The Crazy Soldiers Who Took a Route WW2 Germany Never Expected

[@edjones7709]

A lot of the footage was of the Indian troops attached to the 8th Army - 4th Indian Division - quite a rarity as they never got the publicity or recognition they deserved. They fought with the 8th Army through to Tunisia, Sicily and through Italy until the end of the war.

[@terry_willis]

Plus that one dude with the turban popped off at least 5 rounds during the video.

[@johngraham8893]

I would like to see them recognised for their contribution and given their share of acknowledgement in dosc's like this too

[@vissitorsteve]

Their lack of recognition was due entirely to racism, just as was done to blacks in the U.S. military...

[@strikerorwell9232]

Colonel Arthur C Clark said about the Italian forces "Any

[@ChristophersMum]

@@strikerorwell9232 ...Any?...

[@johngraham8893]

I'm a Kiwi and a farmer.I was sure proud to see New Zealand soldiers with a farming background were the backbone of this group !

[@jamiewulfyr4607]

We've never forgotten and will never forget the nations who unquestioningly downed their tools and took up their weapons to stand with us in our hour of need.

[@outinthesticks1035]

It's very common to see the comment that people from a farm background make the best soldier in wartime , not so much in peace

[@howardsimpson489]

I thought I could see a few Maori faces amongst the troops.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

@@outinthesticks1035 farmers feed the world in peace. Unfortunately many in power don’t care about what farmers deal with daily especially with increased costs of fuel and fertilizer - which eventually gets passed to the common citizens compliments of political agendas and policies

[@allisalie101]

I'm an Aussie farmer John, and I have to say I was pretty bloody proud of that fact as well mate.

[@janiceduke1205]

In two months, the British force of about 25,000 front line soldiers had advanced 500 miles, destroyed an Italian Army of ten divisions, and captured about 130,000 prisoners, some 400 tanks, and over 800 guns- at a cost of less than 2000 killed, wounded and missing. Anthony Eden merrily paraphrased Churchill’s words about the RAF a few weeks earlier: “Never had so much been surrendered by so many to so few.”

[@judd0112]

The Italian soldiers were either not really into their duties or not good soldiers. Cause they either surrendered or hardly taught. MOST of the time.

[@paidwitness797]

@@judd0112 The soldiers themselves were often good, but mostly let down by poor equipment (especially tanks), poor leadership on the ground and unreasonable goals set by Mussolini. It got even worse for Italian soldiers when Germany was 'helping', as Africa Corps often took the best of the equipment the Italians had, leaving them with the worst gear and often the worst assignments (you guys have no trucks now so your gonna have to be the rearguard....).

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

Yes, if Churchill had not got distracted by Greece, axis forces could have been cleared from all of North Africa some 6 months before Japan's entry into the war, Freeing up enough aircraft to prevent the loss of Singapore, which was a damn close thing. In fact the day the British surrendered Singapore, the Japanese had already made the decision to evacuate themselves from the Island if the British managed to hold out for another 24 hours. BTW the issues regard Singapore's guns was mostly urban myths. They could in fact fully rotate & lob shells over the city to targets within range in the Malay Penisula, which they did without problem. The problem was that the vast majority of ready shells were armoured piercing slugs, not high explosive.

[@anugranmathimugan2778]

Pretty sure Janice that's what the Japanese did to the British in Malaya and Singapore.

[@anugranmathimugan2778]

@@judd0112 Yup the Italians soldiers didn't want to fight for Musolini . Chips the most decorate dog of WW2 captured an Italian machine gun nest by himself . "On July 10, 1943, Chips and his handler were pinned down on the beach by an Italian machine-gun team. Chips broke from his handler and jumped into the pillbox, attacking the gunners. The four crewmen were forced to leave the pillbox and surrendered to US troops. "There was an awful lot of noise," Rowell said. "Then I saw one fellow come out the door with Chips at his throat. I called him off before he could kill the man."[5] In the fight, he sustained a scalp wound and powder burns. Later that day, he helped take ten Italians prisoner"

[@S6WLUKAS]

