"Well, you see, sir, we had heard that the Krauts can't stand jazz, and John here's been practicing." "And the ping-pong table?" "Honestly, sir, I'm not sure where we got that."
It's the remains of the Warner Bro's Unit bombing run. Death by falling piano's! They were a key part of the war against the axis. Although early runs weren't so accurate, with a little fine tuning things improved and thankfully, ended on a good note. The raids continued until the generals skepticism was eventually quashed after hearing the arrangements success and he eventually changed his tune on the matter. Overall the composition of the entire mission played out like a beautiful sonata, and although there were a few bum notes in the beginning, it quickly picked up and built up into an almighty crescendo that....... .....missed and weeks later the piano was found by a bunch of men in an experimental new unit who, although rough around the edges; worked together in perfect harmony. And I wrote this while having a poo
when one of the old guys whom I worked with was due for retirement, one of the guys asked his wife for something to tell at his retirement do. She gave him a box of his wartime memorabilia. It was full of SAS stuff. what was in it blew everyones mind because our Henry was the softest kindest none swearing Gentleman you could ever know or meet. He was in the SAS / parachute regiment during the war and fought at the Battle of Monte Casino and if anyone knows that WW2 battle it was one of the bloodiest of any war. Henry never spoke about the war until he was confronted with it at his retirement. All he could say was crikey where did you find that! Crikey or gosh was about the limit of his swearing.
Im proud to say my older brother was in the S.A.S. during the war - ending up in the S.B.S. - he survived the war , but sadly lost his life in 1948 in a motor cycle accident - I was 10 at that time - I still have his letters home and many unpublished photos he took - I did write to a number of surviving S.A.S. a few years ago - one described him as one of the hard men ! quite a complement .
I'm from Newtownards and Robert Paddy Blair Main was not the man portrayed in that shity program he like the rest of us was a true Patriot and loyalist like all of us Prodestant Christian beliefs and practices educated at Queen's university Belfast he was Boxing champion and Robert Paddy Blair Main played Ruby for Ireland and Britain lions Ruby for Ireland and Britain lion's like at people of Ulster we're all drinkers from the moment your born your given a hot toddy if your ill so like myself we're all reprobates it's in all our phyci he didn't give a flying fuck about high command more about his buddies on one raid he managed to destroy more fighter aircraft than the best Pilot's in world war 2 and went over board killing all their pilots it was unapproved but didn't give a shit it doesn't mention about the 5 that walked through the desert and most dyd I think that they forget about the others from what used to be the. LRDG then became the S.A.S and the other raid's by others it pisses me off that they aren't mentioned the equipment used is inaccurate allso the landings of Sicily Italy he and a few others took out the main gun turret that helped the landings of Sicily also it doesn't mention that 100 S.A.S were behind enemy lines and were masicered which Pissed him off being told that he was to valuable he took a plane parachuted out playing his favourite tunes lilly Marlene he on one of his last efforts he and a Canadian soldier stole a Jeep and with no fear single handedly got back 2 of his buddies the Germans thought they were under attack from a battalion with the machine guns and brought them back doing a U turn and firing again he couldn't cope with life after the War started drinking again like he ever stopped always ready to pick a fight drunk going home crashed his car at the Knights Bridge Pub below Scrabbo tower and dyed he's buried with his family in Movilla cemetery He needs decent grave a posthumous V.C but still a bone of contention us people from Ards he's our town's hero and because of the filming of the program we won't be watching it along with Ulaldh Ulster David Steeling spent his entire time in Coldits what about the fact that there's many other members who fought Bravely and died for we respect them all the hard Men that they are I'm sorry about your older brother see then again what about the S.B.S why are they never mentioned Hollywood films portrayal are historically inaccurate portrayal it makes me feel sick yes he did stick out like a sore thumb until Hollywood make a film about the S.B.S I'll not be watching them. What's next Henry VIII was a Rastafarian and listened to Reggie and played it at Hampton Court Iddi Armin wrote the Magna Carter signed by Robert Mugabe who was peaceful man who taught Mohatma Gandhi to Moe down Mother Teresa who was planning a missile strike on Mekka Jews handing out Hot Dog's to Muslim's Winston Churchill was American
