Sources

This page lets you know what I looked at to make the page. If you are citing this web page, Click here to download a PDF file can make your job easier.

The Armed Forces of World War II : Uniforms, Insignia and Organization

• Mollo, Andrew, 1940-
• London : Little, Brown,
• 2000 1981
• Description: 312 p. : p., ill. (some col.) ;, 29 cm.
• English
• ISBN: 0316855251
• Descriptor: Armed Forces -- Insignia -- History -- 20th century. Military uniforms -- History -- 20th century. World War, 1939-1945. Note(s): Originally published: London : Orbis, 1981.

Description based on the 1981 edition.

The book is an exceptional book with photos and color plates of uniform as of both major and minor players in World War II, do you want to know how a cook from the Mexican Army dressed for duty aboard a U.S. Navy battleship? This book has a color plate to let you know. All commonwealth forces are presented in every theater of operation. The same goes for other armed forces from just about every country that served in WWII. Each color plate is provided with detailed information about the uniforms and equipment being used.

British Eighth Army, North Africa, 1940-43

• Adair, Robin.
• London : Arms and Armour Press,
• Year: 1974
• Description: [1], 33 p. : p., ill. (some col.). map, ports. ;, 25 cm.
• Language: English
• Series: Key uniform guides ;; 3;
• Standard No: ISBN: 0853680973 :;

Similar in design to the Osprey books but lacking the color plates. The book is designed for the modeler and gives the basic information on uniforms and equipment used in the desert campaign. Because the LRDG, for the most part wore the standard British equipment, the book can be helpful if no other source is available.

The Desert, My Dwelling Place

• Lloyd Owen, D. L. (David L.)
• London ; New York : Arms and Armour Press ; New York, NY : Distributed in the USA by Sterling Pub. Co.,
• 1986, ©1957
• Description: 271 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. ; 22 cm.
• Language: English
• Standard No: ISBN: 0853687544 :

For the purpose of this page, the better of Lloyd Owen's two books on the LRDG. The book is a wonderful narrative in which Owen provides several biographical sketches of LRDG commanders and personalities as well as a wealth of information of selected missions of LRDG routines. In some areas, Owen's memories are in conflict with other recollections which is no uncommon with memoirs. all in all and easy to read and interesting account of the some of the events of Y patrol and the rest of the LRDG. I

Desert Rats at War

• Forty, George.
• Secaucus, N.J. : Chartwell Books,
• Year: 1980 1975
• Description: 340 p. : p., ill. ;, 29 cm.
• Language: English
• Standard No: ISBN: 089009361X

A coffee table book with tons of photos. The book covers the entire exploits of the British 7th Armoured Division, including its duty in Europe. While not the best source for information on the LRDG, it is helpful in that it gives a good over all picture of what it meant to be "on the blue". As such it gives perspective to the mission of the LRDG.

G Patrol

• Crichton-Stuart, Michael.
• London : Kimber,
• Year: 1976, 1958
• Description: 206 p., [12] p. of plates : ill., maps (on lining papers), ports. ; 25 cm.
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0718304543 :

Written by the first Guards Patrol commander with help by later patrol commanders, G Patrol is a lively first hand account of this Long Range Desert Group. In many ways, G Patrol is the best read of the originals, that is the book written before 1960. Crichton-Stuart manages to not only tell a good story but he fills out a lot of the small details of how the LRDG opreated better than either Lloyd Owen or Kennedy Shaw. It may be that he was aided by going third so he could captialize on filling out what the others had missed.

By far I found this to be the most enjoyable of the LRDG book written. If you have not read ant of the books, I would suggest reading the three originals in order (LRDG, by Kennedy Shaw, The Desert, My Dwelling Place, by Lloyd Owen, and G Patrol by Crichton Stuart.)

In Rommel's Backyard : a Memoir of the Long Range Desert Group

• Timpson, Alastair, 1915-1977. ; Gibson-Watt, Andrew,; 1925-
• Barnsley, South Yorkshire : Leo Cooper,
• Year: 2000
• Description: xxii, 182 p. : p., ill., maps ;, 24 cm.
• Language: English
• Standard No: ISBN: 0850527147

One of many primary sources currently available. Timpson was an Eton educated Briton who gold mining in South Africa before the war. He commanded one of the Guards patrols in the LRDG. Among other things, Timpson came up with novel ways to attack moving convoys. He was injured in a jeep accident while crossing the Great Sand Sea en route to the raid on Barce.

