Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne was one of the most outstanding soldiers and leaders of the Second World War. A qualified solicitor and Irish Universities heavyweight boxing champion, the Ulsterman had played international rugby for both Ireland and the British Lions before …
David Stirling’s capture saw the SAS reorganize into two squadrons – the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS) and Special Boat Squadron (SBS). The indomitable Paddy Mayne commanded the SRS, while George Jellicoe took over the SBS. Jellicoe was the son of …
Operation Postmaster was one of the most audacious raids of the Second World War. In August 1941 a small force working for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) departed Poole in a converted Brixham trawler called the Maid Honor. Their destination …
The invasion of Sicily in July 1943 was based on two Allied armies landing on the island. The US 7th Army were tasked to land on the south-west at Gela, with the British 8th Army on the south-east at Pachino …
On 9 March 1945, twenty-seven men from the Special Boat Squadron (SBS), were tasked to attack the enemy occupied Villa Punta, on the Yugoslav island of Lussino. Initially occupied by Italian fascists, the fortified villa had recently been reinforced with …
The Third Battle of Ypres, commonly known as the Battle of Passchendaele, was one of the bloodiest battles fought on the Western Front during the First World War. Ypres was at the centre of the Allied presence in Belgium for …