I'm glad people recognise that the S.B.S major roles in Norway and the Mediterranean and the the Pacific and Indian Ocean I find it hard to believe that people think that only the L.R.D.G/ S.A.S exists they played major roles in destroying the Italians fleet of Ship's and Submarines the French fleet wasn't just bombed from the Air how do they think that they got the information in the first place can't remember the name of the River with bridges and Nazis everywhere but they went up it in mini sub's and destroyed the place. They also had to be tenuous and crazy and brave now I'm from Newtownards and Robert Paddy Blair Main was a true Patriot and liked a lot of booze but so did what everyone makes us out to be nutcases no the S.B.S deserve some fuckin respect do people think that Malta was just saved by Hurricanes and Spitfires how did they get the information? Air Traffic Control? Hollywood films portray nothing but Fake history what's next more every battle in history was wone by American's they didn't invent the Nuclear Bomb the idea came from Belgium went to France handed over to Britain and our scientists helped with the Manhattan Project they stole it wouldn't give it back so we made our own and wouldn't let France have them I suppose that Alexander Graham Bell is from hywhi and because they needed to speak to America telling them that they're all laughing stock Pwww.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/henry-smith/dept-debates/cabinet-officeacific and Indian Ocean 🌊
I'm glad you're reading this because I'm not impressed with Hollywood films portrayal of anything Because they are unable to understand why we're not going to watch their shite knowledge of our History the S.B.S we're and still are proud warriors I don't know why they don't know what a bunch of bastard's they are unable to make films realistic of course we're proud of Robert Paddy Blair Main gave him many medal's even the French gave him the legion of Honer but to this day they won't give him a V.C posthumously still debating in Parliament because of his behaviour towards the others even Montgomery wanted to give it to him again top brass being assholes his death was leaving the pub ass usual crazy they think that's an Ulsterman's attitude we don't give a flying fuck it's simple he was always ready to pick a fight with anyone same thing with me I easily drink 2 bottles of whisky neat every day he crashed out side of the Knights Bridge Pub where I have fights he didn't show up for top brass being himself his men came first leftenteant Coronal if it wasn't for him the Gun Turret that would have prevented the landings of Sicily Italy so fuckin what de was a prestigious drinker we all are only my sister out of hundreds of us in Newtownards and Comber my family owns Comber whiskey distillery he had it on tap he's our town's hero and deserves no more lame Portrayals that crappy new Hollywood films portrayal is completely incorrect wrong battle fatigue and weapons and vehicle jock was hard core that shitty fight in the streets never happened calling Jock a Scottish bastard he'd have kicked their heads in by himself what the Fuck was a woman doing in the desert? Not possible! As for those men that got trapped they eventually came across french forces yes those men in the film look like they just had a shower and clean clothes those men that really did it their bodies were fucked up . Again the top brass being himself told him that he's to useful has to stay in England but he was fuck you and boarded a plane parachuted out playing lilly Marlene his favourite tunes to be with his men brothers in arms behind enemy lines commondeard a Jeep with a Canadian soldier with him to retrieve his 2 Buddies the Germans thought they were under attack by a large force U turned and carried on firing also again 100 S.A.S were masicered which pissed him off even more. He's buried in Movilla cemetery with his family he's still our hero so what they think that I'm not right in the Head they've put me in a Nut house like fuck off back home because nobody in hear has a backbone the doctors are Uneducated I've got a PHD 2 DOCTORATES AND 4 DEPLLOMA'S in Electrical Specialist Electrical Electronics and Mechanical Engineering I played European football and Boxing Rugby and Gymnastics still at my age I'm surrounded by coppiusue amounts of idiot's needing guidence to Beachy Head there all from Uganda and Nigeria and Muslims working here I'm a true Patriot and a Prodestant Christian beliefs I've been dead 9 times and God knows for the lord is my shepherd and he shall lead me to field's of Green and Rivers Run blue the lord is my shepherd I shall walk through the valley of death and fear no Evil nothing fazes me like Robert Paddy Blair Main I shall have my ashes scattered around Scrabbo tower where Robert Paddy Blair Main had his car crash we are all true Patriotic Prodestants Christian Soldiers marching as to War. So what he shot all those Waps and Hun Pilot's it prevented them from Tubruk killing all those ANZAC 's and if it wasn't for the S.B.S what little supplies they got food clothing because of the S.B.S that whole area was covered in Mine's Hollywood films portrayal doesn't show the Carnegie the S.B.S made it possible for the American's to land in Morroco but Rommel pushed them back the Dessert Rat's 8th army did all the work American's need to stop thinking that they wone the War as for the Day landings they fucked up Uta blame themselves they only had 2 landings the British Navy and the British and Canadian's did all the work just like Burma the Chindits when will America realise that the world does exist outside America and start looking at history The worst part serving along side America's I'd have 100 Gurkha than 1000 American's all I'd get was I'm Irish descent what 15 generations ago with chewing gum accent's fuck off back home because I'm not interested the things that Biden is doing to Ulster we're burning his pictures American's need to fuck off and fix their own shit and stop creating problems Belfast is Europe's capital of Terrorism because of them as if growing up in the troubles wasn't bad enough as for the name Kennedy it's Glen Coe Scotland thanks to them we've got 13 year old girls with petrol bombs and bottles of whisky in their hands peace my arse Shankill and Newtownards lower End we're and Ards is a complete waist land thanks to America as for illegal immigrants from Eastern European bastard's Romania Lithuania Polish Muslims and Jews and Black's Gay's lesbian's Bull Dyke's Lesbians and Woke's send them to us we've got plenty of Pig farms for them the free state will have them all but we won't life is how it works for us freedom of speech and language used I'm glad we have problems with ourselves because knee caping and a Jesus given if you don't do as your told everyone complies with our freedom and independence and liberties Union my question is do you feel British you bloody well should and be proud of it. Everything that you and your family are forefathers fought Bravely and died for and Built is being destroyed under your eyes does your Government care about you? No! It's your land and you should want it back you can blame Tony Blair's Education Plans and immigration bullshit it's your land I'll reiterate that forever I walk down the Streets and the amount of Forigneer bastard's Musslims I need an app called Gobldgook I'm Sick of labour and Liberals if you earned it you should have the right to keep it. Your Government is supposed to Protect you. It doesn't recognize that the entire population of True Patriot Britain's are Sick of being treated like second class citizens it's your land and you need to take it back
As a South African, that image of the Special Air Service and the South African Surveyors running into each other and arguing about who came up with the name "SAS" first is top comedy material.
Linus Newman or the crappy other unit that existed alongside the L squad, whose missions parallel with those of the SAS but without the success Like the crew of the office running a private experimental fighting force.
Lloyd, you have an unrivalled ability to speak clearly and humorously without the unscrupulous cutting that has become commonplace on youtube. Bravo sir! Glad to have watched this channel grow
Pretty amazing, really. Excellent story telling, I hope he makes another video. Very rarely can someone just hold your attention for 40 minutes like that. I've been subbed to LB for nearly 3 years and can't believe how far he's come.
Loving being able to say “it was a bit more complicated than that” to my friends watching the BBC series on the SAS. Thanks Lindy for making me seem more erudite than I actually am
Paddy Mayne was born in my hometown of Newtownards, in Northern Ireland. There is a statue of him in the town square! My primary school is located about 100 meters from the "Movilla Cemetary" where you can find his gravestone. We used to go on trips to visit it and would take rubbings of the gravestone, with permission.
I rather like having Lloyd doing a longer video like this it always feels like he's cutting his ramblings short. This is a Amazing Story and I'm glad it didn't get cut up into three or four separate videos it breaks the magic of a good story.
@@chucku.farley3927 A very British insult. General purpose, not too offensive, but can ruin a relationship if used properly. You got me wanting to look up the etymology now...
i was very honoured to have met and talked with one of the original members of the long range desert group . by that time he was a very old man . i sat and looked through his album of small black and white photos of groups of young fit healthy sun burnt bearded lads . it made me feel very humble . true heroes .
@@neoaliphant My Grandad was in the LRDG so it was very cool to see them represented so well in the latest Rogue Heroes series. They must be down to the last handful of them by now (my Grandad passed away over a decade ago).
@@mricenz my client was in the jungle in 59, ive seen a lot of his photos, ive yet to get his feedback on this videos, he mentioned the only issued bit of kit to the early SAS was.....a compass.
