Best overview about the LRDG?

Hi all,

As I am trying to convey in the subject line, I am wondering about the best book which covers the LRDG in general as opposed to any sub-unit it. It wouldn't exactly be my first reading about the LRDG but I think what I have read is whatever attention Barry Pitt gave them in his Crucible of War books, and an old copy of G Patrol that I found second-hand.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Incidentally, here are the books I see listed on Amazon:

Long Range Desert Group (various subtitles & editions) by W B Kennedy Shaw - actually a review comment says this is actually a memoir?
The Long Range Desert Group 1940-1945: Providence Their Guide by David Lloyd Owen - this is ANOTHER personal account

The Long Range Desert Group: History and Legacy by Karl-Gunnar Nor and Lars Gyllenhaal - bit odd, including stuff about a modern expedition and
The Long Range Desert Group in World War II by Gavin Mortimer - very positive comments but NO maps

.... That kind of looks like all?

 

Also Brendan O'Carroll's
Kiwi Scorpions


Barce Raid: The Long Range Desert Group's Greatest Escapade


The Long Range Desert Group in the Aegean

 

Books on LRDG

Give this a look too as it provides some reviews as well.

 

Thank you very much!

 

Might be worth a look at the LRDG Preservation Society: Long Range Desert Group Preservation Society - Home and their review section has a dozen books: Long Range Desert Group Preservation Society - Recommended Books

On FB too: https://www.facebook.com/groups/156542796560/permalink/10156509501956561/

Various nationality patrols of the LRDG have books, the Indian unit has a thread here and will be a chapter in a forthcoming book. See: Indian Long Range Squadron

 

I have discovered this list is wrong in one respect: you can get academic press/newer editions of Bagnold's books. "Sand, Wind and War" for instance is available from University of Arizona Press for $25 US.

 

Chris,

Using the Tag Long Range Desert Group there are eighty plus threads, a smaller number cover published books, e.g. the 2022 book 'History & Legacy' appears in a 2019 thread: New LRDG book: History and Legacy from Helion

 

I know, but I don't want to read eighty plus threads :P

 

I know, but the format allows the search to be narrowed down. Simple rule: ignore the in the medals posts by dbf

 

Based on the review by Dr Chris Lloyd-Staples (a name I think is familiar from scale modeling sites) I think I will order the book by Nor and Gyllenhaal.

 

I believe I have a copy kicking around in my office if you have any specific questions re content.

 

No, that's ok thanks!

 

From another LRDG website a number of books collected by an enthusiastic historian and now donated:

