Featured battle : Dul Madoba

Part of Operations against the "Mad Mullah"

Date : 09 August 1913

The battle that took place on the 9th August 1913 was between the 110 members of the Somaliland Camel Constabulary commanded by Richard Corfield, reduced to 85 by the time action commenced, and some 2,750 well armed Dervish followers of Mohamed Bin Abdullah Hassan (the Mad Mullah). Of the Constabulary 36 including Richard Corfield were killed in action and 21 were wounded. On the Dervish side over 450 were killed or wounded. As a result of the action the British withdrew their protection of the local tribes to the area around the port of Berbera and the Mullah was unable to follow up his advantage immediately.

The Long Range Desert Group in Action 1940-1943

Brendan O'Carroll
Here is another of the Images of War series from Pen & Sword. All of the others of the series have had good reviews on this site but, for me, this book stands out. The author, Brendan O’Carroll, admits that over twenty years of research went into this book. Dozens of people gave permissions, support and their stories. All of this was not in vain for here we have a superb, unique visual record of the men and their exploits. Every photograph contains more than at first meets the eye.
The Long Range Desert Group punched far above its weight and as the first of Britain’s Special Forces was a large influence on the present S.A.S. As with other books of this series there is very little text other than annotations. What text there is makes one want to read the other books on this subject by this author.
We highly recommend this book to both the browser and the ‘studier’.

Pen & Sword Military, 2020