WW2 Western Desert Recce Group

Official Website of Expedition Saharan Saunter 2009

Support Team Biography Summary

The following biographical information is to inform browsers and interested parties about our team members and what interesting lives they lead. Follow their escapades when our new blog site is up and running. This is still being populated so keep an eye out for new biographies soon....

WDRG Expeditionary Unit

Support Team

Historian [film unit]: Brendan O'Carroll

ocarrolls@xtra.co.nz

56 years old, married with three children and has reached the rank of Chief Customs Officer after nearly 40 years with the New Zealand Customs Service. In his spare time, he is an amateur military historian and published author on Long Range Desert Group history.

Before he was married, he had already gathered a large collection of uniforms, badges, medals, firearms, swords, bayonets, accoutrements and other related militaria. This spanned from the Victorian era right up to WW2. Sadly these were sold to purchase a family home.

Over the years he gained much knowledge by enjoying other people’s collections and undertaking historical research. This led to his writing a series of magazine articles on uniforms, equipment and insignia of NZ soldiers in WW1 and 2, being published both locally and internationally. The overseas publications included The Militaria Magazine and Military Illustrated.

His specialization in the Long Range Desert Group came about by pure chance. He had written a magazine article about their badges, insignia for the French based Militaria Magazine and decided to take his research further and expand the article with a view to creating for local publication, a small book on the NZ LRDG story.

"As my research developed, I soon realized that I was tapping into a previously uncovered wealth of Special Forces history. The NZ LRDG Association kindly gave me access to their membership and records. Consequently, I was able to interview or correspond with 27 LRDG veterans. These wonderful men were pleased that someone had shown an interest in their ‘forgotten’ history and kindly provided me with numerous previously unpublished stories and photos along with the loan of badges and insignia to photograph.

After four years of research, including a year trying to find a publisher, this small book I had originally envisaged turned into a large volume called Kiwi Scorpions, published in 2000 by Token Publishing, Devon, England. It had sold out after three years, yet the demand continued. The publisher finally plans to do an updated reprint by the end of 2008.

The Kiwi Scorpions book led to two further spin offs. My research had uncovered the diaries of Trooper Frank Jopling, who was a founding member of the Long Range Patrol (LRP) and served with the LRDG until his capture after the Barce Raid in September 1942. Over this time he kept a very comprehensive diary record and took many photographs providing an impressive and detailed account of daily life and action in the LRDG. With permission from his wife Irene, Ngaio Press, Wellington, NZ published those diaries in 2002, in a book titled Bearded Brigands. In 2003, Pen and Sword Books Ltd republished the work in England for the British and world market.

My research had also included interviewing six Barce Raid veterans with a chapter devoted to the action in the Kiwi Scorpions book. However, I knew there was a bigger story there and with the help of a number of email research/collector friends around the world, I was able to put a book together. I was especially grateful to my Italian friends who acquired for me and translated Italian operational reports enabling the story to be told accurately from both sides. The book Barce Raid was published by Ngaio Press, Wellington, NZ in 2005.

My peers in the NZ Military Historical Society, of which I am a member, had recognized my research into the NZ LRDG. In 2006, I received a Research and Literary Award, but this was made even more meaningful as it was presented to me at the NZ SAS barracks, in recognition of my study into one of the first Special Forces of WW2.

Over the years I have gathered a comprehensive archive on the LRDG, but am always looking for more photos, documents, badges and insignia for my records. The financial returns have never matched the thousands of hours of research, but my greatest reward was meeting and recording the stories of these great men, that otherwise would have been lost to time. "

Brendan is about to embark on a tour of the battlefields of the LRDG in Southern Libya, travelling over a 4664 kilometres with a TV documentary crew presenting the sites and events of the LRDG/Free French Fezzan campaign of early 1941. Starting from Tripoli he will be visiting Sheba, Muzurk, Gebel Sherif, Kufra, Tazerbo, and Zillah.

We wish him a safe journey and the best of British!!

Historical researcher [uniforms and kit]: Barry O'Sullivan

barrylisa@xtra.co.nz

Barry is married to Lisa and they have two primary school children.

Barry is currently a house husband and working two afternoons a week as a hospital aide.

A rather extensive and expert collector,student and researcher of New Zealand Militaria; specializing in uniforms ,clothing and personal equipment. I collect pre 1945 New Zealand Army, Navy and Airforce items.

Barry supplied the expedition with the lists of all items issued, taken and used by the LRDG in regards to personal equipment, uniforms and kit.

Co-author of New Zealand Army Personal Equipment 1910-1945 and the soon to be released New Zealand Army Uniforms and Clothing 1910-1945.

Marketing: Felicity Scott

felicityjscott@gmail.com

Graduate of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, 2008 - Bachelor of Design - Visual Communications.

Currently employed as the Manager of Redjacks Bar and Restaurant in the Central City of Christchurch, New Zealand.

As well as being passionate about design, she is also interested in the performing arts, and in the past have performed in the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival, from which Felicity was awarded a distinction in Acting.

She has a passion for music, and has studied the Piano, achieving Grade 7 with the Trinity College of Music, London.

She also has a strong interest in photography, and it was a major in her studies towards achieving her degree in Design.

Felicity is currently looking at employment in the Advertising Industry, and looks forward to combining skills that she currently has to work full-time as a "Creative".

She intends on travelling extensively around the world, but it is something that currently comes secondary to finding her first 'job' in the industry post-study.


