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Operation Certain Death
This book chronicles the story of the single most daring Special Forces operation since World War Two - Operation Barras; the attempted rescue by the SAS of the British Forces who were being held captive by guerrilla gang the West Side Boys in the Sierra Leone jungle. The West Side Boys were a strange-looking bunch, wearing pink shades, shower caps, fluorescent wigs and voodoo charms they believed made them invulnerable to bullets - an impression re-enforced by ganja, heroine, crack cocaine and gallons of sweet palm wine. In 1999 a twelve man patrol of Royal Irish Rangers, who were training government troops in Sierra Leone, were captured and held hostage by the West Side Boys. They were held prisoner in a fortified jungle hideaway, with severed heads decorating the palisades, defended by some 400 heavily armed soldiers. Operation Barras, the rescue mission, was a combined force of 100 Paras, twelve members of the Special Boat Squadron, helicopters from the Navy and RAF and, spearheading the operation, 40-strong D squadron of the SAS. Against amazing odds the hostages were rescued - over 150 of the enemy were killed. Operation Certain Death is a thrilling true story of all out war. No hostages taken. Blood-letting on a vast scale inflicted on a very blood-thirsty enemy. A gripping piece of true military history, perfect for fans of action adventure stories and anyone interested in the top secret division of the British Army.
658 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2004
90 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Damien Lewis
83 books449 followersDamien Lewis became an author largely by accident, when a British publisher asked him if he'd be willing to turn a TV documentary he was working on into a book. That film was shot in the Sudan war zone, and told the story of how Arab tribes seized black African slaves in horrific slave raids. Lewis had been to the Sudan war zone dozens of times over the past decade, reporting on that conflict for the BBC, Channel 4 and US and European broadcasters.
His slavery documentary told the story of a young girl from the Nuba tribe, seized in a raid and sold into slavery in Khartoum, Sudan's capital city, and of her epic escape. The publisher asked Lewis if the Nuba girl would be willing to write her life story as a book, with his help as co-author. The book that they co-wrote was called 'Slave', and it was published to great acclaim, becoming a number one bestseller and being translated into some 30 lanc guages worldwide. It won several awards and has been made into a feature film.
Over the preceding fifteen years Lewis had reported from many war, conflict and disaster zones – including Sudan, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Burma, Afghanistan and the Balkans (see Author's Gallery). He (and his film crew) traveled into such areas with aid workers, the British or allied military, UN forces or local military groups, or very much under their own steam. He reported on the horror and human impact of war, as well as the drama of conflict itself. Often, he worked alone. Often, he filmed his own material over extended periods of time living in the war or conflict zone.
During a decade spent reporting from around the world Lewis lived in deserts, rainforests, jungles and chaotic third world cities. In his work and travels he met and interviewed people smugglers, diamond miners, Catholic priests 'gone native', desert nomads, un-contacted tribes, aid workers, bush pilots, arms dealers, genocidal leaders, peacekeepers, game wardens, slum kids, world presidents, heroin traffickers, rebel warlords, child prostitutes, Islamist terrorists, Hindu holy men, mercenaries, bush doctors, soldiers, commanders and spies. He was injured, and was hospitalised with bizarre tropical diseases – including flesh-eating bacteria, worms that burrow through the skin and septicemia – but survived all that and continued to report.
It was only natural that having seen so much of global conflict he would be drawn to stories of war, terrorism, espionage and the often dark causes behind such conflicts when he started writing books. Having written a number of true stories, in 2006 he was chosen as one of the 'nation's 20 favourite authors' and wrote his first fiction, Desert Claw, for the British Government's Quick Read initiative. Desert Claw tells of a group of ex-Special Forces soldiers sent into Iraq to retrieve a looted Van Gogh painting, with a savage twist to the tale. That fiction was followed up by Cobra Gold, an equally compelling tale of global drama and intrigue and shadowy betrayal.
