In 1918, a few hundred hand-picked British soldiers were sent on a near-impossible mission: to slip across Persia, rally local forces and hold the gateway to the Caucasus against Ottoman and Bolshevik influence. They were known as “Dunsterforce”, named for their commander, Major-General Lionel Dunsterville.
Nick Higham, author of 'Mavericks: Empire, Oil, Revolution and the Forgotten Battle of World War One', joins us to explore Dunsterforce's mixed legacy: was their mission defined by humanitarian relief, or shattered promises to allies on the ground? And what does this prototype special operations unit reveal about the endgame of the First World War?
Produced by James Hickmann and edited by Max Carrey.
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