Home Members Schedule Sponsors Photos Press Release Contact info Biographies References Blog Links
	Official Website of Expedition Saharan Saunter 2009 Support Team Biography Summary The following biographical information is to inform browsers and interested parties about our team members and what interesting lives they lead. Follow their escapades when our new blog site is up and running. This is still being populated so keep an eye out for new biographies soon.... WDRG Expeditionary Unit Support Team Historian [film unit]: Brendan O'Carroll ocarrolls@xtra.co.nz 56 years old, married with three children and has reached the rank of Chief Customs Officer after nearly 40 years with the New Zealand Customs Service. In his spare time, he is an amateur military historian and published author on Long Range Desert Group history. Before he was married, he had already gathered a large collection of uniforms, badges, medals, firearms, swords, bayonets, accoutrements and other related militaria. This spanned from the Victorian era right up to WW2. Sadly these were sold to purchase a family home. Over the years he gained much knowledge by enjoying other people’s collections and undertaking historical research. This led to his writing a series of magazine articles on uniforms, equipment and insignia of NZ soldiers in WW1 and 2, being published both locally and internationally. The overseas publications included The Militaria Magazine and Military Illustrated. His specialization in the Long Range Desert Group came about by pure chance. He had written a magazine article about their badges, insignia for the French based Militaria Magazine and decided to take his research further and expand the article with a view to creating for local publication, a small book on the NZ LRDG story. "As my research developed, I soon realized that I was tapping into a previously uncovered wealth of Special Forces history. The NZ LRDG Association kindly gave me access to their membership and records. Consequently, I was able to interview or correspond with 27 LRDG veterans. These wonderful men were pleased that someone had shown an interest in their ‘forgotten’ history and kindly provided me with numerous previously unpublished stories and photos along with the loan of badges and insignia to photograph. After four years of research, including a year trying to find a publisher, this small book I had originally envisaged turned into a large volume called Kiwi Scorpions, published in 2000 by Token Publishing, Devon, England. It had sold out after three years, yet the demand continued. The publisher finally plans to do an updated reprint by the end of 2008. The Kiwi Scorpions book led to two further spin offs. My research had uncovered the diaries of Trooper Frank Jopling, who was a founding member of the Long Range Patrol (LRP) and served with the LRDG until his capture after the Barce Raid in September 1942. Over this time he kept a very comprehensive diary record and took many photographs providing an impressive and detailed account of daily life and action in the LRDG. With permission from his wife Irene, Ngaio Press, Wellington, NZ published those diaries in 2002, in a book titled Bearded Brigands. In 2003, Pen and Sword Books Ltd republished the work in England for the British and world market. My research had also included interviewing six Barce Raid veterans with a chapter devoted to the action in the Kiwi Scorpions book. However, I knew there was a bigger story there and with the help of a number of email research/collector friends around the world, I was able to put a book together. I was especially grateful to my Italian friends who acquired for me and translated Italian operational reports enabling the story to be told accurately from both sides. The book Barce Raid was published by Ngaio Press, Wellington, NZ in 2005. My peers in the NZ Military Historical Society, of which I am a member, had recognized my research into the NZ LRDG. In 2006, I received a Research and Literary Award, but this was made even more meaningful as it was presented to me at the NZ SAS barracks, in recognition of my study into one of the first Special Forces of WW2. Over the years I have gathered a comprehensive archive on the LRDG, but am always looking for more photos, documents, badges and insignia for my records. The financial returns have never matched the thousands of hours of research, but my greatest reward was meeting and recording the stories of these great men, that otherwise would have been lost to time. " Brendan is about to embark on a tour of the battlefields of the LRDG in Southern Libya, travelling over a 4664 kilometres with a TV documentary crew presenting the sites and events of the LRDG/Free French Fezzan campaign of early 1941. Starting from Tripoli he will be visiting Sheba, Muzurk, Gebel Sherif, Kufra, Tazerbo, and Zillah. We wish him a safe journey and the best of British!! Historical researcher [uniforms and kit]: Barry O'Sullivan barrylisa@xtra.co.nz Barry is married to Lisa and they have two primary school children. Barry is currently a house husband and working two afternoons a week as a hospital aide. A rather extensive and expert collector,student and researcher of New Zealand Militaria; specializing in uniforms ,clothing and personal equipment. I collect pre 1945 New Zealand Army, Navy and Airforce items. Barry supplied the expedition with the lists of all items issued, taken and used by the LRDG in regards to personal equipment, uniforms and kit. Co-author of New Zealand Army Personal Equipment 1910-1945 and the soon to be released New Zealand Army Uniforms and Clothing 1910-1945. Marketing: Felicity Scott felicityjscott@gmail.com Graduate of Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, 2008 - Bachelor of Design - Visual Communications. Currently employed as the Manager of Redjacks Bar and Restaurant in the Central City of Christchurch, New Zealand. As well as being passionate about design, she is also interested in the performing arts, and in the past have performed in the Sheila Winn Shakespeare Festival, from which Felicity was awarded a distinction in Acting. She has a passion for music, and has studied the Piano, achieving Grade 7 with the Trinity College of Music, London. She also has a strong interest in photography, and it was a major in her studies towards achieving her degree in Design. Felicity is currently looking at employment in the Advertising Industry, and looks forward to combining skills that she currently has to work full-time as a "Creative". She intends on travelling extensively around the world, but it is something that currently comes secondary to finding her first 'job' in the industry post-study.


	Home \| Members \| Schedule \| Sponsors \| Photos \| Press Release \| Contact info \| Biographies \| References \| Blog \| Links
	© Precision Point Computing 2008 Any problems or queries regarding this site please contact webmaster@wdrg.org