From the day he was found in a Harrods carrier bag on the steps of Guy's Hospital, Andy McNab has lived an extraordinary life.
Brought up on the gritty housing estates of Peckham, South East London, as a teenage delinquent, he kicked against society. As a young soldier he waged war against the IRA in the streets and fields of South Armagh. As a member of 22 SAS he was at the centre of covert operations for nine years – on five continents.
During the first Gulf War he commanded Bravo Two Zero, a patrol that, in the words of his commanding officer, 'will remain in regimental history for ever'.
The patrol infiltrated Iraq in January 1991, but was soon compromised. A fierce firefight with Iraqi troops ensued and the patrol was forced to escape and evade on foot to Syria. Three of the eight men were killed; four were captured after three days on the run; one escaped.
One of the four taken prisoner - McNab - was held for six weeks and was relentlessly and savagely tortured. He suffered nerve damage to both hands, a dislocated shoulder, kidney and liver damage and contracted hepatitis. After six months of medical treatment he was back on active service.
Awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and Military Medal (MM) during his career, McNab was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS in February 1993.
On October 14th at the Muni Theatre, you will hear all the details in full for yourself, plus, there will be an opportunity to ask him questions during the second half of the evening. Which includes a signed hardback copy of Andy McNab’s new book ‘Whatever It Takes’.
