The Libyan desert never did agree with British troops...
Well, they were probably wearing Red, making them easy to identify.
Worked out for for us... Twice.
Huh? If the reports are correct and these were members of 22 SAS Regiment, they were founded in the Libyan desert! I'd say Iraq hasn't been kind, considering Bravo Two Zero.
Clearly, you're not familiar with the Long Range Desert Group and Popski's Private Army.
The LRDG were masters at patrolling and establishment of fuel dumps hundreds of miles behind enemy lines. Popskis lot was somewhat more dynamic, cheeerfully providing route reconnaisance and enemy strength intelligence for the British Eighth Army in Cyrynacia.
In his memoirs, General Montgomery described Popski's Private Army as "the most effective Allied intelligence source of the Second World War."
The unit was the smallest unit on the British regimental rolls in terms of personnel, rarely numbering more than a hundred men in operational roles, and about that many again in support roles.