Piracy on the High Desert: the Long-Range Desert Group 1940–1943

Abstract

From June 1940, when General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander in Chief of British Forces, Middle East, authorised then Major Ralph Bagnold to form the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), until near the end of the North African campaign in April 1943, the highly mobile, self-contained desert patrols of the LRDG maintained close watch on the movement of enemy troops and vehicles and attacked enemy military installations hundreds of kilometres behind their lines. This spirited ‘piracy on the high desert’ not only cost the Axis forces dearly in men and equipment, but tied up great numbers of troops and large quantities of arms and supplies to protect Axis positions from the threat of slashing hit-and-run attacks of LRDG patrols that seemed to materialise out of the desert suddenly and without warning. Key to the success of the LRDG was its skilful and imaginative utilisation of the terrain of the Libyan Desert, based on the experience and insight gained by Bagnold and a few close associates during their private expeditions in the region during pre-war years.