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The Pilgrim: SAS Who Dares Wins
"An incredible story of courage and commitment under fire." — Bear Grylls
The Pilgrim is the book the MOD tried to ban. It is a rollercoaster of an autobiography of Colin Maclachlan, known for his appearances on shows like Channel 4’s Who DaresWins and Channel 5’s Secrets of the SAS.
His autobiography starts with his troubled childhood and escape to the military where, as a fifteen year-old boy, he grows up and matures into the SAS soldier we now recognise. Early chapters describe physical, mental and sexual abuse and Colin could easily have ended up in a home but despite the odds and with the help of both the Children’s Panels, NSPCC and some diligent schoolteachers, Colin escaped to the army. Colin had to get special permission to join the army at only fifteen years of age and goes from being a young vulnerable and damaged boy to a capable soldier through preparation for the first Gulf War and joining the oldest and most senior infantry regiment in the British Army, The Royal Scots. From operations in Northern Ireland to being the Queen’s Butcher to Colin’s first TV cameos on Soldier Soldier and Gladiators, Colin’s stories and anecdotes are both exhilarating and hilarious.
Colin then describes the arduous SAS selection process, the hardest and most gruelling military selection process in the world. Colin describes in some detail what most have never even heard in this secretive world where Colin goes from a course of 196 down to just a handful in six months! The reader is then taken on a never seen before description of life as an SAS operator. Daily life in an operational squadron and the operations, missions and training involved all described in detail. Colin was part of Mountain Troop, D Squadron who were to be involved in some of the most high-profile and dangerous missions in SAS history.
The Pilgrim is the book the MOD tried to ban. It is a rollercoaster of an autobiography of Colin Maclachlan, known for his appearances on shows like Channel 4’s Who DaresWins and Channel 5’s Secrets of the SAS.
His autobiography starts with his troubled childhood and escape to the military where, as a fifteen year-old boy, he grows up and matures into the SAS soldier we now recognise. Early chapters describe physical, mental and sexual abuse and Colin could easily have ended up in a home but despite the odds and with the help of both the Children’s Panels, NSPCC and some diligent schoolteachers, Colin escaped to the army. Colin had to get special permission to join the army at only fifteen years of age and goes from being a young vulnerable and damaged boy to a capable soldier through preparation for the first Gulf War and joining the oldest and most senior infantry regiment in the British Army, The Royal Scots. From operations in Northern Ireland to being the Queen’s Butcher to Colin’s first TV cameos on Soldier Soldier and Gladiators, Colin’s stories and anecdotes are both exhilarating and hilarious.
Colin then describes the arduous SAS selection process, the hardest and most gruelling military selection process in the world. Colin describes in some detail what most have never even heard in this secretive world where Colin goes from a course of 196 down to just a handful in six months! The reader is then taken on a never seen before description of life as an SAS operator. Daily life in an operational squadron and the operations, missions and training involved all described in detail. Colin was part of Mountain Troop, D Squadron who were to be involved in some of the most high-profile and dangerous missions in SAS history.
152 pages, Hardcover
Published October 16, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 10, 2026
The Pilgrim, SAS Who Dares Wins is an SAS Memoir with a bit of a difference. While most other members of the British Special Forces unit either serving or retired keep their identities on the down low, Colin has appeared in several Reality TV shows and is a prominent motion capture actor for gaming, providing more reality in first person shooter games. Overcoming a difficult and abusive childhood and a series of social and societal barriers, Colin shows how dedication and hard work and a bit of chutzpah can dramatically change an individual's social trajectory, even lead to a certain level of celebrity and a strong academic career. While this is just the sort of memoir that Military History buffs enjoy, the Pop Culture elements mean that many general audience readers will find this interesting as well, and there is even some British Royalty content (nothing too racy).
For me, it was reading about the childhood years that I found quite distressing . His parents and the whole community that should have been part of the nurturing process of youth were a sad caricature of bad parenting practices and poor family management decisions. It was really hard for me to process that parents could be so intentional about evading their responsibilities and was painful to read so many pages where love, understanding, and leadership were totally absent. I consider parenting the most important job I had- dedicated most of my energy to it- and had losing daily contact with my kids almost sank me during my divorce. I have to say I had to put down this book in a towering rage at several times as I read it. Be prepared- the bleak parts are BLEAK.
There are quite a few adult themes, and some graphic passages, but the overall arc is positive, so I think this is good read for the Junior Reader over 12/13 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast it's a bit of mixed bag. For the Gamer- there is not much about any one action that would help with scenario/campaign development - but the whole book is good for getting a feel for the life of an infantryman, then SAS trooper, then private contractor. Might apply more to a RPG about special forces too. The Modeler will get some cool ideas for builds and dioramas, but will also use this book more about good background for the hobbies. The Military Enthusiast get a lot as this is a memoir about the British Army at work and play as much as it is about this one really good soldier. The General Audience reader can read about the background of a celebrity they might have seen on TV, or played against in a video game.- and the tough roots that guy overcame to get to the top.
For me, it was reading about the childhood years that I found quite distressing . His parents and the whole community that should have been part of the nurturing process of youth were a sad caricature of bad parenting practices and poor family management decisions. It was really hard for me to process that parents could be so intentional about evading their responsibilities and was painful to read so many pages where love, understanding, and leadership were totally absent. I consider parenting the most important job I had- dedicated most of my energy to it- and had losing daily contact with my kids almost sank me during my divorce. I have to say I had to put down this book in a towering rage at several times as I read it. Be prepared- the bleak parts are BLEAK.
There are quite a few adult themes, and some graphic passages, but the overall arc is positive, so I think this is good read for the Junior Reader over 12/13 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast it's a bit of mixed bag. For the Gamer- there is not much about any one action that would help with scenario/campaign development - but the whole book is good for getting a feel for the life of an infantryman, then SAS trooper, then private contractor. Might apply more to a RPG about special forces too. The Modeler will get some cool ideas for builds and dioramas, but will also use this book more about good background for the hobbies. The Military Enthusiast get a lot as this is a memoir about the British Army at work and play as much as it is about this one really good soldier. The General Audience reader can read about the background of a celebrity they might have seen on TV, or played against in a video game.- and the tough roots that guy overcame to get to the top.
September 2, 2025
Colin writes about his life growing up in a dysfunctional household and the trials of that to joining the army and succeeding into the special forces regiment SAS.
Colin was an excellent part of the 1st series of SAS who dares wins and has since been successful in all he has done,biography and with elements of motivation,though short in pages it's not filler but a worthy purchase and read.
Colin was an excellent part of the 1st series of SAS who dares wins and has since been successful in all he has done,biography and with elements of motivation,though short in pages it's not filler but a worthy purchase and read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews