Cherry, Niall Striking Back

Britain's Airborne & Commando Raids 1940-42

As the events of the Second World War fade further into obscurity, it is important that the actions of a small group of men are not overlooked. In the dark days after Dunkirk in 1940, these men volunteered for what was euphemistically called special service. Often they had only a vague idea of what they were getting themselves into, but they all wanted revenge on the enemy. These units later developed into the famous airborne troops and commandos that played an important role in operations such as the Normandy landings, the Battle of Arnhem and the crossing of the Rhine. Before that, however, in the early years of the war, they carried out a series of smaller raids. While some of the early raids, such as St. Nazaire and Dieppe, received a great deal of attention, others, such as Lofoten, Glomfjord, Tragino and Bruneval, were far less noticed, although knowledge of them is crucial to the historical understanding of the development of British special forces. The formation of these two fledgling units is described in detail, including material on training prior to joining the Special Service. In addition to the operations mentioned above, raids on the Channel Islands, the coast of northern France, Vaagso, North Africa and Vermork are also covered. In addition to numerous eyewitness accounts from veterans, the book contains a selection of official reports and lists of equipment, weapons and explosives. The book is supplemented by around 125 photos and maps.