I enjoyed this one especially. My great-grandfather spent much of the same time in the Black Watch - attached to the 8th Army running between Egypt and Tunisia; he fought at the Second Battle of El Alamein and was later wounded at The Battle of Wadi-Akarit (code-name Operation Scipio) in Tunisia, at 30 years of age. At 02:00 on the 6th of April 1943, 640 men of his division engaged the enemy; they breached the defences of Axis Forces and held a bridgehead, allowing the passage of their main force. After several counter-attacks, the Axis forces withdrew and the Eighth Army, under General Bernard Montgomery, pursued toward Tunis. The 8th army suffered over 1200 casualties and lost 32 tanks. Of the 639 men that my great-grandfather charged with, 340 men were killed or wounded and 10 men were taken prisoner - furthermore, of the 10 POWs, two were killed by the USAF as they attacked axis convoys. My great-grandfather survived his wounds, and after recuperating he rejoined the fight by taking part in the invasion of Sicily a few months later. He survived the war intact - more or less, he rarely spoke of WW2 and was staunchly opposed to every war that followed. He died at the age of 80 years old.

[@Manco65]

Small world. My Great Uncle was at the same Second Battle of El Alamein as a tanker in Anders Army.

[@nothingforyouhere418]

Mine was there too. He died in the battle of monte casino, but returned home to london 6 months after the war ended. My family had 5 houses bombed, so there was no way to send letters. Last one hit while they were in it. All my grandmother could find of her friend next door was a hand. They were around 10 years old. She was cremated with a piece of nazi shrapnel still in her head. I really miss her. Glad I was raised by people so strong. It's given me an advantage in this world.

[@S6WLUKAS]

@@Manco65 Despite coming away in better condition himself, he said that El Alamein was far worse than any other battle... from what I gather that was where he lost one of his best friends though. There was brutal anti-tank gun/artillery action, from what I have read.

[@robkunkel8833]

@@nothingforyouhere418 … we seldom remember how strong we were from the inspiration of parents and grandparents.

[@zen4men]

@@Manco65 Interesting. ...... Which tank unit?

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

My father was in the LRDG & after being sent back to NZ was redeployed in the Pacific with a small group of Kiwi's & Fijian's to do small Island cleanup of Japs. They were dropped off at night by PT boats & stayed until the island was clean. He shared a few stories with me before he died in 1971.

[@joelmonkley6177]

Was your father part of Z force I've heard alot of stories about them plus the Fijian soldiers were some of the best for jungle fighting

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

@@joelmonkley6177 My knowledge is limited by the few times he talked about his war after I came back from Vietnam. I left NZ in 79 & live in the US.

[@joelmonkley6177]

@@nzsaltflatsracer8054 thanks for your service were you based at NUI dat with NZ artillery 105 s

[@drmarkintexas-400]

Thank you for sharing 🤗🙏⭐🇺🇲

[@miguelfuentes7800]

That was insane, after all those accomplishments and winning the desert war they even asked to be transferred in the Pacific war. Absolute Respect for these Warriors...

[@thomasgumersell9607]

Enjoyed your very informative video on Desert Warfare. Truly many lessons were learned from their exploits. My late Father served with thé British Eighth Army from 1939 to 1946. Duration of War plus 6 months yet he barely spoke of his service. Thank you for sharing this. 💪🏻🙏🏻✨

[@daskritterhaus5491]

keeping the memories alive and out there bravo DD

[@Wolverines77]

Sounds like the precursor to U.S. Army LRRP's Teams in Vietnam (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol). These teams were not part of Special Forces or Rangers, but formed at the Division level. My dad served as a door gunner for the aviation battalion attached to the 173rd AB 65-67. His Hueys were either shot down or limped back to base only to crash 4 times over his 16 months there. He said the exfiltration mission for these LRRP teams almost always ended up with them coming in "hot" to get the 4 guys. After the first few times they started the mission planning by making sure there were at least two pairs of A-1E's within 2 to 3 minutes for air support. I guess that is part of the reason dad had 4 bronze oak leaf clusters on his Air Medal. Just going hunting with dad in the Colorado Rockies was hard to maintain cover for more than a few hours. I cannot imagine holding cover for two weeks or more anywhere... Semper Fidelis to these silent warriors. Yes, I served in the Marine Coros from 86-90...

