The Long Range Desert Group in World War II

Established in June 1940, as the brainchild of scientist and soldier Major Ralph Bagnold, a contemporary of Lawrence of Arabia, the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) allowed the British Army to gain a crucial advantage in the North African Front of World War II. Traversing great swathes of the desert that had never before been explored by Europeans, the LRDG was able to launch hit-and-run raids against remote enemy targets, such as the fort and airfield at Murzak. From December 1941 until the end of the Desert War in May 1943, the LRDG carried out numerous missions in tandem with the Special Air Service, using their unparalleled knowledge of the desert to navigate the SAS to enemy airfields on which attacks would be launched. As well as in Africa, the LRDG also fought in the Aegean, undertaking numerous dangerous missions in Yugoslavia, Albania, Italy, and Greece, displaying their extraordinary versatility by operating in boats, on foot, and by parachute. Using never-before-published photographs and archival material, interviews with surviving veterans who have never before gone on record regarding their wartime exploits, and special access to the SAS archives, Gavin Mortimer tells the story of the origins and dramatic operations of Britain's first ever special forces unit.

Gavin Mortimer is the author of Stirling's Men, a ground-breaking history of the early operations of the SAS, The SAS in World War II: An Illustrated History, The Daring Dozen, and The SBS in World War II: An Illustrated History, The Men Who Made the SAS. Gavin has previously written for the Telegraph, the Sunday Telegraph, the Observer and Esquire magazine. He contributes to BBC History and the Military History Quarterly. He has lectured on the SAS in World War II at the National Army Museum.

Dedication Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1: From Scientist to Soldier Chapter 2: Only the Tough Need Apply Chapter 3: into Action Chapter 4: Expansion and Excitement Chapter 5: Fight at the Front Chapter 6: The Afrika Korps Arrive Chapter 7: Misuse and Malaria Chapter 8: Heavy Losses and New leader Chapter 9: The Saviours of the SAS Chapter 10: On the Back Foot Chapter 11: Courage in the Face of Calamity Chapter 12: The Eyes of the Alamein Offensive Chapter 13: Adventures in the Aegean Chapter 14: The Battle for Leros Chapter 15: A Different Type of Warfare Chapter 16: Valour and Versatility Chapter 17: Until the Bitter End Epilogue Endnotes Bibliography Index