Chronology

4 September 1940

LRPU launches Operation Kufra.

13 September 1940

Italian begin operation around Cyrenaica.

Late November 1940

Operation Compass takes place. Members of W patrol and D Tp. win New Zealand's first MM and MC of the War.

31 March 1941

DAK (Deutsches Afrika Korps) move into Mersah el Berga. A sqn set up a Forward Operations Base (FOB) near Gialo. R patrol sets a standing patrol around Tazerbo.

April 1941

A Sqn, (Y Patrol and half of G Ptl) launch direct offensive actions against Italians around Mechili. The other half of G Patrol performs reconnaissance missions around Aujila.

The rest of the LRDG forms an FOB near Kufra.

14 May 1941

G ptl is attacked by a column of German Armored Cars.

15 May 1941

Operation Brevity begins.

28 July 1941

G ptl attacks and destroy an Axis Petrol dump at Bir el Greir in conjunction with the launching of 8th Army's Operation Battleaxe.

10 November 1941

DAK launches major offensive to take Tobruk

17 November 1941

8th Army launches Operation Crusader. Operation Flipper (the plot to kidnap or assassinate Rommel is also launched.)

All LRDG patrols are committed to Crusader, with one patrol held in reserve.

id December 1941

LRDG commences a series of Direct Actions. The RA section is attached to S2 Patrol and attacks Gatifa fort

Eleven men of G patrol are captured while trying to link up with "E" Force.

Two other patrols are in lying up positions and one other is moving to a new area of operation.

Meanwhile three other patrols are operating with Bencol in efforts to block enemy escape routes to Benghasi.

28 December 1941 the ILRS is formed.

A sqn is operating under command of E Force.

T2 Ptl departs Gialo to assist "L" Detachment, 22 SAS on an attack of Enemy Airfields code-named "Marble-Arch".

One patrol is in transit while all the rest except R2 are refitting. R2 Ptl is preparing to assist the Leclerc's Free French advance against Tripolitania (Operation Aesop)

Late March 1942

Full scale assaults from a variety of special forces units (LRDG, SAS, Commando) against Slonta, Berka, and Benghasi airstrips. and sea ports.

R patrol has a road watch observation post (OP) compromised. LRDG extract "Stranger" Commando team

26 May 1942

Operation Theseus begins in preparation for Hercules. 3 patrols on Road Watch, a med-evac team is in transit. Three other patrols go on leave as they return from Benghasi with L Det., 22 SAS.

G and R Ptl return from Gebel after being deployed with "Casemate". Patrols assist with the insertion of Popski's Private Army and the LAF Commandos. S1 Ptl works with Operation Glamour which involved the pathfinding for the the Lion Brigade, a deception unit.

15 June 1942

Operation Freeborn begins (although much modified from the original plan)

Three patrols provide road watch.

Another three patrol provide support for operation for Malta convoys. These patrols are involved with inserting SAS teams in Benghasi, Berka, and Brace.

Five other patrols involved with direct action (raids) One of these patrols is from the ILRS.

4 July 1942

Three patrols establish and FOB near Bir Chaldee. The patrols along with the SAS will conduct Direct Actions strikes against German Airfields.

Mid September LRDG provides support for Commando/SAS operations Bigamy, Caravan, Coastguard, Nicety, and MG7.. Actions cause a great concern for the DAK for several days.

9 December 1942

LRDG and other desert raiders conduct several raids on airfield and oil dumps in conjunction with Operation Guillotine, at El Agheila.

10 January 1943

Patrols name the Wilder Gap during recon missions for Operation Pugilist, the battle to breach the Mareth line.

LRDG work in support of Leclerc's Free French forces in Operations Fire-Eater and Gratuity.

6 March 1943

Most operation have concluded and the LRDG begins turning in vehicles in preparation for next assignment.

Spring 1943

Final mopping up actions as the Italo-German forces are pushed from the Sahara. The ILRS are deployed to Eastern Persia.

The LRDG leave the Desert for the Balkans and or Europe. Many members join the SAS while still others go on to serve with Partisans in Greece, and throughout the Balkans.

See the Pre - LRDG Chronology here.