Soldier G: The Desert Raiders by Shaun Clarke

Author:Shaun Clarke
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 1993-01-28T16:00:00+00:00

9

Pleased with the report from Sergeant Monnery on the successful training of the SAS troopers in the desert, Captain Stirling left the Jalo Oasis after dawn on Sunday 8 December, a couple of days earlier than originally planned, to raid the airfield at Sirte.

‘I’m anxious to get on with it,’ he explained to Brigadier Reid, ‘because we could be recalled to Cairo any time. There are still too many officers on the GHQ staff who prefer more orthodox methods of warfare and resent what we’re doing out here. They tend to think that L Detachment – and the LRDG as well – are using the guerrilla-warfare tactics of which they so strongly disapprove. In fact, when last I was in Cairo one of those bloody fools told me that this was an ungentlemanly way to fight – one not suited to the forces of the British Empire. That particular officer may be a pompous idiot, but he has many friends.’

‘I agree,’ Reid said as they shared a cup of tea in his big tent near one of the palm-fringed pools of the oasis. Through the open flaps, between the tent and the pool, the trucks of the first patrol, camouflaged pink and green to blend in with the desert, were gathered together, surrounded by the LRDG and SAS men preparing to leave. ‘You’d better get out of here before they stop you – and nothing’s lost if you’re early. Gives you time for a little mistake or two. Time to change your plans if necessary. Are all the patrols leaving today?’

‘No. I want to make the maximum use of surprise, so Captain Lewes will be attacking Agheila airfield the same night as the other patrols hit Sirte.’

‘That’s only half the distance that you have to travel.’

‘Exactly. So although we’re attacking the same night, Lewes won’t be setting out with S Patrol until two days after I leave.’

‘Who’s taking you, David?’

‘S1 Patrol.

‘Commanded by Captain Gus Halliman – a good man.’

‘Indeed.’ Stirling glanced back over his shoulder and saw that the last of the men had taken his place in his Chevrolet. ‘They’re all set to leave,’ Stirling said. ‘I’d best be going.’ He stood up and offered his hand to the brigadier. The two men shook hands.

‘Good luck and God speed,’ Reid said warmly.

‘Thank you, sir,’ Stirling replied, then left the tent, climbed into his designated Chevrolet lorry, and nodded to Captain Halliman, indicating that they could now start the journey. Halliman nodded back, then raised and lowered his right hand. The lorries all roared into life simultaneously, then moved out of the oasis, churning up billowing clouds of sand in their wake. They soon reached the vast open plains of the desert where, with the force of a hammer, the sun’s blazing heat hit them.

Halliman, a big-boned, fair-haired Englishman, led his mainly Rhodesian drivers with the confidence of a man who knew the desert well. In fact, he had served in the Royal Tank Corps before joining the LRDG, but his experience with the latter was considerable and now he was one of their best men.

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