The Italian Army 1940-45. 2, Africa 1940-43 /

• Jowett, Philip S., 1961- ; Andrew, Stephen.
• Oxford : Osprey Military,
• Year: 2001
• Description: 48 p. : p., ill. (some col.), ports. ;, 25 cm.
• Language: English
• Series: Men-at-arms ;; 349;
• Standard No: ISBN: 1855328658

Kiwi Scorpions: the story of the New Zealanders in The Long Range Desert Group

• O'Carroll, Brendan.
• Honiton : Token,
• Year: 2000
• Description: xv, 228 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. (some col.) ; 31 cm.
• Language: English
• Standard No: ISBN: 1870192419

A secondary source book filled with tons of previously unpublished photos. As a New Zealander, O'Carroll had the good fortune to have access to the diaries and personal belongings of many surviving members of the LRDG. As such he has presented a comprehensive yet concise book on their exploits. The book is hard to come by but well worth the hunt. Highly Recommended.

The Long Range Desert Group

• Jenner, Bob. ; List, David. ; Sarson, Peter. ; Lyles, Kevin.
• London : Osprey,
• Year: 1984
• Description: 40 p., [8] p. of plates : p., ill. (some col.) ;, 25 cm.
• Language: English
• Series: Vanguard series ;; 36;

Typical of Osprey books and their Vanguard series, the book provided tons of photos, brief accurate information, and beautiful color plates. The first edition is better than the reprint, if you can get it. The color plates are especially helpful for the modeler. Much of the information provided is taken from original source material. A short concise reference book good for basic information. The chronology is especially helpful as is section on the make of the patrols.

Long Range Desert Group; the story of its work in Libya, 1940-1943

• : Shaw, W. B. Kennedy 1901- (William Boyd Kennedy),
• London, Collins,
• Year: 1945
• Description: 256 p. p., plates, ports., maps (1 fold.), 21 cm.
• Language: English

Not to be confused with the Jenner/List book, Shaw's book is the LRDG as seen by its intelligence officer. The book was originally written in 1945 and has since been reprinted. The reprint has blurry photos. I do not know the quality of the photos in the original print. This is not much of a problem, as many of the photos appear in other sources. What makes the book so important is it is the first of all first hand accounts of the LRDG and what they accomplished in the desert. This is a must read for anyone serious about the LRDG.

The Other Desert War

• British Special Forces in North Africa, 1940-1943
• Gordon, John W.
• New York : Greenwood Press,
• 1987
• Description: xxiii, 241 p., [12] p. of plates : ill. ; 25 cm.
• Language: English
• Series: Contributions in military studies,; no. 56;
• Standard No: ISBN: 0313252408 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper)

An exceptional scholarly work with good information about the exploits of the LCP, Auto Saharan and other precursors of the LRDG. While lacking the flavor of the personal memoirs, Gordon has managed to glean a wealth of information from original documents and first hand accounts to provide an excellent overview of the role of special forces in North Africa and how this use of irregular warfare led to the establishment of later special forces groups world wide. The book also explains the distinguishing qualities that make a special forces unit different from "elite" units.

Special Air Service enthusiasts may be a little put off by some of Gordon's comments concerning David Stirling and the SAS. In particular, Gordon discusses Stirling's disregard for the operations of other units operating behind the lines, which sometimes led to the missions of other units being compromised. This becomes especially clear after the failure of the Tobruk. All units were aware where other units were conducting operations and were not to over lap their areas of operation but Stirling often failed to follow this order. In one episode Gordon explains how SAS raids in an area where the LRDG was conducting a road watch led to several members of the LRDG being killed or captured.

The book also explains the less than professional circumstances surrounding the capture of the Phantom Major and his entire patrol without a single shot being fired.

