SAS Trooper: Charlie Radford's Operations in Enemy-Occupied France and Italy

by Francis Mackay

A prewar Sapper, Charlie Radford served in North Africa until he returned to the UK for parachute training. He volunteered and joined 2 SAS in Scotland. His first operation was in France (Op RUPERT) cutting railway lines, and he then took park in Operation LOYTON, now in armed jeeps. His next assignment (Operation ZOMBIE) involved parachuting into the Italian Dolomites to disrupt the vital German link north of Verona between Italy and Austria.This operation ended in failure due to foolhardy leadership, inadequate manning and poor preparation. His OC was captured, tortured and executed but Charlie escaped to live with the partisans before being repatriated to the UK. After the war he returned to France to help with the exhumation and reburial of SAS men executed in the Vosges mountains. Postwar he served in Kenya and Somaliland and briefly recounts his experiences.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published August 19, 2011

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really hard read for me. My grandfather was one of those on COLD COMFORT with Charlie and is mentioned in the book. It was an amazing story, and too real. I really appreciate Charlie for sharing his story so I could learn more about my grandfather's time in 2SAS and also Francis MacKay for putting the book together. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

[Nicola Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really hard read for me. My grandfather was one of those on COLD COMFORT with Charlie and is mentioned in the book. It was an amazing story, and too real. I really appreciate Charlie for sharing his story so I could learn more about my grandfather's time in 2SAS and also Francis MacKay for putting the book together. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.