Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII (30 page)

The crucible. Santa Isabel Harbour, Fernando Po, showing the 7,872-tonne
Duchessa d’Aosta
– the raider’s chief target – moored close to shore.

Lord Jellicoe, left, on the bridge of the
Tewfik
, their HQ ship when in Turkish pirate waters, together with a captain of the Greek Sacred Squadron, motto: ‘Return victorious or dead.’ Note the ever-present massive pot of tea.

A force of the Long Range Desert Group and SAS – those who were urged by Churchill to ‘recreate at sea the fame they had won on the sands of the desert’.

Mission accomplished. Reconnaissance photo from the German Federal Archive, showing Kastelli Airbase, Crete, the target of Lassen’s devastating June 1943 raid. Damaged aircraft lie scattered about the airfield.

Bad hair day. On a Motor Torpedo Boat after the return from a successful mission, with a good half of the patrol dressed in items of captured German uniform.

Bad beard day. Mixed Greek partisans, Greek Sacred Squadron fighters, plus Special Forces. On the far right, second row is Jack ‘Zucky’ Mann, veteran radio operator with Churchill’s raiders.

Dog of war. An SBS comrade with puppy. Andy Lassen’s Irish patrol had a motley collection of camp followers – dogs first and foremost. Lassen even took his favourite, a Maltese terrier called Pipo, on raiding missions. He proved as fierce as a lion!

A typical raider ship. SAS/SBS crew prepare to attack a German-held island, sneaking past the enemy by posing as local fishermen.

Lassen’s Irish Patrol set sail for the notorious raid on the German force garrisoning Santorini – what became known as ‘Andy Lassen’s Bloodbath’.

Sergeant Jack Nicholson DCM, MM – a tireless Scott, who became Andy Lassen’s right-hand man. He was once cautioned by his commanding officer to: ‘Keep an eye on Lassen. Restrain him.’ As if that were ever possible!

Prizefighter. Douggie Pomford being treated for a grenade wound. He ran away to the circus with only his dog for company, and went on to win Britain’s Golden Gloves middleweight amateur boxing championship: it was a perfect résumé to join the Special Forces raiders.

Hot-tub. Porter ‘Joe’ Jarrell, the American medic-turned-raider. When asked whether he killed or cured people, he’d answer: ‘A bit of both, actually.’