Damien Lewis's work, books and films have won the Index on Censorship (UK), CECRA (Spain), Project Censored (US), Commonwealth Relations (UK), Discovery-NHK BANFF (Canada), Rory Peck (UK), BBC One World (UK), BBC-WWF Wildscreen (UK), International Peace Prize (US), Elle Magazine Grande Prix (US), Victor Gollanz (Germany), and BBC One World (UK) Awards. He is a Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
His slavery documentary told the story of a young girl from the Nuba tribe, seized in a raid and sold into slavery in Khartoum, Sudan's capital city, and of her epic escape. The publisher asked Lewis if the Nuba girl would be willing to write her life story as a book, with his help as co-author. The book that they co-wrote was called 'Slave', and it was published to great acclaim, becoming a number one bestseller and being translated into some 30 lanc guages worldwide. It won several awards and has been made into a feature film.
Over the preceding fifteen years Lewis had reported from many war, conflict and disaster zones – including Sudan, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Burma, Afghanistan and the Balkans (see Author's Gallery). He (and his film crew) traveled into such areas with aid workers, the British or allied military, UN forces or local military groups, or very much under their own steam. He reported on the horror and human impact of war, as well as the drama of conflict itself. Often, he worked alone. Often, he filmed his own material over extended periods of time living in the war or conflict zone.
During a decade spent reporting from around the world Lewis lived in deserts, rainforests, jungles and chaotic third world cities. In his work and travels he met and interviewed people smugglers, diamond miners, Catholic priests 'gone native', desert nomads, un-contacted tribes, aid workers, bush pilots, arms dealers, genocidal leaders, peacekeepers, game wardens, slum kids, world presidents, heroin traffickers, rebel warlords, child prostitutes, Islamist terrorists, Hindu holy men, mercenaries, bush doctors, soldiers, commanders and spies. He was injured, and was hospitalised with bizarre tropical diseases – including flesh-eating bacteria, worms that burrow through the skin and septicemia – but survived all that and continued to report.
It was only natural that having seen so much of global conflict he would be drawn to stories of war, terrorism, espionage and the often dark causes behind such conflicts when he started writing books. Having written a number of true stories, in 2006 he was chosen as one of the 'nation's 20 favourite authors' and wrote his first fiction, Desert Claw, for the British Government's Quick Read initiative. Desert Claw tells of a group of ex-Special Forces soldiers sent into Iraq to retrieve a looted Van Gogh painting, with a savage twist to the tale. That fiction was followed up by Cobra Gold, an equally compelling tale of global drama and intrigue and shadowy betrayal.
Damien Lewis's work, books and films have won the Index on Censorship (UK), CECRA (Spain), Project Censored (US), Commonwealth Relations (UK), Discovery-NHK BANFF (Canada), Rory Peck (UK), BBC One World (UK), BBC-WWF Wildscreen (UK), International Peace Prize (US), Elle Magazine Grande Prix (US), Victor Gollanz (Germany), and BBC One World (UK) Awards. He is a Fellow of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 18, 2020
‘This is the point in the operation where dog sees rabbit, and dog is most definitely going to go for it. It is at this moment that Operation Certain Death has become Judgement Day for the West Side Boys.’
Well-told of a successful SAS rescue mission in Sierra Leone. Multiple points of view and roughly straight timeline increases drama. American readers are reminded that other parts of the world are in crisis and other major powers are doing something about it. Other nations, especially UN peacekeepers, don’t come off so well.
‘The West Side Boys’ leader had managed to develop such a close and mutually beneficial relationship with one of the Jordanians. Arms-for-diamonds deals. The Jordanian made the cash, the West Side Boys could wreak havoc and mayhem. And now they’d just turned up in the camp with some severed Kamajor heads, courtesy of the Jordanian bullets.’
Not sure whether to classify this as historical fiction or history. Lewis claims much research and reality behind the story at the same time he admits to fictionalizing much of it.
‘You haven’t seen these people in action. I have. Believe me, if British forces have to come in and rescue us, this place is finished. There won’t be a building left standing.’ ‘Then that, Major, will be a very good thing.’
‘Be strong. A people that is not ready to die for its liberties loses them … Believe passionately in the ideas and in the way of life for which one is fighting. Liberty deserves to be served with more passion than tyranny.’ André Maurois, Memoirs
Each chapter opens with an appropriate epigram.