@@neoaliphant Haha, sounds about right. My Grandad got handed a blank piece of paper with grid lines on it and was told "that's your map of the desert". Always regret not pushing him for more stories about his experiences so it's great you're grabbing all this chaps thoughts and writing them down 🙂
Ranulph Fiennes said that during training in the SAS he was given the exercise to plan how to rob the local bank. He lost the plans in the train and they found their way to the local authorities. Who after much needless excitement asked the SAS to not set this exercise ever again, thank you so very much.
In the Military we don't steal, we acquire what we need. Stealing will get you Court Marshaled. Acquiring equipment is like "finders, keepers" and is considered adapting and overcoming.
They'd never let that fly in an RPG, would they? "I want to create a new elite regiment" "How do you plan to put it to the chiefs of staff?" "Burst in on them in my pyjamas and stuff a few pages of manically-scrawled notes into their hands"
Lloyd i would like to thank you, for all the hard work you put into this videos. you have brought entertainment to thousands if not millions. you put up with us in the comments section bickering about nonsense and you could have said "bahhh.... whats the point?"" but you stuck with us..... so from a random guy on the internet to another.... thank you.
In the book "Commandos" by Charles Messenger there is a litany of failed missions due to bad luck, being spotted by the odd sentry, strong tides of currents, holed boats, faulty fuses, wet explosives or radios with the wrong crystals. So much of this kind of mission could go wrong. But sometimes they got lucky.
Interestingly, he wasn’t actually undergoing parachute training (as stated in the first minute or so). He simply “acquired” a shipment of parachutes that we’re destined for a unit in India, and thought he’d give it a go.
I have a theory that Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Paddy" Mayne is in fact Lindybeige nearly 70 years ago. Look at that sweater and that beard, he's used his S.A.S. skills to survive for this long and set up a youtube channel.
Honestly Lindy doesn't get enough credit for how seamlessly he talks about multiple things for 40 minutes straight without editing. Yes, there are sidetracks but they are (almost) always relevant and link in very well.
What a teacher. I loved history at school and if we had more like him I'm sure more jids would want to take history. Great at telling a story and educating you at the same time. I wird way also reminds me of Billy Connolly the great Scottish Comedian
Yeah, now imagine this: You hear the roar of a big airplane engine in the dark sky above the desert; as it passes, you see crates, packs and cargo with weapons, ammo and all sorts of equipment land in the sand after being dropped, one by one. Last but not least, a piano crashes down upon the dessert, followed by the men parachuting down. This followed by a heated discussion about the reason for bringing a piano on a night-op in the first place.
Don't be silly Lindy. I know from my avid watching of Hollywood movies that nothing happened in North Africa worth recording. I also know that Ben Affleck was in the Battle of Britain, the UK made no contribution to the war effort at all, every one of the five Normandy beaches was taken by gruff US sergeants (with one or two Canadians milling about), and the Burma Campaign didn't even happen. The only fighting that ever happened in the Pacific Theatre was the island-hopping. These are the things I know about the Second World War, 1941-1945.
There is a curious anecdote about the SAS which my mother was told by a former member from its WW2 days, actually a relative of ours. This man joined up because a great friend (I know their names but I'll leave them out) had also done so. Anyway on a very tiring march the friend (a distinguished man who I've also met) noticed my relative was getting exhausted and offered him a cigarette. He immediately revived and got to the end of the march. It was a reefer
What Lloyd said about Maclean not being bitter reminds me of my reaction when reading Ernst Junger's Storm of Steel. Junger describes the horrific conditions of the western front in WWI, watches just about every man he meets in the war die, and is injured some 16 times in total (if I recall correctly) and always happily goes back to the front to perform his duty. I certainly dont think many people these days, myself included, could handle a war like that. Truly inspiring.
Newtownards man here used to visit paddy maynes old house everyday when I was walking the dog until it got burnt down. What a hero although a very scary man if tales are true!
Watched this way back when it was first posted, and loved it. But having just finished watching Rogue Heroes on Amazon prime, I just watched it again and loved it even more.
The Battle of Mirbat would be a good story to cover, Lindy. If this draws more views than usual and you want to make another SAS video. Sergeant Talaiasi Labalaba operated a 25-pound artillery piece single-handedly that is normally crewed by nine. He actually aimed at the enemy down the barrel. That man deserved a Posthumous VC.
