What color was the British SAS beret in World War 2?

Answer 1

The British SAS beret in World War 2 was maroon in color. The maroon beret was chosen to distinguish the SAS from other military units and became a symbol of their elite status. The tradition of wearing the maroon beret continues to this day in the Special Air Service.

Answer 2

coveted sand color.

In fact, during WW2 many SAS units wore the maroon ("red") beret of Airborne Forces (especially those operating in NW Europe after D-Day); the "sand" coloured beret tended to be worn by original SAS regts formed for operations in the Middle East ("The Desert War") and Mediterranean/ Aegean Theatres of Operations. Early versions even included an "off-white" beret - soon abandoned by the SAS, but then adopted by the Reconnaissance Corps. By the later stages of WW2 all SAS units were, administratively, part of "Airborne Forces", and, tended, therefore, to wear the "Red Beret" with SAS Regt badge - although many, especially members of "the Originals", wore the sand beret.

Post WW2 the SAS Regt had a very tenuous existence: mostly disbanded in 1945, and only reactivated in the late 1940s/ early 1950s because of the growing demands of the Cold War. Initially, the SAS only survived as a Territorial Unit (21 SAS, "The Artists' Rifles"), and this became the core of the "Malayan Scouts" formed to conduct deep penetration operations during the Malayan Counter-Insurgency Campaign ("The Emergency), 1948-63.

By the mid 1950s it was clear there was a need for a regular SAS Regt (established as 22 SAS - simply following on from 21), and once established as part of the British Army's permanent Order of Battle was able formally to adopt the sand coloured beret as its distinct head wear.

NB The New Zealand SAS Regt retains the maroon beret of Airborne Forces; probably because it is the only fully airborne unit of a very small army.