[@VincentComet-l8e]

'1940 - Britain struggled to contain the Axis advance in Egypt.’ On the contrary, we forced the Italians into retreating, and took scores of thousands of prisoners. However, in early 1941 one Erwin Rommel appeared on the scene, and then we certainly did struggle containing Axis forces…

[@davebrown9707]

Thank you sor saving me the effort lol

[@j.robertsergertson4513]

Then the Americans came ,saw and kick Rommel's ass ! And once again saved the British 🖕🇬🇧 Smooches from Us Yanks

[@davebrown9707]

@@j.robertsergertson4513 monty.

[@VincentComet-l8e]

@@j.robertsergertson4513 Here we have Sergetson, whose ignorance is clearly only exceeded by his stupidity & rudeness. He obviously thinks the Battle of Alamein, in which Rommel was defeated then chased 1500 miles across North Africa to Tunisia, was a purely American affair. Having got the whole story completely & catastrophically wrong, is he man enough to now come back and apologise for being such an arse?

[@sichere]

An "American" Italian was supplying Rommel with British intel that tremendously helped his campaign.

[@Ewen6177]

LRDPG are friggin legends, within the British Army.

[@frenzalrhomb6919]

Forerunners of the S.A.S, I believe.

[@robw4ltz408]

Manned by kiwis

[@robshirewood5060]

@@robw4ltz408 Not all Patrols were Kiwis, G patrol were mostly Guards, other patrols had a mixture of British, Rhodesian etc My original Dentist was apparently a member, and i think he was still fighting ww2 in every patient's mouth.......

[@ronwilken5219]

I was pleasantly surprised to hear an acknowledgement of the members of LRDG from Southern Rhodesia. Many troops came from both Rhodesia's, both black and white, to answer the call. When I was in highschool (1956-1961) I attended Gilbert Rennie high school in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). My first hostel master and English teacher was Don Hofmeyr. He had been, I believe, a major in LRDG but try as we may we never managed to get him to talk about his experiences in the desert. A fairer disciplinarian I have never met. While he ran our hostel fairly strictly, we were also afforded privileges that other hostels envied. He's probably long dead by now but he had a daughter about my age. IF she gets to read this by some circumstances she should know that I respected her father, even now.

[@pelonehedd7631]

One of My Uncles Fought all the Way through Italy as a heavy .30 caliber water cooled machine Gunner 34th Infantry Div. I have taken a interest in the music of John Edmond and the interviews with veterans of both sides of the Bush Wars as well as the History of Africa and Its People. I am very impressed with the intelligent manners of these people both blacks and whites. I think Ian Smith was genuinely a good Man with the Rhodesian peoples best interests at heart. He certainly new a lot about the histories and customs of the tribal peoples and I am especially impressed by the Former Rhodesian Soldiers who acquired the native languages and grew up among the native peoples . I like those Songs like Rhodie Cologne and Rhodesian School Days.

[@tangle70]

Shame that Briton screwed Rhodesia over a few decades later. They where hard fighting people that knew how to wage war.

[@joelmonkley6177]

Plenty of the original LRDG were kiwis the best of the best fact

[@exinfernnus]

Excellent special operations by these men. I would like to see the vehicles they made survive through this campaign.

[@ronwilken5219]

Exinfernnus, I'm sure there are surviving examples in various British war museums. I know there used to be in the Johannesburg war museum many years ago. Whether they've been preserved since "indifference" I don't know but many of their vehicle mods were used and developed in the Rhodesian terrorist war and can be seen in some of the current US, British, South African, and Australian vehicles used in Ukraine today.

[@johntaylor-lo8qx]

Ty for doing this show. I've heard of these guys very briefly but never understood the true value behjnd them. Gr8 doc. Wish it was longer. True hero's. God Bless 🙏.

[@duncaninglis5407]

Great video mate Thank You, this Unit of highly trained specialised Soldiers was a precursor of The Special Air Service and it’s easy to see why.

[@fastsetinthewest]

All propaganda. Did you forget about the Russian and German alliance with the take-over of Poland? Hahahaha

[@robshirewood5060]

@@fastsetinthewest The Soviet Union knew Germany would attack and played for time to prepare among other reasons, with good reason as they needed to modernise. Nothing in politics or war is ever black and white or set in concrete

[@robshirewood5060]

@@fastsetinthewest Have you ever read of the Ukranian nazis in ww2 under Stepan Bandera who murdered 115,000 Poles mostly women and children

[@fastsetinthewest]

@@robshirewood5060 No. Thanks.

[@dishusse]

@@robshirewood5060 Germany lost their part of Poland and some old German territory was ceded to Poland. The Soviet Union (i.e. Russia) kept their part of Poland. Germany and Russia were approximately equally much terrorist states in the 1930s - 40s. Germany has reformed and is a democratic state. Russia is still a terrorist state.

[@bbillbill3919]

Thankyou I enjoyed this very much Great to hear New Zealand recognized for their contribution. Thanks George Trass RIP for your service.

[@lapensulo4684]

The pics of them driving through the desert with no roads etc. brings back memories of OIF I and the deserts driven through. 140 F , been there under one of those Heat Domes.

[@safiremorningstar]

Thank you very much very well read with much flavour and urgency.

[@scorpio9681]

My Grandfather was in the LRDG, seeing videos like these make me feel pride in my past

[@welshskies]

My father served in the 8th Army (Royal Signals) from June 1940, I remember him telling me stories about the LRDG when I was a child. He could also swear in Arabic.

[@taffpatch1]

imshi x

[@stehpengray2084]

Amazing man . Thank you.

[@tfd7915]

Sounds lik the real-life Rat Patrol (for those of you who remember that old TV show)

[@robkunkel8833]

Yes, I remember the tv show. It was a major influence for me as a kid. I wanted a Jeep and got a couple, eventually.

[@c0l57v49]

I’m sure I remember there being controversy about the show because it included Americans and they didn’t serve in the theatre at the time

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Yay Team ! Yeah mate.... We got Black and White TV in 1967 ; and Rat Patrol was a New Release, here in Oz..., as was My Favourite Martian, I Dream Of Genie, Get Smart, F-Troop, The Rifleman, Combat...!, Adventures of Jim Bowie, and Batman..... We grew up learning to live in FANTASY-Land. And, therefore, thus, and because - we Fuctup the entire Biosphere, all while trying to please our Parents and Grandparents, while providing for our Offspring. Oopsie...? (!). Such is life, Have a good one... Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !

[@johnburrow426]

Very well documented

[@jaredallen1149]

Awesome video. Thank you

[@monkeylordofdoom14]

wow!! Im a kiwi and that was incredible, I never knew all this! thank you!

[@johnw3996]

MY FATHER AND UNCLE WE'RE IN THE SUPPORT TEAM., SUPPORTING THEM ,/ NZ / LET US NOT FORGET THEM 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@RIFFRAFF104]

I was a kid, growing up in Tripoli. I was all over the Libyan coast. I remember exploring the old battlefields. The German pill boxes and walls. I found all sorts of WW2 gear just left in the desert. Even a live and very rusted British hand grenade. Very interesting place, combined with the old Roman ruins.

[@nickpapa1721]

You lucky bugger - I grew up in Riyadh - desert trips were nothing but rocks and camel spiders.

[@RIFFRAFF104]

@@nickpapa1721 I still have a German helmet I found... And a few Roman coins.. Reading your post made me remember finding Desert Rose rocks. Pretty sure your not allowed to take them out of the country.

[@nickpapa1721]

@@RIFFRAFF104 Hi Riff, thanks for the reply - sounds like an amazing childhood experience! For my part, we found stone age arrow heads and fossils. Happy New Year to you Sir!

[@parkloqi]

You better be really cautious with that deteriorating bomb. One day it will explode with or without anyone fiddling with it.

[@TheCabrooster11]

Without Bagnall and LRDG the SAS would never have been able to get near their enemy targets at the start, the training in desert navigation was pivotal in their later successful raids behind Axis lines

[@outlawandoutdoorstv9901]

Served in a lRSD or long range surveillance detachment which used to be long range recon patrol of the US Army. Very specialized Infantryman the was sometimes Ranger tabbed but they didn't serve in Ranger regiment. One of the units is 2 companies of men in the 101st aviation regiment of the 101st airborne. Every generation has the few percent of the population that volunteers for combat duty .

[@danked6731]

If anyone is familiar with the Commando cics about 25 years ago they made one similar to this called "Ramseys Raiders" this brings back memories of reading them.

[@daystatesniper01]

This was very enjoyable video , thank you .