Reminds me of those two men who won V.C.s doing the first real fighting of the First World War at Nimy Bridge in Mons. The HQ was under intensive artillery fire and the whole expeditionary force needed to be gotten out (in a sick prelude to Dunkirk twenty-five years later). The Germans were held at the only unblown bridge by one machine gun team and one rifle section. Every time the machine gun jammed the lieutenant would run from one set of sandbags to the other to sort it out, sustaining a number of bullet wounds in the process, before operating the gun himself and getting shot in both the spine and the head and bleeding out. A single private held the gun after everyone else was evacuated, miraculously survived a headshot and lived for a decade after the war. Both got V.C.s. They're my favourite V.C.s of the First World War, possibly excepting the Australian who jumped on a grenade at the Somme.
I have seen several of this guy's videos and they have ALL been incredibly amazing. The way he can speak so knowledgeably about something for an hour with no breaks or prompters (ok, you can notice he occasionally looks down at something-mostly when giving dates-but still..) is incredible. His wit and dry, sarcastic humor remind me of a very intelligent John Cleese. Great job!
You remind of a lot of my History teachers in school where you could tell they were excited about a subject they could go off in a million different directions because they have so much knowledge in it. A lot of students liked when they went off topic because we could get through the class without any actual work being done. But I enjoyed them because there was so much to know and it was amazing. Thank you Lindy.
Kind of a funny story relating to sentries. When I was in the Navy, we would run force protection drills fairly often, and during these drills, the ship and sentries would be put into a "training environment," so everybody is basically on alert because you know there will be some sort of a drill or event during this time. Me and 3 other guys were at the security gate on the pier when a guy walks up like he's in a hurry. We say we have to search him because we're doing 100% searches at that time. He angrily tells us that he's not part of our ship or our training, but is instead assigned to one of the ships down the pier, and so we wave him through. At that point he walks a few steps down the pier until he's about level with our ship, hurls his briefcase onto one of the decks, and we were informed that our ship had just been attacked by a bomb. Now, at the time, all me and the other guys had seen was that he had the cap of a senior officer with "scrambled eggs," (an indication that he was an O-5 or higher. Because we'd been instantly intimidated by his supposed rank and demeanor, we hadn't even noticed that literally none of the rest of his uniform was in order. His insignia on his flight suit said he was an O-5, his ID said he was an O-6, he was wearing a flight suit but with a dress uniform hat and dress uniform shoes. It's really just funny to look at the psychology that makes military people forget all of their orders, experience and knowledge when someone they think outranks them is angry.
Okay, that's it - I am going to become a patreon of you (first time ever for me). You are just far too entertaining and interesting to watch, even about subjects I never thought I would care for. I hope you see this message, proud to start supporting you and you are one of the best youtubers out there!
Lindybeige, please do something on the LRDG! They must have been one of the most successful raiding forces ever. Specifically recruited from back country sheep farmers from New Zealand's South Island, they would disappear into the desert for months at a time to wreck havoc behind enemy lines. They operated independently targeting supply dumps, airfields, convoys etc, as well as generally saving the SAS' ass. The SAS were ineffective until they adopted the weapons and tactics of the LRDG.(I would contend). Aside from the incredible desert navigation, they also invented what is now the 'technical vehicle', ie an off road vehicle mounted (in the case of the LRDG, veritably festooned) with machine guns. I would also suggest their exposition of small unit tactics, maneuver warfare and truly independent operation made them the first modern combat unit. Unfortunately their top secret status, the lack of official recognition (as Lindy mentioned raiding was not considered 'real war') and the insular nature of the group, means that very little of their history survives.
Hendrik van Leeuwen; Sorry, but the LRDG was NOT (initially) recruited from New Zealand sheep farmers, but rather from all of the British adventurers and explorers who had been swanning around the North African desert for sometime before the war. I'm an American, but spent time in High School in Nigeria, where all of the available books were printed in Britain, and the British have (or at least they did in the late 1960's) a strong fascination with the Desert War, much the same as the American are fascination with Guadalcanal, hence my collection of books about the Desert War. My question is where does Polski's Private Army fit into all of this?
