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LRDG Newsletter

Dec 3^rd 2013

  Well before I start into next’s year’s schedule, I would like to mention several new books that have been recently relisted.

The first is titled “Swastika over the Aegean” it is a photographic record of events that occurred in and around the Dodecanese Islands in the autumn of 1943. Those events resulted in the last decisive German victory of the Second World War. The British & Dominion forces and their new Italian allies were subjected to a resounding defeat; the 234 Infantry Brigade ceased to exist and key Aegean islands remained under German occupation until the final Allied victory. 

The Eastern Aegean was the setting for a series of German air-sea landings, something not normally associated with the Wehrmacht. German infantry carried out beach assaults and, unusually, Fallschirmjäger were deployed in their intended role as paratroopers, more than two years after sustaining frightful losses in Crete. Both sides relied on air and naval forces, as well as conventional and unconventional ground forces. German paratroopers were drawn from the Luftwaffe and Division Brandenburg; the latter also fielded coastal raiders and assault troops. The Allies had on call a battalion of The Parachute Regiment, several infantry battalions, and Raiding Forces, which included the Long Range Desert Group, Special Boat Squadron, Commandos and Ieros Lohos (Greek Sacred Squadron).

This limited edition book is published in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the battle for the Dodecanese and features more than 500 images including; rare wartime documents, some 350 wartime photographs, and color photographs of the islands today.

The author is Anthony Rogers, who is no neophyte to the battles in the Dodecanese Islands, his first book was the well received “Churchill’s Folly’ published in 2003. 

 Available at…toro.enquiries@gmail.com……………….for €29.99 Euros. Plus postage  Click here for more photos.

 

The second is about earlier desert activities during WW I. The title is “The Light Car Patrol 1916-19 “. Based on Captain Claud Williams’ memoir he tells, first-hand, what it was like to be a Light Car Patrol commander during the First World War, while Russell McGuirk’s commentary provides the historical background to the formation of the Patrols and follows their activities from the British raid on Siwa Oasis to desert exploration and survey work and the Kufra Reconnaissance Scheme. Lavishly illustrated with original photographs from Light Car officers, this combined memoir and history provides a fascinating and informative picture of an unsung hero of the desert – the Model T Ford.

This title is available from Amazon at $34.19.

 

  Also in case you didn’t know it the “LRDG” has made the big time, as there is now a “Lego” version.

 

I also have a new supply of LRDG & New Zealand shoulder flashes available for $15.00 per set plus $1.00 Postage in the U.S.

 

Now for next year’s events: as you can see there are a number of events both in Southern California and in Central California. Here’s hoping that you will take the opportunity to join us at one of these events. You can always e-mail me at lrdg@Prodigy.net for the latest update on any event.

 

1. March - TBA – CHG Desert Battle – California City  S & T Patrols           http://www.chgww2.net/events/

2.  April 11^th – Pacific Grove Good Old Days Parade T- Patrol           http://www.seemonterey.com/events/community/good-old-days/

3.  April 23^rd – 27^th – MVCC “Camp Delta” – Tower Park, Lodi, Ca. I have reserved three camp sites and there should be plenty of room all of us. T - Patrol           http://www.mvccnews.net/

4.  May 2^nd – 4^th - Planes of Fame – Chino – S & Y – Patrols           http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=2013_calendar

5.  May 9^th – 10^th - West Coast Military Collectors Show; Pomona, Ca  Fairgrounds – Y Patrol       http://www.militariashow.com/index.html

6.  May 16^th – 18^th – Overland Expo – Flagstaff, Az. (Maybe – they invited us last year and may do so again.  http://www.overlandexpo.com/

7.  May 24^th -25^th – Hollister Air Show – T-12 Jeep     http://www.hollisterairshow.com/

8.  May 26^th – Arcadia Park Memorial Event – Y-Patrol

9.  May 31^st – June 1^st – Castroville Artichoke Festival Parade? T–12 Jeep    http://www.artichoke-festival.org/index.html

10. July 4^th – Monterey Parade – T-12 Jeep

11.  July 5^th – or 6^th - Seaside Parade of Champions. T-12 Jeep

12.  July 12^th – 14^th – 100^th Anniversary of Ft. MacArthur -  S & Y Patrol            http://www.ftmac.org/

13.  July 16^th – 20^th – War & Peace Show –As a spectator, more info later. http://www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=2&Itemid=88889003

14.  Aug. 9^th – 1940’s Event San Jose, Ca. – T-12 Jeep

15.  Aug. 16^th – Pacific Grove Concourse – T-12 Jeep           http://www.pgautorally.org/

16.  Sept. 13^th – 17^th – Monterey, Ca. Cherries Jubilee - T-Patrol           http://www.cherrysjubilee.org/information_friends.html

17.  Sept 28^th - War Birds over Paso Robles – T-12 Jeep           http://www.ewarbirds.org/airshow/index.html

18. Nov. 11^th – Veterans Day Parade Salinas – T-12 Jeep

 

One last thing; I (we) would like to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year.

 Thanks for your support.

 

Jack, Kim, Rick and all of the members of the LRDG Preservation Society