Officially it was No.1 Demolition Squadron, PPA; its original function was to attack the Afrika Korps fuel supplies. The name is alleged to have come from General Hackett; exasperated at Peniakoff's delay in choosing a suitable name he said "You'd better come up with something quick or we shall call you Popski's Private Army!"
"I'll take it" replied Popski.
He had previously gone on one mission with the LRDG, been wounded, and awarded the MC; however, the LRDG's main function was reconnaissance- hence the setting up of an independent unit under Popski.
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