I'm glad to see this book available once again, I've had numerous enquiries over the years and sent people off to struggle with their local library to get a copy. The reprint is faithful to the original 1968 text, simply updated with a new foreword by Prof. Gary Sheffield. This brings me to my only criticism of the book. which is both very petty and very personal. Gary Sheffield's foreword lists some recent sources of information like the BRO Museum and John Warwicker's book but misses an obvious one, the one you are reading now. Bitter? Me?...

There's been a surge in interest over the past years encouraged by the growth of history specialist TV channels. This brings with it the risk that the subject gets hyped up more than it deserves. Here we have a 'special forces' group in the days before special forces and some of their story is still to be told. Naturally, it's open to the tabloid treatment. David Lampe gives it the balance it deserves, describing a professional attitude mixed with the sort of amateur mistakes that come from trying things for the first time. All the time backed up with a quiet dedication. There are some Boys' Own personal stories in the book. By its very nature there have to be. There's very little gung-ho stuff here though and in my view that makes it all the more a compelling read.

Naturally, it suffers from being the first on its topic so there are gaps that have since been filled and errors now recognised. John Warwicker's book does an excellent job in building on Lampe's work. The strength of The Last Ditch lies in its originality. It holds an excitement of mysteries newly coming to light, an immediacy of interviews with the key players that modern works can't duplicate.

The German side is also well represented. It's one thing to accept that any Occupation would have been ruthless in an anonymous sort of way but Lampe gave me a little shiver when he introduces the actual personalities involved. Dr Six and his colleagues refuse to talk or give Lampe assurances that Hitler respected the British, accommodations would have been reached. Meanwhile in the background lie the Nazis' plans to strip the country of everything that wasn't nailed down (and a lot that was), including most of the able-bodied male population. It adds a chilling context to the Auxiliers' activities.

The publishers say, "This compelling study reveals exactly what was intended by both sides. The Last Ditch investigates the German plans and the countermeasures undertaken through the specially formed British Resistance Organisation.", so does it do what it says on the tin? I think it does and I recommend it.

David Waller

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