David Briggs popski’s private army fits into it being a unit formed by Vladimir Peniakoff specifically to destroy fuel dumps. There had been a Libyan Arab Force before but it was disbanded, Popski, Robert Park Yunnie and Jean Caneri formed the unit of just 23 men. Official title No1 Demolition Squadron PPA. Peniakoff was nicknamed Popski by Cpt Bill Kennedy Shaw because signallers (of which my father was one) had trouble with his name. It picked up quite a few recruits from the SAS. The unit later fought in Italy and paradoxes round st marks square in Venice. His Majesty the King personally requested a written history of the unit to be delivered to him. It IS true that a large proportion of LRDG where from New Zealand but the Unit was founded by Major Ralph Bagnold, incorrectly listed on wiki as an Engineer, he did get commissioned into the Royal Engineers but transfered to the Royal Corps of Signals on its formation in 1926. His paper on the behaviour of sand dunes is still used by NASA and he has a mountain range named after him on Mars. Best thing about Bagnold was he was posted to Kenya but his ship was involved in a collision and put into port Said for repairs, spotted whilst visiting friends a reporter wrote an article about him which General Wavell read the rest, as they say, was history. LRDG went on to operations in Yugoslavia after the desert campaign (as well as elsewhere)
David Briggs no that's not true, the LRDG was largely made up off Kiwis for their survival skills and their ability to survive in harsh conditions, the Kiwis were some of the best soldiers off Ww2 and excelled in mobile warfare. If I'm not mistaken they were also the one's that conducted the legendary left hook Maneuver that made the formidable Mareth line in Tunisia unattainable, driving the Nazis out of North Africa.
My stepfather Frederick Spires nearly 60 years ago described to me being parachuted into north africa in a storm ,was picked up by the LRDG .Back in the 80s he had a visit from people asking him to attend a reunion which was going to be filmed,he declined.He said he got a good job in the quartermaster store over there but still went on patrols.Looking at Easonsmithe picture of the survivors of the drop I think he is in the front.
Lindybeige , there never was a 'Long Range Desert Patrol Group' or 'LRDPG'. The Long Range Patrol was set up in June 1940 with a field strength of about 80 New Zealanders , all volunteers. A few weeks later , on it's first outing into the field, (whilst still in training I might add) it carried out a successful mission . Due to this and the following missions , the unit was given the go ahead to up its' strength. By November 1940, now tripled in size with British and Rhodesian volunteers , the unit was renamed the Long Range Desert Group. The LRP became the LRDG .
Perhaps the reason the Italian sentry let them pass at the checkpoint was that the Afrika Korps captured about 20 thousand British desert uniforms and put them in to use since their own uniforms were found to be somewhat inadequate (notability the green color of their uniforms was selected by an academic advisor to the army who thought that North Africa was tropical and not a desert). So that guy might have seen some Germans wearing bits of British uniforms before and didn't look to closely. So if you're ever doing wargame miniatures for the desert war be sure to mix some British khaki in the mix to give your Afrika Korps troops the right hodgepodge of uniforms they had.
If every History teacher had this enthusiasm talking about history like Lindybeige in classes i guarantee that everyone would be stoked on going to history classes!!!
More S.A.S. stories! I'm an American, and our special forces are highly acclaimed as some of the best in the world, but I know that they got their roots from the S.A.S and other British special forces. These stories are great!
It would seem you left out one of my favorite bits. I'd read some RAF chap said "don't be silly your plan will never work. Jerry like us guard their airfields very close. You'll never be able to sneak on an airfield and get near the aircraft." A day or two later the RAF fellow gets called to his airfield to find out someone had cut the wire, snuck out onto the field and attached a note that read L Detachment on all his aircraft. I'm sure you must of heard about that. It's far too wonderful to leave out of the story. Thank you for your work. Am always looking forward to your next up load or post or whatever it's called. Cheers! Robert "Tys" Deen
I had no intention of watching the entire video but after you got going I was glued. I was actually a bit startled when the exit music played. I had no idea 41 minutes had passed by.
I found a copy of that at a 2nd hand book store around 30 years ago. She's very dog eared now as I've read it about a dozen times, but I certainly got my $2 worth!
5:43 IIRC they requisitioned the piano from a New Zealand Infantry Brigade HQ. The Kiwis were thoroughly amused (and thankful) when "L" Detachment, SAS got a guilty conscience and brought it back.
