Best overview about the LRDG?

Discussion in 'Special Forces' started by Chris C, May 13, 2022.

  1. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    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
     
  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    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?
     
  3. GeoffMNZ

    GeoffMNZ Well-Known Member

  4. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    Books on LRDG

    Give this a look too as it provides some reviews as well.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  5. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Thank you very much!
     
  6. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Last edited: May 14, 2022
    Chris C likes this.
  7. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    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.
     
  8. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    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
     
  9. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    I know, but I don't want to read eighty plus threads :P
     
    davidbfpo likes this.
  10. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

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

    Chris C Canadian

    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.
     
  12. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    I believe I have a copy kicking around in my office if you have any specific questions re content.
     
    dbf likes this.
  13. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    No, that's ok thanks!
     
  14. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    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)
     

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