We are currently improving the navigational structure of the website. This might result in lost links. If you come across a lost link, Please let us know.

Multimedia 2 Long Range Desert Group

Page Created
March 12th, 2024
Last Updated
March 12th, 2024
Great Britain
British Flag
New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand
Rhodesia
Flag of Rhodesia
Additional Information
Unit
Order of Battle
Commanders
Operations
Equipment
Multimedia
Mulimedia 2
Multimedia 3
Sources
Biographies
Photographs

Individuals
Ralph Alger Bagnold
Ralph Alger Bagnold
Ralph Alger Bagnold
Ralph Alger Bagnold
Official photograph (HU 24994) David Stirling (Officer Commanding Special Air Service) and Don Steele A Squadron W/T Long Range Desert Group. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205234416
Official photograph (HU 24994) David Stirling (Officer Commanding Special Air Service) and Don Steele A Sqn W/T Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205234416
David Lloyd Owen (Left)
David Lloyd Owen (Left)
Jake Easonsmith
Jake Easonsmith
Left to right: Officers Benny Watson, Ginger Low, Ron Low and Tiny Simpson display their booty following the sacking of the Italian Fort at El Gtafia in 1941.
Left to right: Officers Benny Watson, Ginger Low, Ron Low and Tiny Simpson display their booty following the sacking of the Italian Fort at El Gtafia in 1941.
Jake Easonsmith
Jake Easonsmith
Jake Easonsmith
Jake Easonsmith
Tom Merrick, one of the best navigators that the Long Range Desert Group had, would train other members in the art of crossing the desert using the sun.
Tom Merrick, one of the best navigators that the Long Range Desert Group had, would train other members in the art of crossing the desert using the sun.
Trooper J.P.L. Macassey
Trooper J.P.L. Macassey
Ron Landon-Lane (NZ1292). in Cedars, Lebanon, 1943.
Ron Landon-Lane (NZ1292). in Cedars, Lebanon, 1943.
Private Tom Ritchie of T Patrol wearing an Afrika Korps cap.
Private Tom Ritchie of T Patrol wearing an Afrika Korps cap.
Trooper “Snowy” I.G. McCulloch
Trooper “Snowy” I.G. McCulloch
Corporal David Poihipi Warbrick, NZ #21884 of T-1 Patrol.
Corporal David Poihipi Warbrick, (NZ21884) of T-1 Patrol.
Sergeant Dick Lewis after two or three months in the desert with the Long Range Desert Group. The Photograph is taken on July 15th, 1942.
Sergeant Dick Lewis after two or three months in the desert with the Long Range Desert Group. The Photograph is taken on July 15th, 1942.
Operation Caravan
Captain Timpson of G1 Patrol in his jeep. Mounted on the mudguard was a green flag, indicating a patrol leader.
G1 Patrol Leader Jeep, Captain Timpson, and Guardsman Thomas Wann were driving. Timpson rolled the Jeep while going too fast over a sand dune, resulting in injuries for him. Wann broke his back and was permanently paralyzed as a result. Both were evacuated and missed the remainder of the operation, fortunately for Timpson. This spared Merlyn Craw from having to 'Frag' Timpson, as per the instruction of Captain Nick Wilder.
G1 Patrol Leader Jeep, Captain Timpson, and Guardsman Thomas Wann were driving. Timpson rolled the Jeep while going too fast over a sand dune, resulting in injuries for him. Wann broke his back and was permanently paralyzed as a result. Both were evacuated and missed the remainder of the operation, fortunately for Timpson. This spared Merlyn Craw from having to ‘Frag’ Timpson, as per the instruction of Captain Nick Wilder.
Long Range Desert vehicle from T Patrol Tu Tira on its way during Operation Caravan.
THE LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP (LRDG) DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (HU 16666) Three Long Range Desert Group jeeps on the edge of the Sand Sea during the operation by 'T' and 'G' Patrols to raid the Axis airfield and fuel dump at Barce. Major Jake Easonsmith, leader of the patrol, is behind the wheel of the nearest jeep. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205088548
THE LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP (LRDG) DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (HU 16666) Three Long Range Desert Group jeeps on the edge of the Sand Sea during the operation by ‘T’ and ‘G’ Patrols to raid the Axis airfield and fuel dump at Barce. Major Jake Easonsmith, leader of the patrol, is behind the wheel of the nearest jeep. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205088548
Major Peniakoff (AKA Popski), in his trademark hat, en route to Barce. Note twin Vickers K and cans of fuel on the jeep
TE ANAU II, callsign T6, the fitters truck in T1 Patrol on the Barce raid. The only truck to survive, along with 1 Jeep. It was used to transport the wounded, a driver/navigator, a fitter and Doc Lawson, to Landing Ground LG125, where the wounded were picked up and flown back to hospital. Most likely the most famous LRDG truck because of this. Machine guns were hard to get hold of, so any trucks that were abandoned were usually stripped of any weapons and other useful equipment /supplies in order to continue the operation or to re-use on other trucks. T6 has a spare radiator, a German issue 5 ton jack and a spare wheel mounted on the left side. The right side shows an empty spare wheel mount and sand channels, with a spare tyre mounted on the bumper.
T1 Patrol’s Te Anua II. The vehicle is carrying many of the weapons and supplies that came from other vehicles that had been destroyed or become unusable during Operation Caravan.
T1 Patrol’s Te Anua II. The vehicle is carrying many of the weapons and supplies that came from other vehicles that had been destroyed or become unusable during Operation Caravan.
T1 Patrol’s Te Anua II at the landing strip.
A wounded Long Range Desert Group soldier enjoys a cup of tea at Kufa as he waits to be flown to a Cairo hospital following raids in September 1942.

Lebanon
LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP (HU 70043) Group portrait of members of 'Y' Patrol, Long Range Desert Group, taken at Cedars of Lebanon on training, May 1943. Front, left to right: Coombs, C R Smith. Back, left to right: Armstrong, Cashin, Gibson, Springford and Ken Smith Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124149
LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP (HU 70043) Group portrait of members of ‘Y’ Patrol, Long Range Desert Group, taken at Cedars of Lebanon on training, May 1943. Front, left to right: Coombs, C R Smith. Back, left to right: Armstrong, Cashin, Gibson, Springford and Ken Smith Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124149
LRDG T Patrol training in Lebanon before operating in the Aegean.
LRDG T Patrol training in Lebanon before operating in the Aegean.

Italy
A bust of Mussolini makes an ideal footrest for this Long Range Desert Group soldier.
A bust of Mussolini makes an ideal footrest for this Long Range Desert Group soldier.
THE LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP (LRDG) DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (HU 25268) The MV LA PALMA in Bari harbour. She was one of two converted fishing boats acquired by David Lloyd Owen to transport Long Range Desert Group teams in the Aegean. A jeep is carried on her forward deck, hidden by a tarpaulin. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205022729
THE LONG RANGE DESERT GROUP (LRDG) DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR (HU 25268) The MV LA PALMA in Bari harbour. She was one of two converted fishing boats acquired by David Lloyd Owen to transport Long Range Desert Group teams in the Aegean. A jeep is carried on her forward deck, hidden by a tarpaulin. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205022729

Macedonia
SPECIAL OPERATIONS EXECUTIVE (SOE) AGENTS AND PARTISAN SPECIAL FORCES IN MACEDONIA DURING OPERATION BETHESDA, MAY – DECEMBER 1944 (HU 67339) Gunner Jimmy Patch and Trooper Ron Hill of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) with a bearded Macedonian guerrilla fighter. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205124202