Special Boat Service: A force never far from the front line of
controversy Formed during the Second World War, the naval
fighters have been carrying out covert missions ever since It
was a piece of enterprising insubordination that led to the
creation of the Special Boat Service. A commando officer, Roger
Courtney, had learnt how quickly and silently he could cross
hostile territory while paddling from Lake Victoria to the Nile
on big-game hunting expeditions in the 1930s. When war broke out
in Europe he returned to the chillier climes of Scotland in
defence of his country. Having failed to convince his superiors
with his vision of a folding kayak brigade, he decided to
demonstrate its benefits by paddling out to HMS Glengyle, which
was lying at anchor in the River Clyde. Courtney is said to have
boarded the vessel undetected, written his initials on the
captain's door and stolen a deck-gun cover, which he delivered
to his startled superiors as they dined at a nearby hotel. He
was promoted to captain and give