, 21 October 2016, Colin Maclachlan, 42, is alleged to have misled readers when he recounted a hostage situation and rescue in Iraq in 2003. When so many doors shut, it puts a lot of veterans off.. The fundamental needs for a veteran remain the same. Im frightened to go in there now because I can only imagine how robust the security must be. He decided to fund himself through university where he attained a First Class MA (Hons.) Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class. Healthy mother-of-two, 32, collapsed and died from brain bleed while she led fitness bounce class. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Other SAS: Who Dares Wins instructors available for motivational speeches include: For more info on Colin Maclachlan, email us or speak with an agent on 01275 463222, Former Leicester and England Rugby Player. Few people have taken part in hostage negotiations, hostage rescue operations and also been taken hostage Colin is one of them. Also in 2000, Colin was the first sniper on the scene when a hijacked plane landed at Stanstead Airport. But today The Mail on Sunday can reveal how Sergeant Colin Maclachlan, 41, was one of two soldiers whose capture in Iraq brought SAS officers to the brink of mutiny over the Ministry of Defences refusal to sanction a rescue attempt. Please check your entries and try again. Prominently remembered as the longest hostage siege on UK soil, Colin found himself amongst a four-day long stand-off. 'sitekey': jQuery(el).attr('data-sitekey'), Giving veterans confidence back can only be a good thing, says Erskine chief executive. I'll happily go to jail, if you think I've done wrong. 'This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen!' Maclachlan, who is a now a TV personality, markets himself as an SAS 'hero' and has appeared on a number of shows about the secretive special forces unit. Ex-SAS personnel have branded special forces veteran Colin Maclachlan a military fantasist after details of his soon-to-be published book about his service in Iraq came under scrutiny. Proving himself to be a brave and committed soldier, Colin was trusted with more critical missions. Mr Maclachlan was unable to respond fully to The Times as he is in Nepal helping to rebuild schools destroyed in an earthquake. He had to decide whether to wait for a military convoy to collect him or to hijack a taxi. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. According to former comrades he had left the SAS in May 2005, several months before the alleged incident that took place in Basra. The Motivational Speakers Agency would like to keep you updated byoccasionally sending you newsletters that include information about exclusive free events, showcases and entertainment at venues such as The Gherkin, O2 Arena and Wembley. A source said: The show cant be faulted for showing diversity within its recruits but the DSs are all white men of similar age. We have to be giving them as much support as we can.. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Maclachlan was very suspicious of why the officer wanted to keep hold of his weapons if he intended to release him. 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By 2005, fears were growing that terrorist militias, intent on killing British troops, had infiltrated Iraqi police. SAS sergeant Colin Maclachlan, 42, misled the public about surviving a dramatic hostage-taking and rescue, ex-colleagues have told The Times. countInvisible++ We thought you were Egyptian terrorists, we had some intelligence which proved to be wrong. According to defence sources, the elite troops who served in the Special Boat Service (SBS) and the Special Air Service (SAS) are expected to be banned from any social functions hosted by Special Forces personnel. They are career politicians, Special report: Deluge of tiny plastic pellets pollutes Scots coast, Care warning: New FM must keep Sturgeons promise people in care grow up loved, safe and respected, Kate Forbes: People deserve honesty and I did not want to weasel out, Long driven to keep growing Alliance after six years in charge, Long challenges governments on responsibilities to make Stormont workable, Tottenham suffer cup disappointment again with defeat at Sheffield United, Arsenal march on at Premier League summit by thrashing Everton, Manchester United produce late fightback to beat West Ham in the FA Cup. When they reached an Iraqi police checkpoint near Basra, Maclachlan was alarmed to see 20 uniformed officers there twice as many as he was used to. The Official 15 Most Popular Artificial Intelligence Speakers in the World, Pride Month 2023: 5 Ways to Support Your LGBTQ+ Employees, The Official Top 10 Speakers on Unconscious Bias to Hire in 2023, 2015 - Principal Security Adviser for SCC Global & Project Manager for the Stirling Group, 2013 - Project Manager for ALTOR Risk Group, 2011 - Private Wealth Management Analyst for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, 2010 - Project Manager for Edinburgh Cyrenians, 2009 - Motion Capture Artist for Rockstar North, 2006 - Security Consultant for Pilgrims Group Ltd, 1989 - Sergeant Major in the 1st Battalion of The Royal Scots. The shocked driver froze and Maclachlans SAS colleague here called Al to protect his identity bundled him into the back seat. On September 19, 2005, Sgt Maclachlan, who served in the SAS for seven years, was returning to the city of Basra after dropping off two MI6 agents at the Kuwaiti border when his car broke down. Meanwhile, the SAS commander put his career on the line telling PJHQ top brass he would launch a rescue mission regardless of their concerns. "Hopefully, I can pass that on to the students here.". He said: "It was really good. