Sea of Sand

On the eve of the mission, Cotton discovers a torn picture of a girl in his billet and dismisses it as 'old news.' The moment hints at a personal past that contrasts with the rigors of the upcoming raid. It establishes a quiet prelude to the group’s dangerous assignment.

Williams shows Cotton a photo of his son, reminding him of what he fights for. Cotton replies that he has everything to live for, setting a personal stake in the mission.

Captain Tim Cotton leads a patrol of five Chevrolet 30 cwt trucks toward Axis-occupied Libya to destroy a German petrol dump. Williams is posted to handle the minefield surrounding the depot, preparing the way for the assault. The mission is framed as a high-risk operation behind enemy lines.

As they approach the depot, Williams undertakes mine clearance with Corporal Mathieson to carve a safe path. Luftwaffe spotter planes and Africa Korps patrols threaten every advance, underscoring the raid’s danger.

The team reaches the German supply depot and destroys the petrol stocks. Six of their men are killed, and two Chevrolets are destroyed by a German armoured car, highlighting the cost of interrupting Axis supply.

Hidden inside the dump is a large number of German panzers, a shocking discovery that reveals the raid’s potential impact. An ambush smashes their radio, preventing instant reporting, and Sergeant Hardy is killed during the escape.

Realizing the importance of the intelligence, the group decides to return to base while there is time to act on it. They brace for a relentless German pursuit as they head back.

During the return, a German officer presses the chase as two half-tracks close in. Cotton is wounded in the arm and Sergeant Nesbitt is killed, increasing the peril as they race to safety.

With 40 miles to go to base and water nearly exhausted, Blanco volunteers to stay behind and man a Vickers machine gun to slow the pursuers, while Brody offers to stay with his friend; Cotton orders that everyone who can should press on.

After the last truck is forced onward, Williams seizes a Sten gun and draws the Germans away from his group, enabling the other LRDG patrol to outflank and destroy the pursuing half-track, though he is killed in the act.

Cotton reaches his base and reports the discovery of German tanks to his CO, honoring Williams' sacrifice and the risk the mission carried. The report comes as the opening barrage of El Alamein begins, marking a turning point in the campaign.

The film closes with reflections on the crew's sacrifices and the looming start of the battle, tying their mission to the larger desert campaign as El Alamein opens. Williams’s sacrifice and the unit’s endurance are remembered as symbols of Allied resolve.