Spectacular colourised photos show Britain’s special forces campaigning in North Africa, on Greek islands and in Nazi Germany during the Second World War
- Stunning pictures, brought to life by Paul Reynolds, show Special Air Service and Special Boat Service troops
- The images were taken shortly after the elite units were created to help defeat Axis forces during WW2
- Pictures show secret missions conducted in the Tunisian desert, Aegean Sea and even Germany itself
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The early days of Britain’s elite special forces have been cast in a stunning new light after black and white pictures were injected with spectacular colour.
In the series, Special Air Service and Special Boat Service troops can be seen posing in jeeps, sharpening knives and standing in the desert during campaigns in the Second World War.
They were expertly colourised by Paul Reynolds and show the commandos shortly after their units were created.
The SAS was established in 1941, while the SBS – first called the Special Boat Section – was created in 1940.
In the thrilling photographs, the warriors are shown in Germany, Tunisia and on Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.
SBS troops are shown waiting in ambush armed with a variety of weapons, including Bren guns and a Thompson sub-machine gun, during the campaign to free the Greek islands from Axis control
A topless and tattooed SBS commando sits on a boat near an island in the Aegean Sea while sharpening his knife. In front of him lie a revolver and a rifle, and on his beret is the SBS emblem
Two SAS troops are shown in a combat jeep in Germany, 1944. The elite unit supported the Allies during Operation Pegasus and Operation Archway, which were conceived to finally end Nazi rule in Europe
Six fierce-looking SAS troops sit in jeeps while on a mission in the North African desert. A knife can be seen in the belt of the man at the front, while machine guns can be seen mounted on the back and front of their vehicles
The Scotsman Lt Colonel David Stirling, pictured above on a campaign, founded the SAS in 1941. He was knighted in 1990, the year of his death, for his service to the country
Two SAS soldiers are shown on campaign driving in a jeep armed with machine guns. In 1942, Adolf Hitler issued an order stating that Allied commandos seized by the Germans should be killed immediately without trial
This photograph shows French SAS troops in the North African desert during the Second World War. To the left, locals in traditional clothing pose for the camera
An SAS commando poses behind a machine gun mounted on a jeep while campaigning in North Africa. It is estimated that around 220,000 British and Commonwealth troops were killed, captured or wounded during the battle for North Africa
Army Rangers are shown armed with sub-machine guns while on campaign during the Second World War
Two SAS troops sit in a jeep, packed with machine guns and petrol cans, in the Tunisian desert
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