Hereford is known around the world, but what exactly has put the city on the map? Here – in no particular order – are the seven things we think are most responsible for its fame (let us know if we've missed something!) The SAS raid on the Iranian Embassy in 1980 1. The Special Air Service (SAS) The Hereford-based SAS has become one of the most famous elite fighting forces in the world. Its hand-picked troops have to pass a legendarily tough selection process. The SAS regiment of the British Army was formed during Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. It was the idea of Lieutenant David Stirling, who envisaged small teams of soldiers operating behind enemy lines to gain intelligence and disrupt operations.