02 April 2020
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By Julian Thompson
Secret missions behind enemy lines have a glamour about them that fighting in the trenches do not. The air of mystery, peril and difficulty all appealed to a certain type of man during WWII. Those men and missions are what Julian Thompson sets out to reveal in this hefty book covering the LRDG, SBS, SAS, Chindits, Popski’s private army and V Force.
One of the most successful forces in terms of impact verses resources was the Long Range Desert Group, which carried out over 200 missions. These aren’t meant to be exhaustive accounts of the groups’ activities, but rather overviews with plenty of quotes from the people involved. They explain some of the difficulties, how these groups navigated great distances behind enemy lines, and their successes and failures. A section of glossy photo plates in the centre show the men relaxing or preparing for missions. Consider this an interesting introduction, leaving plenty of room for further reading on the various groups.
• Pen and Sword
• ISBN 978-1-5267-2407-6
• 456 pages • Hardback • £25
Reviewed in The Armourer April 2020 issue
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