Sublime

He decided to make use of the old public school network, turning to rugby-hardened alumni from schools such as Eton, Harrow and Winchester. In particular, he was keen to enlist school-leavers who had gone on to become polar explorers, mountaineers and oil prospectors, men who knew how to survive in a tough environment.

Chapter 1 The Reluctant Creation and Violent Demise of the Navy’s First Commandos, the Marine Corps Raiders

Three years of fighting across arid parts of Egypt and Libya was now entering its final bloody phase among towns and fields. General Rommel had called the war in the desert Krieg ohne Hass – war without hate. Though dust and sand grimed and gritted everything, some people had still talked romantically of a ‘clean’ war, perhaps because civilians wer

The Allies had been taken by surprise and whipped decisively. Like a football coach whose team was behind with the clock running out, Eisenhower knew that he must rally his commanders. Alone among the downcast group, he exuded optimism.