Tries too hard to render the dialects. Diminishes readability without improving the atmosphere. Four different spellings for the f-word. We know many soldiers cannot communication without liberal profanity but it’s too much.
‘Operation Barras was a gamble that paid off in the end. It is not a gamble that many of the men would ever want to repeat.’
Well-told of a successful SAS rescue mission in Sierra Leone. Multiple points of view and roughly straight timeline increases drama. American readers are reminded that other parts of the world are in crisis and other major powers are doing something about it. Other nations, especially UN peacekeepers, don’t come off so well.
‘The West Side Boys’ leader had managed to develop such a close and mutually beneficial relationship with one of the Jordanians. Arms-for-diamonds deals. The Jordanian made the cash, the West Side Boys could wreak havoc and mayhem. And now they’d just turned up in the camp with some severed Kamajor heads, courtesy of the Jordanian bullets.’
Not sure whether to classify this as historical fiction or history. Lewis claims much research and reality behind the story at the same time he admits to fictionalizing much of it.
‘You haven’t seen these people in action. I have. Believe me, if British forces have to come in and rescue us, this place is finished. There won’t be a building left standing.’ ‘Then that, Major, will be a very good thing.’
‘Be strong. A people that is not ready to die for its liberties loses them … Believe passionately in the ideas and in the way of life for which one is fighting. Liberty deserves to be served with more passion than tyranny.’ André Maurois, Memoirs
Each chapter opens with an appropriate epigram.
Tries too hard to render the dialects. Diminishes readability without improving the atmosphere. Four different spellings for the f-word. We know many soldiers cannot communication without liberal profanity but it’s too much.
‘Operation Barras was a gamble that paid off in the end. It is not a gamble that many of the men would ever want to repeat.’
July 22, 2013
This is an intense book that manages to cover a variety of fascinating subjects while staying focused around this thrilling story. Alternates effortlessly between the personal experiences of the individuals involved and the bigger picture of politics and diplomacy. The events in question are gruesome at times and the depravity of some of the people in this book will shock you. The author does not hold back in conveying the fully gut wrenching events that took place.
It also touches on fascinating subjects like: Private mercenary's and military's-for-hire. The failings and ineptitude of the UN. The abysmal leadership of many African leaders. Unbelievable greed. Tactics and strategies of some of the most skilled soldiers on earth.
This well written book had me beaming with pride for the success and sheer professionalism of the special forces that ultimately pulled off the operation in question. (Actually called Operation Barras, not Certain Death).
It also touches on fascinating subjects like: Private mercenary's and military's-for-hire. The failings and ineptitude of the UN. The abysmal leadership of many African leaders. Unbelievable greed. Tactics and strategies of some of the most skilled soldiers on earth.
This well written book had me beaming with pride for the success and sheer professionalism of the special forces that ultimately pulled off the operation in question. (Actually called Operation Barras, not Certain Death).
June 22, 2020
Lewis strikes again! The master of suspense, Damien never fails to deliver in his ability to build an story up to a nail biting peak of excitement. Really enjoyed learning about this significant crisis and valiant special forces rescue effort. Thoroughly researched as always, I was captivated from start to finish!
April 15, 2021
OPERATION CERTAIN DEATH is an in-depth exploration of Operation Barras, a British special forces rescue mission in the Sierra Leone jungle to free soldiers who had been taken captive by rebels known as the 'West Side Boys' men and boys renowned for sadism, drug-taking, cannibalism, rape and murder. Inevitably it's a darker-than-dark story, extremely nihilistic and often depressing at times, yet in Lewis's hands it has the pace and verve of a thriller. The writing is highly readable, the extraordinary amount of detail helps to ground it all very well, and the final assault flies past at speed. My main complaint is that the author asks us to treat part of the story as a 'creative writing' exercise, i.e. he made up all of the dialogue and scenes with the special forces members, because they're classified. So interspersed amid the rest of the tale we get about 50 pages of endlessly repetitive 'banter' dialogue packed full of the 'f' word which comes across as completely ridiculous and needs skipping if you're to enjoy this book overall.
July 21, 2014
What words could one possibly use to describe this story of hell.