[@DavidM-tg1oy]

The right man, in the right place, at the right time!

[@victoriaburkhardt9974]

As an American born in the early 1950’s and schooled by Hollywood about WWII, I am somewhat humbled by learning the truth about how effective Great Britain and the Commonwealth was in fighting back the Nazi regime before the US joined the fight. Yes, okay, we sent food and arms and other useful goods across the pond prior to our active military engagement, and it’s true that we came big when we finally joined fight, but that doesn’t take away from the grand work done by Great Britain and the Commonwealth prior to our late engagement.

[@jeffersonwright6249]

One of the members of the LRDG was none other than Christopher Lee

[@jonathanparry7824]

I thought he was s.o.e?

[@katedaphne4495]

Never heard of him

[@colcot50]

Dubious claim by him and his story was treated as mostly sceptical

[@jonathanparry7824]

@@katedaphne4495 saruman in lotr

[@barrythatcher9349]

Christopher Lee was S.O.E.

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@williamezechel6023]

I love everyone of your channels!!!

[@cliffgriffen623]

Wonderful video

[@richardbriscoe8563]

The Gurkhas broke the German line at Monte Casino. They crossed lines at night with their kukris. A lot of Germans woke up dead in the morning.

[@cameronsmyth8565]

I have been keen on the LRDG since I was lad. Funnily enough, while I was serving in the Aussie Army I was part of a special long range / deep recon unit that specialised in Jungle Ops. Using very much the the same braod stratergy but adapted for the Jungle.

[@robshirewood5060]

what was it called ?

[@cameronsmyth8565]

@@robshirewood5060 a RFSU, Regional Force Surveillance Unit. I never deployed off the Mainland. But they were very effective in multi-national joint exercises.

[@allangibson8494]

Not exactly the conditions where a high speed truck works…

[@cameronsmyth8565]

@@allangibson8494 You are 100% correct, I was thinking more of the deep surveillance and reconnaissance behind enemy lines. The raids they did before the SAS took over were pretty legendary though. We were trained for some sabotage raids but never got to use it.

[@xsleep1]

Since the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 degrees F (1913 Death Valley), they did not have to "endure temperature up to 140 degrees F".

[@stevewilson7819]

Yeah….don’t believe everything you read. Especially if it’s says ever recorded. Only a small fraction of our planet has weather stations with calibrated thermometers. I’m pretty sure it won’t be to hard to find veterans who served in other hot areas that will tell you they endured temps over 134 degrees. I can’t recall how many operations I did at MCAGCC 29 Palms. And I never once saw a NOAA Weather station out there. But I distinctly recall being there for a CAX in August and in the shade it was 138 degrees. Bottom line is this: unless you’ve personally endured those conditions, you can’t truely appreciate how bad it is. Think of it as living in an oven that’s making beef jerky. And your the jerky.

[@maxcullen3427]

This channel is completely different and amazing great research obviously done 👏🏻👏🏻

[@edbradbury6591]

Love this channel

[@jamesford7234]

When paused at 02:48, you can see the clear image of a Model A Ford distributor! The same when viewing the front wheels and hubcaps! The film may be reversed as a Model A Ford has its manifolds on the RH side; they can barely be made out at 2:48 too, on the side of the engine nearest the viewer.

[@mortonbartlett8233]

LRDG, first 100 or so members were Kiwi's. Bagnold approached the NZ Division for volunteers and half the Division volunteered, all this was a year before the SAS came into being and in early stages they assisted SAS with insert/extraction because of their expert desert navigators. This earned them the nickname "Libyan Desert Taxi Service

[@coops1964]

06:15 That’s not the LRDG, it’s the SAS with Paddy Mayne in the foreground.

[@James-nl6fu]

The original SAS/LRDG were not "Superhuman," but extraordinarily brave men❤️

[@johnmorgan9435]

My grand-uncle was involved in another desert theatre of WW2 in Iraq. He had a small unit responsible for setting up dummy airfields.

[@cat22_a1]

I'd be interested in how they modified the cooling system of their vehicles.

[@stevenmqcueen7576]

Another excellent video on one of the ittle known aspects of WWII a Dark Docs speciality..

[@robertscheinost179]

A lot of these men went to the SAS and the SBS. There was a lot of TAD slots between the LRDG, SAS and SBS. I read a book about 40 years ago on the history of the SAS and about i/3rd of the book dealt with the missions of these groups with the LRDG. Brilliant! To them, sand was just a highway! The accomplishments of these three groups was unbelievable, but true. The original Special Forces started with these guys.

[@cmw9876]

TAD - an acronym with which I am not familiar. 🧐

[@robertscheinost179]

@@cmw9876 Temporary Assigned Duty=TAD. For instance, one has expertise in a skill that is needed by another unit, is assigned to that unit for a specified unit for a period of time on a temporary basis and will go back to the unit he came from upon completion of the task, mission or operation. I hope that helps. I was TAD'd twice when I was in, once for 3 weeks and once for 4 months, after that I was sent back to my unit. The 3 above named groups were TAD'd back and forth quite often during WW ll. Obviously the commanders don't like this as the best guys get "snatched" out of their units for varying periods of time.

[@jenniturtleburger3708]

The US Special Forces trace their origin back to the joint US and Canadian 1st Special Service Force also known as the Black Devils or Devils Brigade formed in ‘42 as I understand it.

[@robertscheinost179]

@@jenniturtleburger3708 You can go back as far asn "Knowlton's Rangers" who fought in the Revolutionary War in the US. It depends what you call special forces The "Green Berets" trace their beginnings to 1952.

[@petergreenwald9639]

@@robertscheinost179 Aha! In the USAF in my day it was called TDY, temporary duty assignment.

[@antr7493]

You talk about Force Multipliers. The LRDG and SAS during those campaigns were amazing.

[@Clarc115]

It appears British General Richard Nugent O'Connor's victories are unknown by most historians.

[@warrenkarmun138]

🤔Thank you for the informative documentary and bringing light to these forefathers of Long Range Patrol . A10TION,SALUTE.😎

[@MrLeiduowen]

I like your slight lisp. It's the trademark of your channel that no one can copy and take away from you.

[@ronaldstorey3238]

That was an awesome story thank you

[@davidcardin3271]

I did not know these. Thanks

[@qwertyghhhhhh]

First mention of Southern rhodesians and the great soldiers that they were. Rhidesia had the highest ratio of volunteers to the ww2 campaign, in addition to suffering the highest casualty ratio in relation to population. A sacfice which has been forgotten by the British government of today. I am proud to be of rhodesian lineage. I still have a rhodesian ww2 mine detector used in the ww2 north African campaign. Men of men

[@glennwall552]

The Indian army was written out of this history when I was a boy great to see th being included as they fought with the ANZACS though out these wars we owe them much. As in Burma we do too.

[@nickjung7394]

The contribution of Indian troops serving in the British Indian army were written out by the Indian government who credited those Indians that fought alongside the Japanese with Indian independence. The Indian government refused to give pensions to those who served in the British/Indian army!

[@stephenchappell7512]

@@nickjung7394 I can't imagine the Japanese would have treated a 'liberated' India any more favourably than their other 'liberated' territories

[@nickjung7394]

@@stephenchappell7512 absolutely. Indian ex servicemen that I knew in the 1960s all said the same thing, they knew that the Japanese, the Germans and even the Soviets would have treated India far worse than the British ever did. interestingly, a number of them refused to serve with those that joined the INA and were in the post war Indian army and resigned their commissions.

[@hamemoney]

Grandfather served with NZ forces in Greece, Create, Nortn Africa and Italy.H e would loved this video.

[@alm5992]

12:07 I know that destroyed truck is probably a Bedford, but it looks strikingly like a non-existent-yet VW minivan in the front!

[@NatsuOsugosuHotaru]

The Australian army organised a fore runner of the LRDG in the Middle East using highly modified Ford Model T cars and trucks with some success. It might be where Bagnold got the ideas for desert vehicle operations.

[@evilfingers4302]

Long Range Desert Group later became the British Special Air Service

[@rickhibdon11]

There is an excellent 3 part series about the LRDG..

[@spidos1000]

Incorrect. They became THE Special Air Service.

[@steveosborne2297]

Actually the SAS were formed after the LRDG . On the first operation the SAS was supposed to parachute into the area of operations and then later rendezvous with the LRDG to get them back to Allied lines . The parachute drop was a total balls up , unfortunately , and it wasn’t until after the survivors got back to allied lines that the plan was developed to get the LRDG to take the members of the SAS to their start positions . This then developed into the SAS frequently using LRDG methods .

