![]() |
John "Lofty" Wiseman is a British author, survival consultant and television presenter. He is a former member of the Special Air Service (SAS), the British special forces unit.
In 1959, at the age of eighteen, Wiseman became the youngest person ever to pass selection for the SAS, joining from the Parachute Regiment, which he had joined a year earlier. He went on to serve in the SAS for 26 years, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer. Wiseman was also Head of Operational Research 22 SAS, set up a counter hijack team known as SP Team and founded the SAS Counter-Terrorist Team (who are well known for their involvement in the Iranian Embassy siege).
Before his retirement Wiseman was also involved in selection courses where he helped decide who was able to join the SAS. When he retired in 1985 the commanding officer of the 22nd SAS said that "Lofty is a legend in this regiment." [1]
After leaving the SAS in 1985, his first book was The SAS Survival Handbook (published in 1986). Wiseman has since become a survival author and consultant, as well as appearing on television. When he provided survival training to the cast of the 1990 film Memphis Belle , his ability to make food out of unlikely materials inspired cast member Harry Connick Jr. to write the song Lofty's Roach Souffle . [2]
Wiseman is a member of the instructional team at Trueways Survival School [1] and was the instructor for the selection/training phase for the show Castaway 2000 .
The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling and in 1950, it was reconstituted as a corps. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, direct action and covert reconnaissance. Much of the information about the SAS is highly classified, and the unit is not commented on by either the British government or the Ministry of Defence due to the secrecy and sensitivity of its operations.
The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the special forces unit of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The SBS can trace its origins back to the Second World War when the Army Special Boat Section was formed in 1940. After the Second World War, the Royal Navy formed special forces with several name changes—Special Boat Company was adopted in 1951 and re-designated as the Special Boat Squadron in 1974—until on 28 July 1987 when the unit was renamed as the Special Boat Service after assuming responsibility for maritime counter-terrorism. Most of the operations conducted by the SBS are highly classified, and are rarely commented on by the British government or the Ministry of Defence, owing to their sensitive nature.
The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR though commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army. Formed in 1957, it was modelled on the British SAS sharing the motto, "Who Dares Wins". The regiment is based at Campbell Barracks, in Swanbourne, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, and is a direct command unit of the Special Operations Command. It has taken part in operations in Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as many other peacekeeping missions. The SASR also provides a counter-terrorist capability, and has been involved in a number of domestic security operations.
The 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve), historically known as The Artists Rifles is a regiment of the Army Reserve. Its name is abbreviated to 21 SAS(R).
The 1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment, abbreviated as 1 NZSAS Regt, was formed on 7 July 1955 and is the special forces unit of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). It traces its origins to the Second World War and the famous Long Range Desert Group that New Zealanders served with.
Steven Billy Mitchell,, usually known by the pseudonym and pen-name of Andy McNab, is a novelist and former British Army infantry soldier.
Colin Armstrong, usually known by the pseudonym and pen-name of Chris Ryan, is an author, television presenter, security consultant and former Special Air Service sergeant.
The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) is a special reconnaissance unit of the British Army. It was established on 6 April 2005 and is part of the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF).
Lofty's Roach Soufflé is an instrumental album by American artist Harry Connick Jr., released in 1990.
The 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine or 1er RPIMa is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore part of the Special Operations Command.
Special Forces of Zimbabwe are the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War.
John Wiseman, MC was a British Army officer and Second World War Special Air Service (SAS) veteran, where he saw action in the long range desert raiding parties of the North African Campaign, then in front line support of the invasion of Sicily and Italy during which he was awarded the Military Cross, followed by commando operations deep behind German lines following the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
Trueways Survival School is a survival training organisation providing major media sources such as Sky News and The Times newspaper with advice and guidance with regard to wilderness survival, military survival, expedition preparation and urban survival as well as providing guidance on related entertainment based television content such as the BBC Survivors.
The SAS Survival Handbook is a survival guide by British author and professional soldier, John Wiseman, first published by Williams Collins in 1986. Second, revised edition came out in 2009. A digital app for smartphones based on the book is also available. The book spans over 11 sections, and an introduction and postscript, detailing how to survive in dangerous surroundings.
Donald "Lofty" Large was a British soldier and author.
Major General Anthony (Tony) Showan Jeapes, is a former British Army officer who commanded the 22 Special Air Service Regiment during the Dhofar Rebellion.
The 44 Pathfinder Platoon is part of the 44 Parachute Regiment. The pathfinder is a trained and specialized paratrooper, who performs covertly behind enemy lines, either in small groups or in collaboration with other reconnaissance units.
Brigadier Andrew Christopher "Andy" Massey OBE was a British Army officer who served in Oman, Dhofar and Northern Ireland. He was a commander of the 22 SAS Regiment before retiring as a Brigadier.
Barry Davies, BEM was a British Army infantry soldier who served with the Welsh Guards and the Special Air Service regiments. He was later a published author, and worked in television production.