The SAS in World War II: An Illustrated History

Oxford: Osprey, 2011 9781849086462. Hardback. Fine/VG. No inscriptions or annotations. DW is slighly ruffled at the bottom edge of the back cover. Otherwise an excellent dust jacket that is not price-clipped. 256 pp, including detailed index, B/W photos and lavish illustrations. "In his new book, WWII historian Gavin Mortimer examines the pivotal events of one of the most famous military units of all time. Starting with the unit's formation in July 1941, Mortimer recreates the heady days when a young Scots' Guard officer called David Stirling persuaded MEHQ to give its backing to a small band of 60 men christened 'L Detachment.' From there, drawing on over 100 hours of interviews with veterans (much of which has never before been published) he describes the early raids in the desert against Axis airfields that inflicted a deadly cost on the enemy. Embellished with 150 stunning photographs, the majority of which have never before been printed, the book also features side panels on the Lewes bomb, selection and training of personnel, the importance of the French and Belgian squadrons and how the French resistance helped the regiment in 1944." A fine historical account of some very brave soldiers with post-war follow-ups of those who survived. This book "is the fruit of Gavin Mortimer's expertise and his unprecedented access to the SAS Regimental Archives. Incorporating interviews with the surviving veterans, it is the definitive account of the regiment's glorious achievements in the years from 1941 to 1945." Includes loose-leaf illustrated article on 'the painful birthof the SAS' by Ben Macintyre. .