Brothers in Arms: Churchill’s Special Forces During WWII’s Darkest Hour

Winston Churchill wanted more than just soldiers, he wanted efficient killers capable of operating behind enemy lines and destroying targets. In 1941, the Special Air Service was established for this exact purpose. Churchill desired men of action, men like Robert Blair “Paddy” Mayne and David Stirling.

Mayne was an Irishman who had already seen his share of action and tragedy in the early days of World War II. Mayne and his fellow soldiers were champing at the bit to strike at the fascist forces that controlled vital areas of Northern Africa while avenging past losses.

Mayne, Stirling, and others began their covert operations in November 1941 with a hazardous drop into Libya. Despite a near fatal start, the band of commandos possessed a strength and resolve that led to their operations proving fruitful and deadly to their enemies.

Brothers in Arms is the latest thrilling World War II read from author Damien Lewis (Churchill’s Shadow Raiders). Lewis pays tribute to a group of unsung heroes who operated under often hellacious conditions in achieving their objective and frustrating the opposing armies. The narrative is relayed admirably, where the reader experiences through the eyes of men like Mayne, Stirling, and others.