Providence Their Guide : A personal account of the Long Range Desert Group, 1940-45

• Lloyd Owen, D. L. (David L.)
• Nashville : Battery Press,
• Edition: 1st U.S. ed.
• Year: 1981
• Description: xviii, 238 p., [16] p. of plates : p., ill., ports. ;, 25 cm.
• Language: English
• Series: Elite unit series ;; 3;
• Standard No: ISBN: 0898390400 :; LCCN: 81-157477

Along with WBKS' book, DLO's book is another must read. The book nicely compliments and affirms WBKS' work but gives a new perspective. DLO came to the unit after it was formed, had no experience in their strategy and tactics, and had to start from scratch. From these humble beginnings, he went on to take part in the major missions of the Group and until he finally became the Group Commander. an exceptional first hand account.

The Raiders : Desert Strike Force

• Swinson, Arthur, 1915-
• London : Pan Books,
• 1974 1968
• Description: [1], 160 p. : p., ill., maps, ports. ;, 21 cm.
• Language: English
• Series: The Pan/Ballantine illustrated history of World War II. campaign book; Variation: Pan/Ballantine illustrated history of World War II.; campaign books.

Probably the book that got me started on the LRDG. The book is a good secondary source work filled with photos and line drawings. It covers the exploits of the LRDG and SAS along with other special operations. all of the major raids are covered. From the name, you can guess that more emphasis is placed on the Special Air Service, however there is a good treatment of the LRDG, especially before the arrival of David Stirling and his "L detachment".

The SAS at War : The Special Air Service Regiment 1941-1945

• Kemp, Anthony, 1939-
• Penguin,
• Year: 2000 1991
• Description: xiii, [6] p. of maps, 268 p. : p., ill., maps, ports. ;, 25 cm.
• Language: English
• SUBJECT(S) Named Corp: Great Britain. Army. Special Air Service Regiment. Note(s): Originally published: London : Murray, 1991./ Includes bibliography.

More or less back ground information on the LRDG, the book follows the exploits of the SAS and as such gives information on the LRDG where their paths crossed

Secret Warfare : the Arms and Techniques of the Resistance

• Lorain, Pierre.
• London : Orbis Publishing,
• 1984 1983
• Description: 185 p. : p., ill. ;, 21 cm.
• English
• ISBN: 0856135860
• Descriptor: World War, 1939-1945 -- Secret service -- Great Britain. World War, 1939-1945 -- Underground movements -- Europe. World War, 1939-1945 -- Equipment and supplies. Named Corp: Great Britain. Special Operations Executive.

Secret Weapons - Secret Agents

• Author(s): Bergier, Jacques, 1912-
• London, Hamilton,
• 1958
• Description: 159 p. p.
• English
• Series: Panther Books,; 816;
• Note(s): Bibliographical footnotes.
• Responsibility: [by] Jacques Bergier ("Verne"); translated from the French by Edward Fitzgerald.

An excellent book of the weapons and equipment used by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II The book is filled with fabulous line drawings and detailed exacting information on just about everything the resistance and the SOE would have needed. The information of Radio equipment and ciphers is exceptional.

Uniforms of World War II

• Darman, Peter.
• Edison, NJ : Chartwell Books,
• Year: 1998
• Description: 288 p. : p., col. ill., col. photos. ;, 30 cm.
• Language: English
• Standard No: ISBN: 0785809392

World War II Small Arms

• Weeks, John S.
• Secaucus, N.J. : Chartwell Books,
• 1989
• Description: 144 p. : p., ill. (some col.) ;, 30 cm.
• Language: English
• Standard No: ISBN: 1555213324

Typical of books by Weeks, this one gives the basics of the main weapons used by the major players of WWII. The book includes the AT rifles used by various countries. As with most books of this nature, it is a "coffee table" reference book giving basic characteristics, action photos, schematics, full color photos of weapons, and the general characteristic of the weapons covered. For the purpose of this page, the book provided information on Italian, German, British, and American weapons. The book also included information on Russian, Japanese, French,

Sand, Wind, and War: Memoirs of a Desert Explorer

• Bagnold, Ralph A. 1896- (Ralph Alger),
• Tucson : University of Arizona Press,
• Year: 1990
• Description: xii, 209 p., [8] p. of plates : ill., maps ; 24 cm.
• Language: English
• Standard No: ISBN: 0816512116

Before becoming commander of the LRDG, Bagnold was an inventor and explorer. He never stopped being either.

Online Web Sites