Any of belligerent states during World War II hadn’t had so numerous and various special forces as United Kingdom. Formed in 1940, just in five years they were created in all services, battled a bloody, but glorious way from separate companies to brigades and battalion-sized units, resulting in hundreds of well-deserved decorations including a few VCs. Moreover, they became the nucleus for many other Commonwealth and Allied countries’ special forces. After 1945 they were disbanded almost to the end but fortunately carried on as Special Air Service and Special Boat Squadron through jungles of South East Asia and deserts of Middle East to cliffs and highlands of Falklands.
William Seymour has done his best in this comprehensive and meticulous work, combining detailed information on accomplished and failed operations with vivid eyewitness accounts made by their participants. This book is to be considered as British Special Forces’ narrative history as well as a source for future researches on this subject.

Mykhaylo Akimov

Any of belligerent states during World War II hadn’t had so numerous and various special forces as United Kingdom. Formed in 1940, just in five years they were created in all services, battled a bloody, but glorious way from separate companies to brigades and battalion-sized units, resulting in hundreds of well-deserved decorations including a few VCs. Moreover, they became the nucleus for many other Commonwealth and Allied countries’ special forces. After 1945 they were disbanded almost to the end but fortunately carried on as Special Air Service and Special Boat Squadron through jungles of South East Asia and deserts of Middle East to cliffs and highlands of Falklands.
William Seymour has done his best in this comprehensive and meticulous work, combining detailed information on accomplished and failed operations with vivid eyewitness accounts made by their participants. This book is to be considered as British Special Forces’ narrative history as well as a source for future researches on this subject.

Mykhaylo Akimov

Any of belligerent states during World War II hadn’t had so numerous and various special forces as United Kingdom. Formed in 1940, just in five years they were created in all services, battled a bloody, but glorious way from separate companies to brigades and battalion-sized units, resulting in hundreds of well-deserved decorations including a few VCs. Moreover, they became the nucleus for many other Commonwealth and Allied countries’ special forces. After 1945 they were disbanded almost to the end but fortunately carried on as Special Air Service and Special Boat Squadron through jungles of South East Asia and deserts of Middle East to cliffs and highlands of Falklands.
William Seymour has done his best in this comprehensive and meticulous work, combining detailed information on accomplished and failed operations with vivid eyewitness accounts made by their participants. This book is to be considered as British Special Forces’ narrative history as well as a source for future researches on this subject

Mykhaylo Akimov