In 1940, as Nazi invasion loomed, Winston Churchill gave his command: “Set Europe ablaze.” From this call to arms emerged a new breed of warrior—small, highly trained raiders equipped to strike the enemy where they least expected.
Among these pioneers, the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF) stood apart as one of the most daring and unconventional units of the war. Operating in secrecy from a hidden base on the Dorset coast, the SSRF launched audacious night raids across the English Channel. Using fast motor boats, they slipped silently into enemy-held territory, struck with ruthless precision, and vanished before the Germans could react.
Masters of Infiltration. The SSRF perfected the art of covert warfare. Their lightweight craft cut across treacherous tides under cover of darkness. They landed silently on rocky shores, carried out lightning-fast strikes, and melted back into the night. Every mission meant navigating pitch-black seas, unpredictable currents, and constant risk of discovery—where capture meant certain death. These weren’t missions of brute force, but of precision, disruption, and psychological warfare carried out by some of the most resourceful fighters of the war.
The Channel Islands: Britain’s Occupied Battleground. When German forces seized the Channel Islands in June 1940, they turned them into a propaganda trophy and a fortress bristling with defences. For the SSRF, the islands became both a target and a proving ground. Courage and ingenuity were tested to the limit in missions like Operation Basalt—a daring raid on Sark in October 1942 that shook the German high command. Though small in scale, these operations proved no stronghold was safe, forcing the enemy to divert men and resources to defend territory suddenly vulnerable to Britain’s raiders.
Your Call to Adventure. This isn’t just a tour—it’s an immersive battlefield experience. You’ll feel the salt wind off the Channel, trace the cliff paths raiders once crossed, and explore the bunkers and strongholds built to resist them. Every step connects you with the courage, ingenuity, and resilience of the SSRF.
Discover what it took to be one of Britain’s most daring wartime raiders.
Step back into the shadows of World War II with SOE Expeditions as we retrace the daring missions of the Small Scale Raiding Force (SSRF).
Next August, you’ll journey across the Channel Islands, exploring the same ground where Britain’s most secretive Raiders struck fear into the enemy.
Explore German bunkers and hidden tunnels carved deep into the rock, once part of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall.
Walk across dramatic cliff tops where SSRF commandos launched their perilous night raids, navigating the same rugged terrain that tested them to the limit.
Stand on the landing sites where small boats came ashore under cover of darkness, carrying men who risked everything for freedom.
Uncover forgotten stories of raids like Operation Basalt, and learn how these small missions had an outsized impact on Nazi strategy.
Reserve your spot now and join us for an unforgettable journey across the Channel Islands, walking in the footsteps of legends.
Includes accomodation and breakfast, all transfers in country, fast RIB boat execursions, guide fees and museum entry.
Does not include flights and alcohol.
£1200 can be paid in instalments.
