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.
