Robin Horsfall Former SAS|Official Blog

In 1980 Robin Horsfall shot and killed one of the leading terrorists inside the Iranian Embassy when the SAS stormed the building.

He served with the SAS during the Falklands war and on subsequent counter-terrorist operations.

Robin joined the British Army in 1972 as a boy soldier aged only fifteen. Coming from a broken home he attached himself to the army as his only home.

Returning with patrol after laying on a bomb. Belfast 1976. 2nd from right.

As a victim of extreme bullying and low self-esteem he pushed himself harder than the average soldier, always feeling the need to prove himself to be as good as the next man.

At the age of seventeen he joined the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. He served three tours of duty in Northern Ireland in the early 1970’s during which he was shot in the leg, took part in the suppression of street riots and on one memorable occasion inadvertently discovered himself laying on a bomb.

Assaulting the Iranian Embassy London 1980

Married and with a growing family Robin left the army in 1984 age 27 and became a bodyguard to the Al Fayed family in London for his first year and then moved on to become a 'Contract Soldier' in Sri Lanka. In only a few months he witnessed genocide, torture and media control.

In 1988 Robin became the bodyguard of Rafic Harriri who was destined to become Prime Minister of Lebanon.

In 1990 Robin fought in Mozambique carrying the rank of Major, he led men on several successful operations before finally returning home to his family.

Robin was later diagnosed with PTSD for which he received counselling.

In spite of a great deal of negative advice Robin volunteered to join the SAS at the exceptionally young age of 21.

Robin failed to get in on his first attempt but returned four months later in January 1979 to become one of only eight men out of 65 to make the grade. During this time Robin learnt to work alone as a sniper, mountaineer and as a paramedic.

Robin served six years with "The Regiment" and played a significant role during the now famous Iranian Embassy Siege in London in 1980 where he shot one of the terrorists.

In 1982 during the Falklands War he was part of a team selected for a suicide mission into mainland Argentina to destroy the Argentine Air Force' Super Etendard Jets.

As a Major in Mozambique, 1990.

In 1991 as the medical officer for a Gold mine in Guyana. Robin built the medical facility from leftover materials and trained the staff. In only four months Robin had completed his task saving several lives along the way.

From the age of 23 Robin had been studying Martial Arts. In 1993 he began to teach professionally in London. As a teacher he found an opportunity to use his experiences to prepare young people for life, focusing on developing self-esteem and confidence in his students.

Returning from the Falklands War, 1982.

In 2012 Robin retired from karate as a 6th Dan black belt after sustaining a neck fracture, he handed the group of one thousand students over to his oldest son.

As a result Robin returned to education and began a degree in English Literature with Creative Writing at Surrey University.