Told from the point of view of the hostage soldiers and the people trying to rescue them. We would all like to think that good and evil is easy to see, that the bad guys (war combatant, murderer, evil predator) play by some sort of societal "rules". But this book shows that it's never that simple. When you combine a violent, poverty ridden, uneducated, ungoverned upbringing, with drugs and guns, absolutely anything can and will happen. Morals, values, or rules do not come into it. These are people who live minute by minute and place no value on anything - not food, love, life or liberty. That there is any good news at the end of this book is a miracle. All credit to the British involved - they are true heroes.
Told from the point of view of the hostage soldiers and the people trying to rescue them. We would all like to think that good and evil is easy to see, that the bad guys (war combatant, murderer, evil predator) play by some sort of societal "rules". But this book shows that it's never that simple. When you combine a violent, poverty ridden, uneducated, ungoverned upbringing, with drugs and guns, absolutely anything can and will happen. Morals, values, or rules do not come into it. These are people who live minute by minute and place no value on anything - not food, love, life or liberty. That there is any good news at the end of this book is a miracle. All credit to the British involved - they are true heroes.
May 1, 2020
This book is not only a very informative account of the operation to rescue the British hostages, but it also gives a very packed account of the whole situation preceding it. The book gives the overall picture of Sierra Leone, which is crucial to understand the complete brutality of the rebels who have ravaged the country.
January 10, 2018
Incredible story, harrowing but at the same time so humbling, and proud to be British!
February 7, 2023
Very detailed, actually too detailed account of hostages drama in Sierra Leone.
June 24, 2024
An outstanding book; my book of the year so far. I remember this pretty well, but this brings a level of understanding, both macro and micro that I had no idea of previously. Written in a wonderful way that really makes you feel like you're there.
June 24, 2025
Great read. British Military at their best and allowed to do their job without their hands tied behind their backs by politicians. Pity the UN couldn’t operate more like this and stop genocides like Rwanda maybe from happening.
October 17, 2025
A warning, this is told through dialogue and the story doesn't get going until chapter 21. How does the author get the dialogue right? He made most of it up of course. What a strange style to choose for what is supposed to be a non-fiction story.
October 13, 2020
Interesting retelling of a serious stand off, fair to say not everything goes to plan but that's why these types of books about the special forces are so interesting.
July 20, 2022
Great story but some of the writing was awful
March 25, 2024
Amazing read! How there hasn't been a AAA Hollywood movie made about this I don't know!
December 3, 2025
Operation Certain Death is a gripping account of one of the most daring SAS missions in modern history. Damien Lewis brings the drama of Operation Barras to life with vivid detail, from the bizarre brutality of the West Side Boys to the courage and precision of British Special Forces. The book reads like a thriller, yet every page is grounded in real events, making it both compelling and authentic. Lewis captures the tension, the stakes, and the sheer audacity of the rescue mission brilliantly - this is British grit at its finest.
February 20, 2014
Great book which covers all aspects of the story from the captives the soldiers sent in to get them and the top brass planning the operation.
Some parts of the book where hard going when he was trying to capture the different accents by writing like they sound but once your used to this it becomes easier to understand.
Highly recommend the book as an insight into a little published event in a blot on britains history!
Some parts of the book where hard going when he was trying to capture the different accents by writing like they sound but once your used to this it becomes easier to understand.
Highly recommend the book as an insight into a little published event in a blot on britains history!
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February 6, 2016Excellent account well written,i lived about ahalf mile from the Quayside from where,they left from,for this mission..in Falmouth,there is a momorial stone there,...it was sad for all the very planning ,they failed to have a plan 'B' if they couldn't land in the designated places,due to enemy opposition.which was conceded in the debrief..for all that ,the mission was successful ..
April 13, 2023
I have a read a pile of Damien Lewis' novels about the SAS in Iraq an Afghanistan, I think 6 of them, with another 6 about WWII to go. They were all gripping stories.
I learned, from this book that the British have troops in Africa back in the 2000s. That blew my mind. I thought everyone was out of there, watching the continent tear itself apart.
I learned, from this book that the British have troops in Africa back in the 2000s. That blew my mind. I thought everyone was out of there, watching the continent tear itself apart.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews