quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
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The LRDG was a unit formed early in WW2 to focus on deep desert reconnaissance operations against the Germans and Italians in North Africa, doing similar to what the SAS would later go on to do as well: using heavily armed and desert-adapted jeeps and trucks to travel long distances through the deep desert and around behind enemy lines. But the LRDG had a bit more of a focus on recon and intelligence-gathering, whereas the later SAS was more focused on direct action/raiding, though the LRDG partook in offensive operations as well.

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In Season 1 of Rogue Heroes, the SAS encounter (and recruit from) the LRDG after their abortive first operation. They were the guys in the jeeps/trucks who rescued the straggling SAS survivors from the desert and then took them to the new SAS base. One or two of the LRDG guys then stuck around to help the SAS.

With respect to the LRDG, it was established by Major Ralph Bagnold, a British officer who along with a dozen or so others, made the initial forays into the Egyptian and Libyan deserts, starting in the late 1920s, using modified Model T autos. I've read his books on this part of his life, and it is utter fascinating what adventurous men can do with limited equipment.

Here is YT video of film taken during these travels.



As far as I know, only Corporal Mike Sadler moved from the LRDG to the SAS. Sterling arranged this because Sadler was likely the LRDG's best navigator. Plus, without consulting GHQ, Sterling promoted Sadler to Lieutenant as part of the unofficial reassignment. Strangely, both reassignment and promotion stuck.

In the series Sadler's character has some of the very best lines. For example, on arriving a Jalo, Sadler has a monologue that starts:

"This my friends is Jalo. Literally, unquestionably, undeniably the middle of fucking no where. If fucking no where had a capital city, this would be it."

Just finished the second season on MGM+. This app is relatively inexpensive if you buy 12 months at a time so I’ve used it for years as they rotate in excellent films and they have 4 live movie channels.

This series was a welcomed surprise. Like many Paddy Mayne is intoxicating to watch. Always rebelling against authority. He is also a human machete that doesn’t give a fuck.
I ended the last S2 episode just now with the SAS parachuting out of the plane for France. I thought it would roll to the next EP, but no, this was EP6 of S2 and that’s it.

Best series I’ve seen since Peaky Blinders. So many hilarious characters. It’s 12 episodes between 2 seasons so you could get a trial for 7 days and knock both seasons out. Well worth it. I don’t care if it’s 100% historically accurate, it’s very well done. They’ve selected the exact rock songs that fit the narrative and they constantly slide in actual footage of the SAS. And it’s a co-op with the BBC so the entire thing is taken seriously. I can’t recall any T&A, just a lot of “fookins” from Paddy in his Irish accent. The men playing the Scots are hilarious as well. “Come on lads” or “I was just doing this and the like”. And Sofia is awfully fit so her being constantly in it works for me. She was/is a dancer, dancing for years as one of Madonna’s dancers on stage during performances. The cast is great. 4.5 stars out of 5 for episodic content.

I saw this clip recently and it's making me want to watch the series now. Apparently this did happen:

That was General Montgomery

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Montgomery

And Paddy Mayne, the central character in the series. If you decide to watch just be prepared for Paddy Mayne to say fuck and “fookin” an awful lot
That clip is from the final EP in S2.

Another good book that I’m reading now is The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare by Damien Lewis. The supplemental description is “The mavericks who plotted Hitler’s downfall, giving birth to modern-day black ops.” That sort of nonsense annoys me and is often enough for me to give a book a “Nah: not that one,” but this was recommended by a friend and the silliness is avoided in the book itself.