[@emmanuelawosusi2365]

Love the channel

[@robertfarrell2532]

The Australian and New Zealand troops won the Africa campaign but you won’t hear much about what they done because it makes the British look bad same as ww1 Australian New Zealand and Canadian troops won the western front god bless all troops who gave their lives on all sides 🍺🍺🇦🇺🙏

[@trevorclarkson6089]

Utter disrespect for the British, I have relatives/family that died on the western front, how dare you say the British had no part in the war on 5he western front

[@c.d.3485]

Check out a lesser known but similar alied desert group called Popskis Private Army.

[@Gronk79]

Spot on comment Mr. C. D.! I was amazed by his intro to his book where stated that WWII was the best thing that ever happened to him. PPA was not, understandably, as successful in Italy. Thanks!

[@johndoerr8853]

Keeping units like this would have made military readiness for unconventional combat conditions one step ahead in Iraq and Afghanistan. Also would have given us more positive historic relations in the region and possibly helped avoid the more recent conflicts. Shame. The war machine desires blood, not peace and preparation.

[@robestey5628]

Very interesting - thank you.

[@samhklm]

7:40 Come on dude - 140 degrees Fahrenheit? The World: Highest Temperature is 134° F. recorded on 10 July 1913 at Furnace Creek Ranch California. Do you research.

[@ronwilken5219]

According to Wikipedia "sand" temperatures of 186°F have been recorded in parts of the Sahara. While this is not necessarily the "air" temperature it's still bloody hot. Inside an armoured car, 140° F quite possible. Park your black car in the sun on a 80°F day and measure what the inside gets to in short order. I've seen it burst alcohol thermometers.

[@Ord_Wingate]

My late great uncle was part of this LRDG incredible

[@thomasb1889]

The LRDG was built of of the ideas of the Italian Auto Saharan Companies which operated from the late 1930's

[@luisizquierdo9002]

One word... Treason

[@daviddohman8418]

Dark Docs has trouble matching pics and vids with dialog

[@TomSkinner]

I want to know his technique for driving so effortlessly over huge sand dunes.

[@rawnature8148]

Momentum and careful on the gas.

[@HeinzGuderian_]

The TV show "Rogue Heroes" is a mostly true depiction of the SAS. Very much worth watching.

[@BryanSorensen-lr5up]

I've always wondered where the TV show Rat Patrol originated from. Now I know. Thanks.

[@waynestevens1676]

If anyone would like an even more accurate version of the exploits of the LRDG (aka the Desert Scorpions) there's an excellent book titled "Bearded Brigands" written by Brendan O'Carroll. It's the actual diary of a Kiwi trooper, Frank Jopling, who was a member of the LRDG on all their raids etc. Despite being shot through the leg he was one of the group that walked across the desert to find help. Well worth reading.

[@Celtopia]

@waynestevens1676 Brilliant book !

[@coops1964]

I’d love to read it but it’s £425 on Amazon! I’ll keep my eyes open though for it elsewhere.

[@brianjones1151]

The thumbprint Picture is of an SBS trooper in the Aegean !!

[@Panda165YouTube]

When are you going to do a feature on the early SAS & in particular the story of Col Paddy Mayne. What a hero, fighter & a man. Better get it right though as he’s beloved hero to many people today.

[@law7116]

This would be such a hard fight in the desert.

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

Very interesting stuff. Lawrence Jr.

[@lordphullautosear]

Pleased to see your acknowledgement of the LRDG! The original "Rat Patrol."

[@davidsweeney4021]

Some of the later raids mentioned are early SAS, supported by LRDG. Sorry if I'm wrong.

[@davidsweeney4021]

OK got my dates wrong

[@Panda165YouTube]

@@davidsweeney4021 one of the pictures used was of early SAS. It was a picture of Col. Blair “Paddy” Mayne driving a SAS vehicle which was basically a LRDG vehicle but had more weapons on it for destroying aircraft on the ground.

[@beernd4822]

Thanks for the subdued music

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

As a kid, The Rat Patrol was one of my favorite shows. Of course, I had no way to know that it was based on the UK's LRDG...the impression given by the show was that these guys were American, with one token British soldier. Thanks for this video--I might have continued in blissful ignorance.