LRDG Reference Materials and Texts
1. Adair, Robin – British Army : North Africa 1940-43 (1974)
2. Allardice, Dallas – Friendship in a time of War: 1939-1946 (2015)
3. Army Board, Wellington – Prelude to Battle – New Zealand in the First Libyan Campaign (1942)
4. Asher, Michael – The Regiment: The Real Story of the SAS (2007)
5. Bagnold, Ralph A. – Sand, Wind & War: Memoirs of a Desert Explorer (1990)
6. Bagnold, Ralph A. – Libyan Sands (1941)
7. Bagnold, Ralph A – Early Days of the LRDG (1945)
8. Barker, Lt. Col. A.J. – Afrika Korps (1978)
9. Barnett, Correlli – The Desert Generals (1961)
10. Bender, Roger J. – Afrika Korps - Uniforms, Organization & History of (1973)
11. Bierman, John & Colin Smith – Alamein: War without hate (2002)
12. Bimberg, Edward L. – Tricolor over the Sahara (2002)
13. Brayley, Martin & Ingram, Richard – The WW II Tommy (1998)
14. Bouchery, Jean – The British Soldier – Vol. I (1998)
15. Bove, Paul E. – Leclerc’s Long March – World War II – May 2001
16. Buckley, Christopher – Five Ventures: Iraq-Syria-Persia-Madagascar-Dodecanese (1954)
17. Carell, Paul – The Foxes of The Desert (1962) Paperback
18. Carell, Paul – The Foxes of The Desert (1994) Hardback
19. Chappell, Mike – British Infantry Equipment 1908-80: No 108 Osprey – Men-At-Arms (1980)
20. Clayton, Peter – Desert Explorer: Biography of Col. P.A. Clayton
21. Clifford, Alexander G. –The Conquest of North Africa 1940-1943 (1943)
22. Clifford, Alexander – Three against Rommel (1943)
23. Cowles, Virginia – The Phantom Major: The Story of David Stirling & the S.A.S. Regiment (1958)
24. Crisp, Maj. Robert – Brazen Chariots (1960)
25. Crichton-Stuart, Michael – G Patrol: the Story of the Guards Patrol of the L.R.D.G.
26. Darman, Peter – Surprise Attack: Lightning Strikes of the World’s Elite Forces (1993)
27. De Belot, Raymond – The Struggle For The Mediterranean 1939-1945 (1951)
28. De Chair, Somerset – The Golden Carpet (1945)
29. Denny, Harold – Behind Both Lines (1942)
30. D’Este, Carlo – World War II in the Mediterranean 1942-1945 (1990)
31. Dugan, Sally – Commando: The Elite Fighting Forces of the Second World War (2001)
32. Eppler, John – Operation Condor: Rommel’s Spy (1974)
33. Eshel, David – Elite Fighting Units (1984)
34. Forty, George – Desert Rats at War
35. Gallagher, Wes – Back Door to Berlin
36. Gilbert, Adrian - The Imperial War Museum Book of THE DESERT WAR (1992)
37. Gordon, John W. – The Other Desert War: British Special Forces in North Africa 1940-1943 (1987)
38. Greene, Jack & Massignani, Alessandro – Rommel’s North Africa Campaign (1994)
39. Gower-Collins, Clive – The Long Range Desert Group & Coalition Issues - NZ Army Journal Dec. 1999
40. Gross, Kuno, Roberto Chiarvetto & Brendan O’Carroll – Incedent at Jebel Sherif (2009)
41. Gross, Kuno – The Bagnold Sun-Compass: History & Utilization (2011)
42. Gross, Kuno, Michael Rolke & Andras Zboray – Operation Salam (2013)
43. Guedalla, Phillip – Middle East 1940-1942 A Study in Air Power (1944)
44. Harrison, Frank – Toburk: The Great Siege Reassessed (1996)
45. Hall, Ian – Churchill’s Secret Armies: War Without Rules
46. Hastings, Stephen – The Drums of Memory (1994)
47. Heckstall-Smith, Anthony - Tobruk: The Story of a Siege (1960)
48. Hill, Ron – Now or Never: War Time Experiences (1997) unpublished – Bob Amos-Jones
49. Hill, Russell – Desert War (1942)
50. His Majesty’s Stationery Office – Destruction of an Army – The First Campaign in Libya: Sept. 1940 – Feb, 1941
51. Hoe, Alan – David Stirling: Authorized Biography of the SAS (1992)
52. Ingersoll, Ralph - The Battle is the Pay-Off (1943)
53. Ireland, Bernard - The War In The Mediterranean 1940 - 1943 (1993)
