During the two-and-a-half years' fighting in the Western Desert of North Africa, which began with the Italian declaration of war in June 1940 and ended in 1943, the Long Range Desert Group became the acknowledged master of the vast desert. This small, highly mobile force was engaged in daring exploits and reconnaissance far behind the enemy's lines. Emerging suddenly from the depths of the desert, the LRDG would raid important airfields or attack Axis lines of communication along the Mediterranean coast, and then vanish back into the desert, to reappear hundreds of miles away. With its brilliant description of the harsh beauty of the desert, and its exiting chronicle of the LRDG activities, this book is as fascinating today as it was when was first published in 1945, after being vetted by the War Office. AUTHOR: Kennedy Shaw was born on 26 October 1901. In the 1920s and 1930s he contributed to the exploration of the Libyan Desert in the area around the south west of modern Egypt. When the war broke out he used his skills and knowledge in the LRDG. He later served in the Intelligence Corps and with the SAS, reaching the rank of major. He died in 1979. SELLING POINTS: ? An authentic account of this famous unit written by its wartime Intelligence Officer. ? Tells about reconnaissance operations deep within enemy-held territory. ? Discusses the capture of the key desert oasis of Kufra and combined raids with the SAS. REVIEWS: 'Moving, exciting and authentic' - The Observer 'The British genius for exploration, hard living and insolently bold guerrilla warfare has never been better demonstrated than by the Long Range Desert Group ? [Kennedy Shaw's book is] a remarkable record, told simply, unpretentiously and with engaging humour ? One cannot remember a better war book.' - The Manchester Guardian Illustrated