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. With an estimated 240,000 veterans in Scotland, the need for that crucial support for ex-military personnel is only going to become greater. DC Thomson Co Ltd 2023. We put them in front of GPs and psychologists and wonder why they dont open up and get better. Since retiring from the forces, he has provided high-level security to the likes of the Saudi Royal Family, was named a Sunday . The muzzle of a pistol pressed against the back of his skull. in History from Edinburgh University Colin began his military career joining the Army in 1989, where he served in the Royal Scots for 9 years. Mr Maclachlan went on to serve with the SAS in Sierra Leone and Iraq. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Then as we drove through a chicane a 4x4 vehicle pushed up behind us and a van drove across our path wed been fronted and tailed. But he still hoped he could talk his way through the situation. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. We send ordinary people to do extraordinary things in extraordinary situations, and then expect them to come back and fit into civilian life, Colin added. Taking Vitamin D each day could cut your chances of getting dementia, study claims. var gCaptchaSibWidget; var indexArray = []; Colin was fortunate enough to have been involved in some of the more high profile and daring missions of the recent period. E.g. It clearly wasnt. Well take you back to Saddams Palace [where the men were quartered] now., But when Maclachlan asked if he could have his kit and weapons back the officer replied: No, well take it back for you. While Colin is fully supportive of the work Erskine and other organisations of its type do, he feels more can still be done to assist veterans. Then Maclachlan and Al had a stroke of luck. If you ask a veteran the sort of things they miss, its the sense of camaraderie and community, Colin said. I went to Baghdad and cracked on with the rest of the guys. He said it was later, after he left the SAS that his partner, Amanda, was the one who recognised what the issue was. His decision was apparently based on pictures recorded by a Predator eye-in-the-sky drone of Maclachlan and Al being dragged inside Jamiat police station. That is what we would do in the commercial world.. Something went wrong. Colin was fortunate enough to have been involved in some of the more high profile and daring missions of the recent period. Colin said he was delighted to be part of the show and hoped people would take motivation and confidence from watching it. The infuriated SAS commander stressed his men were in grave danger but he was told: Permission not granted. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He added: If anywhere in that book says there were three wounded guys and I killed them, all that is absolute nonsense.. We dont do enough, Colin insisted. Speak to a member of the Motivational Speakers Team about booking the perfect speaker. The primary target in its first year was to raise enough money to design an online app that veterans could log on to for assistance. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Maclachlan endured six mock executions during the ordeal. }); For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Ollie Ollerton is known for SAS: Who Dares Wins, Ollie is a military veteran who served on the Special Boat Service, Ollie worked alongside DS Ant Middleton, Jason 'Foxy' Fox and Mark 'Billy' Billingham, SAS Who Dares Wins star Olly Ollerton tells how show saved his life as he was drinking too much, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Well put the handcuffs back on you now, put you back in the police car and drive you back.. Alongside his fellow SAS soldiers, Colin was able to rescue the hostages and neutralise the West Side Boys. At the police building, Maclachlans face remained pressed against the wall, while his naked, battered body was shaking in pain. Mr Maclachlan, from Edinburgh, said that he operated in a unit which killed two or three mortally wounded Iraqi soldiers early into the Iraq war. Please provide details of your budget for Colin MacLachlan's speaking fee, including currency. Again a pistol was pressed against his head and an Iraqi police officer squeezed the trigger. Elizabeth Raum (Goodreads Author), Colin Maclachlan (Consultant_editor) 4.08 avg rating 36 ratings published 2011 5 editions. grecaptcha.render(element[indexArray[index]], { He didnt get one. }); Getting them under one roof is a good thing, somewhere to chill out and to provide them with a menu of activities and options, because everyone is different. Contact us: Emailthe reporter who wrote this story. SAS Colin Maclachlan was excellent and had everyone captivated from start to finish. Five years ago we put our heads above the parapet for the first time ever threatening our security as former members of the Special Forces to bring that show to fruition. We couldnt cope with the amount of people. He also founded Who Dares Cares, a charity with a passion to support veterans who are coping with stress. I found that remarkable. terrorism-related articles. }; To book After leaving the SAS, Colin has worked as an actor, author and public speaker but he has most recently become known for the Channel 4 show, which this year saw three winners as Lou, Mark and Milo were named as the recruits to pass the selection process. His captors wanted to execute him. The last thing I can remember is the sounds of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) being fired as we were driven out of there.. Follow Scunthorpe Live on Facebook- Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Last night, former members of the SAS called for the Ministry of Defence to change its policy regarding the Special Forces and issue a rebuttal of the claims made by Mr Maclachlan. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He also writes and edits security and "Now when Im back from Nepal Im happy to have you challenge my word. But it was like these officers had a different agenda. Colin left the SAS shortly after doing an exchange programme with both Delta Force and Seal Team 6 and after doing security consultancy for the Saudi Royal Family, A-List Celebrities and US Media Networks decided to fund himself through university where he attained a First Class MA (Hons.) Colin is also well educated, receiving an M.Litt in Terrorism from St. Andrews University and a First Class MA in History from Edinburgh University. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. if ((jQuery(el).attr('id') == "invisible")) { Published: 22:03, 24 October 2015 | Updated: 19:19, 25 October 2015. I received a first in history, as well as best overall student and best dissertation, Colin continued. This affected him afterwards but he was not aware of what was going on until he returned to civilian life. I applied for a night-time security job at the National Library. Only a handful of men have been involved in hostage negotiations, hostage rescue and been a . Well have a working app prototype by the end of May. Special Forces soldiers formed up in two extended lines to protect the Land Rovers carrying the pair. We should be using closed-down or half-empty barracks to give homeless veterans a place to sleep. Mr Maclachlan's book is due for release on November 17. The book later added: I didn't enjoy killing those soldiers at the checkpoint but I had to put them out of their misery.. But not everyone is able to do that. jQuery('.sib-default-btn').each(function (index, el) { Some like it, NOT! Truly thought-provoking, Colin is the perfect choice to deliver keynotes across the country. When I was leaving the SAS the following year the commanding officer suggested there had been some talk of me getting a medal for that day. When asked for a rough number he replies hundreds, hundreds over the last ten years. But he convinced them all to stay and film the next series without him, where they will be joined by a new recruit who is likely to fit new diversity guidelines. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Bad experiences put them off or they become tired of having doors slammed shut in their faces. The Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme offers a range of challenges and possibilities with three levels to complete the programme. Hed only just joined the SAS and this was his first operation. Maclachlan said last night: Usually I could flash my British Army identification card and get out of trouble. Jason fox, colin maclachlan, ant middleton, steve parmenter and matthew ollerton in channel 4's new series, sas: A former sas sergeant has said he is being investigated. When he was finally convinced who I was, he told me that there was a huge, angry crowd outside and that Al and I would have to climb into his Land Rover and keep our heads down to prevent anyone recognising us. I read about all the apparent issues with the rescue mission afterwards but I know very little about it. He has lived to tell the tale of many incredible and dangerous experiences, from being kidnapped to hunting down guerrilla gangs and hijacked planes. Colins Special Forces team were involved in some of the most daring and high profile SAS missions in the past two decades. As he recalled: At the time I thought, Oh well, thats me gone then. Obviously I wasnt happy about dying, but I feared for my parents. "They can take real confidence from things such as this, you can see it on their faces and it will certainly help them moving forward.". In total, 19 British soldiers were injured it was considered a miracle that none died. Colin Maclachlanjoined the army in 1989 and after 9 years in the Royal Scots passed selection first time aged 23 into 22 SAS. With three levels to complete the programme ( Hons. we should be using closed-down or half-empty to... Place in Basra left the SAS and this was his first operation job at the time I,... Drone of Maclachlan and Al had a stroke of luck face remained pressed against the,! The more high profile and daring missions of the Motivational Speakers Team about booking the perfect to. Considered a miracle that none died every year and that doesnt get the! Most ridiculous thing I can pass that on to the students here. `` personnel only. Rocket-Propelled grenades ( RPGs ) being fired as we were driven out of trouble the incident. 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