54. Jablonski, David - The Desert Warriors: The Battle for North Africa 1940-43 (1972)
55. Jackson, W.G.F. - The Battle For North Africa 1940-43 (1975)
56. James, Malcolm - Born of the Desert: With the S.A.S. in North Africa (1945)
57. James, Malcolm - Born of the Desert: With the S.A.S. in North Africa (1991)
58. Jarrett, Col. G.B. – West of Alamein (1971)
59. Jenner, Robin and List, David. The Long Range Desert Group. No. 36, Osprey (1983)
60. Jenner, Robin and List, David. The Long Range Desert Group. No. 32, Osprey (1999)
61. Jewell, Brian – British Battledress – 1937-61: No 112 – Osprey Men-At-Arms (1981)
62. Jones, Tim – SAS Zero Hour:Secret Origins of the SAS (2006)
63. Joplin, Frank – The Diary of Frank Joplin – unpublished no date – Bob Amos-Jones
64. Kay, R.L - Long Range Desert Group in Libya, 1940-41. War History Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs, Wellington, NZ 1949
65. Kay, R.L. -Long Range Desert Group in the Mediterranean. War History Branch, Dept. of Internal Affairs, Wellington, NZ 1950
66. Keoghane, Stephen – Primus in Armis: History of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry (2020)
67. Ladd, James – Commandos and Rangers of World War II (1978)
68. Landsborough, Gordon - Tobruk Commando : The Raid to Destroy Rommel’s Base (1956)
69. Landsborough, Gordon - Tobruk Commando : The Raid to Destroy Rommel’s Base (1989)
70. Langley, Mike – Anders Lassen VC, MC, of the SAS (1988)
71. Larson, Mel – Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery (1955)
72. Lewin, Ronald – The War on Land 1939-45 Vol. 3 (1969)
73. Lewin, Ronald – The Life & Death of the Afrika Korps (1977)
74. Lewis, Damien – Churchill’s Secret Warriors (2015)
75. Lewis, Damien – SAS Ghost Patrol (2017)
76. Lytton, Noel A. - The Desert and the Green (1957)
77. Lucas, James - War In The Desert: The Eighth Army at El Alamein (???)
78. Macksey, Kenneth – Commando: Hit & Run Combat in WW II (1985)
79. Maclean, Fitzroy – Eastern Approaches (1951)
80. Majdalany, Fred - The Battle of El Alamein: Fortress in the Sand (1965)
81. Marshall, Howard – Over to Tunis (1943)
82. Mather, Carol – When the Grass Stops Growing (1999)
83. Medd, Peter & Frank Simms – The Long Walk Home (2019)
84. McEwen, John - Escape (1985)
85. McGuirk, Dal – Rommel’s Army in Africa (1993)
86. McMillan, Richard - Rendezvous With Rommel: The Story of Eighth Army (????)
87. Messenger, Charles - The Tunisian Campaign (1982)
88. Mitcham Jr., Samual W. – Rommel’s Greatest Victory (1998)
89. Mollo, Andrew & Smith, Digby – World Army Uniforms Since 1939 (1986)
90. Molony, Brig. C.J.C. - History of WW II "The Mediterranean & Middle East " Vol. V (1973)
91. Moorehead, Alan - Mediterranean Front (1942)
92. Moorehead, Alan - African Trilogy (1944)
93. Moorehead, Alan – The Desert War: The North African Campaign 1940-1943 (1965)
94. Morgan, Mike – Sting of the Scorpion (2000)
95. Morrison, William (Bill) – Jack of all Trades unpublished – Bob Amos-Jones
96. Mortimer, Gavin – The Daring Dozen: 12 Special Forces Legends of WWII (2012)
97. Mortimer, Gavin – The Men Who Made The SAS (2015)
98. Mortimer, Gavin – The LRDG in WW II (2017)
99. Mortimer, Gavin – Vehicles of the LRDG 1940-45 (2020)
100. Mosley, Leonard – The Cat and The Mice (1958)
101. Naglieri, Valerio – Carri Armati Nel Deserto (1972)
102. Noren, Karl-Gunnar & Lars Gyllenhall – Spok Patrullen (Goast Patrol) Finnish Publication (2012)
103. Noren, Karl-Gunnar & Lars Gyllenhall – The LRDG: History & Legacy (2019)
104. Owen, Lt. Col. David Lloyd - The Desert My Dwelling Place (1957)
105. Owen, Maj. Gen. David Lloyd - Providence Their Guide (1981
