Only LRDG or were there others?

I entered some details on my Uncle on a different thread and decided to see if anyone knows if the LRDG was the only unit who engaged in long range desert patrolling, or were there other units performing long range recce or offensive patrols.

I know there is a lot of knowledge out there and I'm sure if there was someone on this forum will know lots about it.
:ukflag[1]:

 

the SAS were about in north africa , at the fall of tobruk just about everyone was behind enemy lines ! at the begining of the desert war the 11 hussars preformed offensive patrols in armoured cars and i assumed containued through out the war to do it . On the subject of offensive patrols many times iv read about troops on watch numbering around 4 charging patroling enemy troops numbering 30 or more , such cases are wrote about the the book "4th indian division" .

 

The (in)famous Popski's Private Army was born out of the LRDG.
/

Owen

I thought the PPA evolved independantly from the LRDG but like the SAS used their knowledge and experience to get them behind enemy lines and then back to British lines.

Another unit in North Africa was The Middle East Commando which raided Rommel's HQ in 1941

Cheers

Adam

 

And don't forget about La Compania Sahariana de Cufra, an Italian unit designed to hunt down and destroy the SAS!

 

And don't forget about La Compania Sahariana de Cufra, an Italian unit designed to hunt down and destroy the SAS!

Or the R.E.C.A.M.

 

Until the summer of 1941, four companies of Commandos. They served as assault troops in the invasion of Syria, the earlier Layforce formation covered the rearguard of the Allied evacuation at Sphakia on Crete, and there was IIRC one unsuccessful amphibious raid along the North African coast. And garrisoned Cyprus. After the losses in Crete and Syria the survivors were disbanded into the General Reserve, whence many later showed up in the LRDG and SAS.

One of the companies was a "foreign language" unit containing a large number of Spanish Republican exiles from the Civil War.

 

Owen -
Popski was around Egypt before the war - along with a bunch of Englishmen who like to wander around the desert - Wavell called many of them back into the force and they came up with the sun compass which helped everyone get their bearings - Popski was always on the offensive even late on in Italy when I saw them rehearsing a landing at Cattolica obviously for the Lago Commachio operation - he disbanded his force at Klagenfurt - but not before Ron got his autograph at some race meeting there !
Cheers

 

Owen -
Popski was around Egypt before the war - along with a bunch of Englishmen who like to wander around the desert - Wavell called many of them back into the force and they came up with the sun compass which helped everyone get their bearings - Popski was always on the offensive even late on in Italy when I saw them rehearsing a landing at Cattolica obviously for the Lago Commachio operation - he disbanded his force at Klagenfurt - but not before Ron got his autograph at some race meeting there !
Cheers

Tom

Thanks for reminding me

I used GOOGLE DESKTOP to find my earlier posting on another website:

"I was in Austria at the same time as yourself whilst in the 4TH QOH.
The Squadron organised a Gymkhana/Race Meeting and Popski was there.
He was pointed out to me and feeling like a schoolboy autograph collector I asked him to sign my race-card. He obliged and then we shook hands.
The race card with its autograph has dissapeared over the years but the memory lingers on."
Cheers
Ron

 

Hi Guys,

As well as the LRDG (and the Independent Indian Long Range Patrol Squadron and PPA) that was also present in the Middle East, I have a book called "Commandos and Rangers of World War II" by James Ladd, who also identifies the following commando units:

7 Commando - involved in the Commonwealth/Greek defence of Crete in May 1941 (part of Layforce)
8 Commando - involved in the Commonwealth/Greek defence of Crete in May 1941 (part of Layforce)
11 Commando - involved in Syria campaign in June 1941 (part of Layforce)
50 Commando - raised in the Middle East early in 1941 and was part of Layforce
52 Commando - raised in the Middle East early in 1941 and was part of Layforce
62 Commando - formed in July 1941 in Middle East - also known as L Detachment in Egypt (aka Special Air Service)
Middle East Commando - formed from disbaned troops from Layforce (made raid in November 1941 against Rommels HQ)
Z Group, Special Boat Section carried out raids in the Mediterranean (Benghazi, Crete and Rhodes, etc)

Also mentioned by James Ladd is the Special identification Group (made famous by George Peppard in a world war 2 action film!), now I have seen this unit mentioned in a number of books so am quite confident that this is not a misunderstanding!

I hope this is of intrest!

Best Regards

Mace

 

I have a note somewhere that the SIG only numbered 12 in total. One being a Capt Buck who is commemorated at Reading Crematorium as far as I can recall, (Laptop with all information not powered up yet!) having died in November 1945.

Andy

 

And don't forget about La Compania Sahariana de Cufra, an Italian unit designed to hunt down and destroy the SAS!

Sahariana - "The Desert Jeep"

Back to Weapons


A Sahariano in North Africa, March 1943, crewed by the PAI. It is part of the "103rd Compagnie Arditi Camionettisti", half of which fought on the Tunisian Front and the other half on the Libyan Front.

Designation

 

With thanks to Commando Supremo




Comando Supremo: Sahariana - "The Desert Jeep"

 

And don't forget about La Compania Sahariana de Cufra, an Italian unit designed to hunt down and destroy the SAS!


The Cufra was actually only one of the several Sahariane. They were set up several years before WW2 and therefore definitely not designed to hunt down the LRDG. But it is a fact that it was the Cufra who brought the first defeat to the LRDG; at Jebel Sherif.

 

Until the summer of 1941, four companies of Commandos. They served as assault troops in the invasion of Syria, the earlier Layforce formation covered the rearguard of the Allied evacuation at Sphakia on Crete, and there was IIRC one unsuccessful amphibious raid along the North African coast. And garrisoned Cyprus. After the losses in Crete and Syria the survivors were disbanded into the General Reserve, whence many later showed up in the LRDG and SAS.

One of the companies was a "foreign language" unit containing a large number of Spanish Republican exiles from the Civil War.
Hello Phylo, My uncle, Chris O'Dowd was in 8 Commando and later 1st SAS. he was killed at Termoli. I wonder if you could point me in the right direction for further research on his time with Layforce? Gearoid O'Dowd.

 

The 11th Hussars did most of their long range patroling prior to Operation Compass.

Afterwards, they were limited to Divisional level and Corp level screening for the duration of the war.

The LRDG were a one of a kind class act. No one else matched them in desert navigation with the exceotion of the pre war 11th Hussars.

 

G., try Charles Messenger's The Commandos, 1940-46

 

"No one else matched them in desert navigation."

That's a fact - but not each patrol was navigating an independent track. There was at least one case, where the Italians mined the ever again used track and caused damage to S1 patrol...

 

Can anyone help, is there a LRDG 'Cas list' anywhere?
<husrollho at yahoo.co.uk>

 

Look here www.specialforcesroh.com look in the right hand column and click on LRDG go to the roll of honour.