Sir Christopher Lee worked with the LRDG among other groups apparently. Apparently he wouldn't talk about it and would always say he couldn't say much more than he was with Special Forces.
Paddy's family home is just across a couple of fields from mine, his shirts from the lions tour are in the local Rugby club as well. I always thought that like many of his social class Stirling still had a bit of a romantic view on the conduct of warfare, compared to Paddy the the Ulsterman whos family had already had a civil war and partition of Ireland and a short lived but vicious IRA insurgency prior to WW2
By your recommendation I actually ordered "Eastern Approaches", it will arrive in 2 days and now I'm even more excited! I also ordered "Brazen Chariots" and "800 days on the Eastern Front and have read "Tigers in the mud" (I do recommend this one!) and "Troop Leader: a tank commander story". Thank you for getting me interested in reading war memoires and advising me on what to buy! Please do not stop making this fun, entertaining but also educational content!
Everybody's gotta read Eastern Approaches. I also got it as a present from a friend and it's hands down the best book I've ever read. The book is just packed with this kind of borderline incredible stuff. After his stay in North Africa he also becomes the British liaison officer to Tito whose real identity nobody even really knew at the time.
41 min. NOT ENOUGH!!!! I could listen to Lindybeige for hours and not get in the least bit bored. If my teachers had been half as enthusiastic and engaging talking about their subjects I may actually have gone to school instead of spending all my time in Birmingham central library( may she rest in peace) reading interesting stuff. Smart truant, no one ever asks a school boy what he is doing in a library.
How can anyone dislike this? His content is informative and entertaining, and obviously made with effort and enthusiasm. Sharing his knowledge and pointing out when the facts are unlcear. Quirky and good. Thanks
Brilliant , 41mins flew by. Another interesting addition to the SAS story by Gavin Mortimer "The Men Who Made The SAS" The history of the long range desert group. Major Ralph Bagnold is well worth having his story under the limelight.
That end card joke made me think it would be great to see a video about war-time archeologist spies. I'd read somewhere that archeologists were often recruited as spies during times of war given that they often were allowed behind enemy lines where many others wouldn't have been given the nature of their on paper jobs. But I don't know much more about it.
In the Boer War, Lord Baden Powell (founder of the Boy Scouts) posed as a dotty butterfly collector making drawings of butterflies with information about forts and weaponry coded in the drawings. I don't know if this was before or after the siege of Mafeking.
As usual, another fantastic video. On behalf of everyone who watches your content, we truly recognise and appreciate all the hard work you put into it. So, thank you for the magnificent videos and I wish you the best in the future!
I'm currently repainting my kitchen and these 40 odd minute snippets of history playing in the background are the only things keeping me from hanging myself from the ceiling light. Cheers mate!
This was a wee treat of a video that has me in hoots of laughter at how ridiculous the situations they found themselves in. Jock Lewes I believe was the strategic thinker that brought them along, leaps and bounds. The 'Lewes' bomb story and his explosive chemical experimentation seems legend. it's a great pity Jock was killed early on in North Africa as he was a fantatically devious devil, a true Scot. Well done, I find myself annoying my teenage kids playing electronic zap zap games with shouts of 'LINDYBEIGE', they don't get it and I continue to laugh and shout. THANK YOU for another great video.
Thank you for this. I never really got the chance to hear stories like this from my Grandfathers before they passed, and my Father, who is a Vietnam veteran, doesn't like to talk about his time there.
I was amazed when you mentioned Eastern Approaches, one of my all time favorite books and the beginning of my love affair with Russia, or more importantly, travel within Russia. This book may be one man's recollections of the period of 1938 to 1945, but is a fascinating picture of the times.
I have, over a number of years, watched every single video you have uploaded, and this one is certainly my favorite. Definitely consider more long form military story telling videos. I think this is where you're at your best - your enthusiasm and brevity but inclusion of particular details makes for incredibly compelling viewing. More plz
I must have watched 50+ of your videos over the last week/10 days and I've never been bored. Thanks for making these fascinating videos, answering questions I never knew I needed to know!
Really enjoying this channel!! Thanks for sharing these stories. It’s indeed a rare trait to be able to tell a story in such an engaging and fun manner. Hats off to you, sir!
