"Barce Raid"

Well the author Brendan O’Carroll has done it again. Just when you think that a author has done his best work on a subject, "The Kiwi Scorpions" and "Bearded Brigands", he pulls another "rabbit out of his hat". But I know that there was no magic in this last work, just lots of research and hard work compiling information that he searched world wide about the LRDG raid on Barce.

The Barce raid was the only successful one (of four) planned for the night of September 13-14, 1942. There are already a number of books in print that deal with the other plans that failed, Tobruk, Benghazi & Jalo.

The physical book itself is smaller in size than "The Kiwi Scorpions" but larger than "Bearded Brigands". Measuring eight inches by ten inches, hard-bound and printed on a quality paper containing 168 pages of information and 184 photos (a number of them in color), some of which I had not seen before. But you must remember that I have probably seen more that your average LRDG enthusiast. Regarding the photos, Brendan has incorporated a number of modern photos of the Barce area, taken by Kuno Gross, who has explored many of the old LRDG routes and territories.

Brendan begins with the usual introduction which gives a brief outline of the LRDG and it’s purpose in North Africa. Which is essential for your first time reader of a LRDG book. Followed by the geography of the area involved, history of Libya prior to and during WW II. Chapters 3 through 6 cover the mission, the journey out, the approach to Barce and the Barce defenses. Chapter 7 (one of the longest) deals in detail with the raid on the town and the airfield (with graphics and original aerial photo of Barce) . Chapter 8 describes the diversionary action of G Patrol in the town, while T Patrol attacked the airfield. Chapters 9 through 14 deal with the escapes, air attacks and subsequent march out of the survivors. Chapter 15 discusses the aftermath of the raid. And the final chapter deals with Barce and veterans after the war.

The book does not end here as there are some (9) appendices, covering 36 pages, which contain a wealth of additional information and photos.

Now I don’t know if you have any of Brendan’s other works but this is one you should seriously consider if you a serious student of the LRDG or of WW II unit histories.

Jack Valenti

LRDG Preservation Society