The exclusive, authorised inside story of the tough LRDG raiders of the Second World War, drawn from the unpublished records of the famous force. The unit won unrivalled mastery of the North African desert in their wide-ranging and heavily armed trucks, earning grudging praise even from Rommel, the Desert Fox himself, for their skilful reconnaissance, punishing raids and powers of evasion.
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About the Author
Mike Morgan is a senior journalist for the Middlesex Evening Gazette with a lifelong interest in world war history, especially Second World War special forces. His extensive research has brought him into contact with many key LRDG and SAS figures of that period. He lives in Whitby.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Lincoln
Format:Paperback
The L.R.D.G. were the undisputed "kings of the Desert" from mid 1940 till the end of the war in N. Africa. Without their help the S.A.S. would never have got off the ground, yet they have always remained virtually unknown. Fortunately, over the past few years, this has slowly been put to rights by books such as "The Sting of the Scorpion".
A vast majority of books written about the war were written by the Officers who took part in the events or oversaw them. It was quite unusual to find an author with the wartime rank of Private, Generals being far more commonplace. This was due to two factors. Firstly, the higher the rank, the better informed the author and the greater the selling point for the book. Secondly, many "Other Ranks" were unable to write well enough to produce a book and ghost writers were not the accepted thing.
It is on the second point that this book scores. The men who served in the L.R.D.G. were of a different ilk to the average "Tommy" The fact that the L.R.D.G. produced one General, five Brigadiers and numerous Colonels gives an insight to the calibre of volunteer. Similarly, the fact that there were, on one occasion, over seven hundred volunteers for twelve vacancies shows the wide choice that was available. The interviews were conducted by one Officer, one N.C.O. and one Trooper!
Because these men had the ability to write down their stories, doing so while they were still fresh in their minds, meant that the Association Newsletters were always full of the Men's memories. This fact has made it possible for Mike Morgan to put together a very varied range of stories covering every aspect if life in L.R.D.G. They are from the pens of the O.C. his Officers, N.C.O.s and Other Ranks, appearing side by side as equals, just as it was on patrol.
If you want to read just one book that tells of the real life hundreds of miles behind Enemy lines, or on leave in Cairo, make this the one. It's all there. Every emotion known to man. The excitement, the boredom, the fear, the fun, the death and destruction. All told in that matter of fact, honest and modest way that is the hallmark of the real L.R.D.G. man.
I have had the honour of spending a lot of time among many of these men and discussing their memories with them. This book truly brings to the reader just what they are like as people and just what they achieved as soldiers. Everyone should know about them.
A vast majority of books written about the war were written by the Officers who took part in the events or oversaw them. It was quite unusual to find an author with the wartime rank of Private, Generals being far more commonplace. This was due to two factors. Firstly, the higher the rank, the better informed the author and the greater the selling point for the book. Secondly, many "Other Ranks" were unable to write well enough to produce a book and ghost writers were not the accepted thing.
It is on the second point that this book scores. The men who served in the L.R.D.G. were of a different ilk to the average "Tommy" The fact that the L.R.D.G. produced one General, five Brigadiers and numerous Colonels gives an insight to the calibre of volunteer. Similarly, the fact that there were, on one occasion, over seven hundred volunteers for twelve vacancies shows the wide choice that was available. The interviews were conducted by one Officer, one N.C.O. and one Trooper!
Because these men had the ability to write down their stories, doing so while they were still fresh in their minds, meant that the Association Newsletters were always full of the Men's memories. This fact has made it possible for Mike Morgan to put together a very varied range of stories covering every aspect if life in L.R.D.G. They are from the pens of the O.C. his Officers, N.C.O.s and Other Ranks, appearing side by side as equals, just as it was on patrol.
If you want to read just one book that tells of the real life hundreds of miles behind Enemy lines, or on leave in Cairo, make this the one. It's all there. Every emotion known to man. The excitement, the boredom, the fear, the fun, the death and destruction. All told in that matter of fact, honest and modest way that is the hallmark of the real L.R.D.G. man.
I have had the honour of spending a lot of time among many of these men and discussing their memories with them. This book truly brings to the reader just what they are like as people and just what they achieved as soldiers. Everyone should know about them.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Mike Morgan's Sting of the Scorpion is an action packed true story of the Long Rang Desert Group who where the forerunners to the SAS. The LRDG raiders were unrivalled in their skill at navigating the North African desert and Mike is able to capture the excitement and the hardships that these men endured. This book is a great read for those interested in the history of the war in the desert, I look forward to any book that Mike Morgan may publish in the future as he seems to get right to the core of his subject.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Barmee
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Unlike so many worthy (dull!) academic books written about WWII, this book cuts to the chase. It tells the first hand tales of those who actually served in (and created) the LRDG in a thrilling 'Boys Own' way. Many of these tales are culled from the LRDG's own 'Association' magazine and cover the full 5 yars of the LRDG's life (both in the African deserts and in other locations around the globe). It also covers their time working alongside the newly formed SAS. A great story, well told.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book
It is a very good print of the book. The pictures are nice and the text is an historical accound of the LRDG. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Orestis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book about the LRDG
OK, for me this book hit the spot. I didn't know anything about the LRDG and bought the book to find out more. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jonathan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Ross Kemp-esque wannabe-squaddie fodder
Whilst probably factually accurate, this book is seriously marred by an annoyingly bloke-ish writing style. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2009 by Mr. Mrs. W. G. Krouwel
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