Description
Object description
British officer commanded Yeomanry Patrol, Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, 1941-1943; commanded B Sqdn, Long Range Desert Group in Middle East and Greece, 1943; commanded Long Range Desert Group in Italy and the Balkans, 1944-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as officer with Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, Italy and the Balkans, 1941-1945: background to joining Long Range Desert Group; role of Long Range Desert Group; impressions of Ralph Bagnold; taking command of Yeomanry Patrol; characteristics of yeomanry troops; adjusting to desert conditions; patrols equipment; health of troops in desert; role of Long Range Desert Group during Operation Crusader, 11/1941-12/1941; rescue of Special Air Service group.
REEL 2 Continues: Major David Stirling's decision to work with Long Range Desert Group; types of operations undertaken; the road watch; threat from German Air Force; technique for dispersal if attacked by aircraft; attitude of desert Arabs to Long Range Desert Group; pleasures of acting independently and high calibre of personnel; problems of boredom during operations; question of Germans operating in similar role as Long Range Desert Group; role of unit prior to and during Allied offensive, 1942-1943.
REEL 3 Continues: wounding at by German Air Force at Kufra, Libya, 9/1942; success of Long Range Desert Group in desert and decision that unit would continue war in Europe. Aspects of operations commanding B Sqdn, Long Range Desert Group in Middle East and Greece, 1943: training in Lebanon, summer 1943; capture of Leros Island, Greece by Germans, late 1943; his escape from Leros by Italian submarine; effect of losses to Long Range Desert Group; reorganisation in Syria. Aspects of operations commanding Long Range Desert Group in Italy and the Balkans, 1944-1945: adapting to non-desert conditions in Italy; problems of handling local population in Balkans; problem of political divisions; working with Albanian Partisans; character of Albanian Partisans; Allied air support available to partisans.
REEL 4 Continues: treatment of Long Range Desert Group by Yugoslavs at end of war; German attitude towards captured Long Range Desert Group personnel.