7 July 1940 – Formation of the Long Range Patrol, LRP

Although the official approval for Major Bagnold's new Unit, the Long Range Patrol, was only cabled from the War Office on 10 July, formation of the Unit began on 7 July with the acquisition of 30-cwt Chevrolet lorries and 15-cwt Chevrolet trucks. Special mountings were fitted for a 37mm Bofors gun, Boys Anti-Tank rifles and Lewis guns, as well as brackets for sun compasses, various lockers, and condensers for the radiators.

Personnel was originally to come from the Australian forces in North Africa, but General Blamey had been given strict instructions by the Australian government that Australian soldiers could not serve outside Australian formations. So personnel were obtained instead from the New Zealand Division.

The LRP was renamed the Long Range Desert Patrol, LRDG, on 9 November 1940, and became the most famous of the Special Forces which fought in the Mediterranean during World War II.