Special Forces in the Desert War

“The desert was a small raider’s paradise”—General John HackettThis compelling account, prepared for the War Cabinet after the Second World War, tells the inside story of the Special Forces’ work in the Desert campaign. It explores their revolutionary new strand of warfare, from intelligence gathering to raids, reconnaissance missions to enemy disruption, and shows how operations were conducted in extreme terrain and miles behind enemy lines. It celebrates the courage of these handpicked men who became masters of surprise and stealth, featuring unsung heroes along with famous names such as Ralph Bagnold, Bob Laycock, David Stirling, George Jellicoe, Geoffrey Keyes VC and Derek Mills- Roberts. Drawing on the experiences of some of Britain’s most famous ‘irregular’ units, Special Forces charts their remarkable successes against far larger forces and their crucial role within the 8th Army and Allied campaign.