[@rustleshackleford1553]

You could not ask for a more perfect man, at a more critical time.

[@johnfarrow5873]

I believe they were called The Desert Rats but I might be mistaken

[@geigertec5921]

Desert Hamsters.

[@jonathanparry7824]

No the desert rats were the 7th armoured division in the army, that got there name from fighting in North Africa campaign and becoming experts in desert warfare, they still exist as an armoured division today, the lrdg are something different altogether

[@jamiecullum5567]

You are mistaken

[@ricksosbee3913]

Thanks. Not enough of the African campaigns stories. Compared to other theatres.

[@henricusrealms8411]

The RAT Patrol?? I don't know if you remember that TV show from back in the late 60s -- early 70s.

[@alexanderkidonakis9185]

Where do you find this footage?

[@geigertec5921]

Libraries.

[@steveshoemaker6347]

Thanks very much...... Shoe🇺🇸

[@Roadglide911]

And along came my favorite old war series the Rat Patrol!😊

[@notwocdivad]

I cannot remember seeing any other footage of LRDG units being equipped with armoured vehicles like these shown? Mostly chevvy 3 tonners and later Jeeps were usually favoured??

[@Tinderchaff]

In the main this video is accurate however there is one minor inaccuracy and at least two areas need clarification. At 07:00 it says that the LRDG was first deployed on 15th Sept. 1940, actually it was the 5th, ten days earlier when it set out from it's base, Source 'Bearded Brigands: The Legendary Long Range Desert Group in the Diaries and Photographs of Trooper Frank Jopling'. Page 16 in the book even has a photo of the page from his diary (yes, it was against orders to keep a diary but in a weird turn of events instead of punishing him the seniors decided to make him their unofficial diarist of operations) where it states they set off at 4pm due to earlier overloading issues with the Ford 15cwt V8s. They entered Libya on the 15th having already travelled well over 1,000km (approx 600 miles). At 6:49 that is a photo of an LRDG vehicle from 'R' Patrol. All vehicles in 'R' Patrol had names (in fact all the New Zealand patrol vehicles had names that started with the letter of the patrol) this one being Rotowhero which is the name in black on the bonnet. It is a Maori word which simply means 'Red' in English. The gun at the back would be a Boys anti-tank rifle while the gun in the front is a Lewis gun. At 8:41 you state 'G' and 'T' patrols set off into the desert. 'G' Patrol would be the patrol made up of Guardsmen from 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream and 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. CWT is an old imperial measurement of weight and means hundredweight (C being one hundred in roman numerals and WT being short for Weight). Roughly 1cwt is about 51kgs so a 15cwt truck is about 760kgs and 30cwt about 1520kgs. Frank Jopling served in the unit as a navigator from its earliest days right up to being captured just after the Barce raid mentioned near the end of the video. He survived capture and returned to New Zealand where he eventually moved to Auckland working the inner harbour ferries between the city and Devonport passing away in March 1987.

[@peterrhodes5663]

R and T patrols named their vehicles after towns in NZ. Rorowhero was a coal mining town, west of Huntly. The buildings were removed 40 years ago, and the land is now a big open cast coal mine. The Wessex yeomanry named their tanks after towns in Wessex. They were attached to 2 NZEF, so I don't know who copied who.

[@peterrhodes5663]

Just looked up the other names of the vehicles in R patrol. They all seem to be from around Rotorua, so that is the name of the green thermal lake at the base of Rainbow mountain.

[@osizzle963]

Amazing

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

A wonderful historical coverage of 8th army of British...

[@stewartridgway5196]

Question the LRDG being this offensive, does this narrator mean the SAS and "Desert Commandos"? Some pictures showing Stirling's later formed SAS with their own jeeps while narrating about the LRDG??

[@swatzero1231]

You should do a dark docs on the polish artillery bear named Wojtek

[@johnord684]

Some of those photos where of Paddy Mayne of the SAS not the LRDG

[@crhend512]

Excellent piece. One note however, when you made the comment about the United States an Soviet Union not yet in the war, that was incorrect. The Soviets invaded Poland shortly after Germany and the invaded Finland. What they had not done at the point in time referenced was switch sides.