106. Owen, Maj. Gen. David Lloyd - Providence Their Guide (2001)
107. O’Carroll, Brendan – The Kiwi Scorpion (2000)
108. O’Carroll, Brendan – The Kiwi Scorpion (2008)
109. O’Carroll, Brendan – The Bearded Brigands (2002)
110. O’Carroll, Brendan – Barce Raid (2005)
111. O’Carroll, Brendan – The LRDG in the Aegean (2020)
112. O’Carroll, Brendan – Images of War: The LRDG in Action 1940-1943 (2020)
113. Peakman, Julie – Hitler’s Island War (2018)
114. Peniakoff, Lt. Col. Vladimir - Popski’s Private Army (1953)
115. Phillips, C.E. Lucas - Alamein (1962)
116. Pitt, Barrie - The Crucible of War: Western Desert 1941 (1989)
117. Playfair, Maj.Gen.I.S.O. - History of WW II "The Mediterranean & Middle East” Vol. I (1954)
118. Playfair, Maj.Gen.I.S.O. - History of WW II "The Mediterranean & Middle East " Vol. II (1956)
119. Public Record Office – Special Forces in the Desert War 1940-1943 (2001)
120. Rainier. Maj. Peter W. - Pipeline to Battle : An Engineer’s Adventures with the 8th Army (1943)
121. River, W. L. - Malta Story (1943)
122. Robinson, James A. – Alexander: Portrait of Field Marshal Viscount Alexander (1946)
123. Robinson, William T. (Student) – The Long Range Desert Group 1940-1943 - American Military University: Unpublished Research Paper – Course #RC500A
124. Rogers, Anthony – Churchill’s Folly: Leros & the Aegean (2003)
125. Rogers, Anthony – Churchill’s Folly: The Battle for Kos & Leros, 1943 (2017)
126. Rogers, Anthony – Swastika Over The Aegean: Sept-Nov 1943 (2013)
127. Sadler, John – Ghost Patrol: History of the LRDG 1940-1945 (2015)
128. Sadler, John – Operation Agreement :Jewish Commandos & Raid on Tobruk (2016)
129. Sanders, James – Desert Patrols : New Zealanders with the LRDG (1976)
130. Schmidt, Heinz Werner – With Rommel In The Desert (1951)
131. Schmidt, Heinz Werner – With Rommel In The Desert (1991)
132. Sears, Stephen W. - Desert War In North Africa (1967)
133. Seymour, William – British Special Forces (1985)
134. Shaw, W.B. Kennedy - Long Range Desert Group (1945)
135. Shaw, W.B. Kennedy - Long Range Desert Group (1989)
136. Shaw, W.B. Kennedy - Long Range Desert Group (2000)
137. Shortt, James G. – The Special Air Service - Osprey No.116 (1981)
138. Smith, Peter C. - Massacre At Tobruk (1987)
139. Strawson, John - The Battle for North Africa (1969)
140. Stuart, Michael Crichton - G Patrol (1976)
141. Swinson, Arthur - The Raiders: Desert Strike Force (1968) Paperback
142. Syrett, David. – Long Range Desert Group Operations in North Africa. City University of New York, Unpublished, no date
143. Syrett, David – The Eyes of the Desert Rats : British Long Range Recon Operations in North African Desert 1940-43 (2014) Published after his death
144. Taylor, Henry J. – Men in Motion (1943)
145. Thomas. David - Nazi Victory: Crete 1941 (1973)
146. Thompson, Julian – War Behind Enemy Lines (1998)
147. Thompson, Leroy – Clipping Rommel’s Wings – War Vol. #2 Spring 1990
148. Timpson, Alastar – In Rommel’s Backyard (2000)
149. Truby, J. David – Undercover – World War II – March 1987
150. Underwood, James R. Jr. & Robert F. Giegengack – Piracy on the High Desert: The Long Range Desert Group 1940-1943
151. U.S. Military Academy - The War In North Africa "Part 1" (1948)
152. U.S. Military Academy - The War In North Africa "Part 2" (1947)
153. Warner, Phillip – The SAS: The Official History (1971)
154. Werbaneth, James P. – Helpful Conduct by the Enemy – World War II – May 1992
155. Wilder, Andrew – Distinguished Service – Nick Wilder (2019)
156. Windmill, Lorna Almonds –Gentleman Jim (2001)
157. Woollcombe, Robert – The Campaigns of Wavell 1939-1943 (1959)
158. Yunnie, Park – Warriors on Wheels (1959)

 

A 2020 Manchester University doctoral thesis 'Masculinities, Heroic Self-Fashioning and Popular Culture: Orde Wingate, David Lloyd Owen and Representations of War' by Simon Browne. The conclusion pgs. 318-320 is, well, a point of view. The thesis is freely available via: https://pure.manchester.ac.uk/.../220273248/FULL_TEXT.PDF

 

Unexpected member of a LRDG: Enoch Powell.

Category
Sound
Catalogue number
10044
Description
Object description

British officer served as intelligence officer with 1st Armoured Div in GB, 9/1940-11/1940; served as staff officer with Headquarters, 9th Armoured Div in GB, 11/1940-5/1941; student with Staff College, Camberley in GB, 5/1941-9/1941; served as staff officer with General Headquarters Middle East in Cairo, Egypt, 10/1941-12/1942; served with Joint Intelligence Target Section, Headquarters, Allied Air Forces in Algiers, Algeria, 1/1943-5/1943; served staff officer with Joint Intelligence Committee for India and South East Asia Command at General Headquarters India in New Dehli, India, 6/1943-3/1944; served as Assistant Director, Military Intelligence with General Headquarters India in New Dehli, India, 1944-1946

REEL 4 Continues: staff work; effect of build up of forces; impressions of German Air Force bombing of Coventry, 11/1940. Aspects of period as student at Staff College, Camberley in GB, 5/1941-9/1941: opinion of course; value of and skills learnt on course. Recollections of period as staff officer with General Headquarters Middle East in Cairo, Egypt, 10/1941-12/1942: posting to Cairo, 10/1941; voyage from GB to Egypt; his intelligence assignment in Cairo; reaction to German invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941; his estimate of possibility of Germans advancing down through Turkey; reasons why information from Ultra was known as 'Uncle Henry'; value of Ultra; work of Long Range Desert Group; problems of estimating qualities of different sources of intelligence. REEL 5 Continues: how he became British Army member of Inter-Service Target Section, spring 1942; contrast between Egyptian and Indian attitudes towards British presence; burning of documents in Cairo during time of Axis advance, 6/1942; reconnaissance expedition to Qattara Depression with Long Range Desert Group, spring 1942; useful nature of Group Captain Bill Long's relations with Americans; destruction of German transport carrying prisoners of war; near blunder over General Erwin Rommel 'obituary'. Aspects of period as staff officer with Joint Intelligence Target Section, Headquarters, Allied Air Forces in Algiers, French Algeria, 1/1943-5/1943: reconnaissance for move to Algiers; his explanation of local time to United States Army Air Force personnel. REEL 6 Continues: anecdotes illustrating character of Americans; change in intelligence problems; relations with Royal Navy personnel; clash with Major-General Sir Kenneth Strong; readiness of British Army to use talent wherever it could find it; how Major Straun came to join his staff; his carrying Ultra material across North Africa to Cairo, Egypt. Recollections of period as staff officer with Joint Intelligence Committee for India and South East Asia Command with General Headquarters India in New Dehli, India, 6/1943-3/1944: reasons for wanting transfer to Far East rather than Europe; his recruitment to Joint Intelligence Committee; relations with Major-General Walter Cawthorn; processing of decoded material on Japanese sea and air movements. REEL 7 Continues: reasons for turning down job with South East Asia Command, 3/1944. Recollections of period as Assistant Director Military Intelligence with General Headquarters India in New Dehli, India, 1944-1946: use of Imperial Japanese Army list; creation of 'Yellow Book of Japanese Army'; ending of his work as Assistant Director Military Intelligence; his total absorption in Indian affairs and drafting of report on post-war Indian Army; travels around India on bicycle; attitude towards service in India; reflections on Indian National Army; memories of Major-General Orde Wingate; contrast in service in Egypt and India.

 

And in the know with uncle Ultra.

Kind regards, always,

Jim.