Pamwe Chete

by R.F. Reid-Daly

Worn dust jacket has chipped edges, some foxing to the tanned page edges. Orders received by 3pm Sent from the UK that weekday.

Genres: Military Fiction, Military History, History, Nonfiction

664 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rarity of this title is a double edged sword. On one hand, I'm always saddened by the fact that so few people actually knew of the professionalism, expertise, innovation and effectiveness the men who served in the Selous Scouts embodied. I wish more people knew of their existence. That can be said for all the Rhodesian regiments to be quite frankly honest; RhSAS, RLI, RAR, RhAF etc. On the other hand, I always feel like I'm reading some sort of hallowed tome when I open Pamwe Chete. That I am one of the few who are privileged to read about the most effective counter-terrorist entity there ever was. No funding, no resources, sanctioned pitilessly... All they had were the men (black and white, it didn't matter in that regiment) standing next to them, and their innovative 'pseudo-operations' tactics. I like that not many people know about the Scouts, and I like that even fewer have read Pamwe Chete.

The literature itself is well-written and follows a chronological sequence of the classified Selous Scouts operations throughout the Bush War in Rhodesia. The book is not written by an historian, a journalist or a 'colonial dissenter'. It is written by one of the master-minds of the Bush War and the Commanding Officer of the regiment itself; Lt Col Ron Reid-Daly. He speaks of each of the operations through the debriefs of the men who were there. Legends themselves, such as Rob Warraker, Chris Schulenburg (Schulie) and Mike Borlace (Author of Spider Zero Seven), give first hand accounts of their exploits and operations, commanded by Lt Col Reid-Daly. It's truly amazing to read about such things knowing the fight these men put up to defend a lost cause, betrayed by their politicians and the parent government they were kith and kin to.

If you manage to find a copy (they're extremely rare and good luck finding one for less than $200), hang onto it. It's a lost piece of history, and those who remember owe it to men such as these to keep remembering.

[Rick Brindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book that tells the story of the Selous Scouts by the man who formed them. Some say the Rhodesians were more British than the British, and this book is written with a typically British slant. It talks of war in an unglamourised way, and regardless of your politics, this is a unit that demands respect. The training these guys went through was unbelievable, and what they achieved was incredible. Leave the politics to one side, whether you agree with the Rhodies or not, as a military unit, the Selous Scouts were second to none. As the author points out, even their enemies were in awe of them. Covered in the narrative are the cross border raids, including Westlands Farm: This is Green Leader! A unit ahead of its time, that if formed now, would be the envy of every military in the world. Kinda surprised at the prices this book is fetching now. My copy isn't for sale.

[Steve Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed account of the formation, training and exploits of the Selous Scouts. Unfortunately it lacks a good editing and some detail gets in the way of the narrative. Despite this, some deep insights into how people react under extreme pressure and the bond between the Rhodesian and African soldiers.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb derring-do. An almost unbelievable story. Men who lived beyond the edge and lived to tell about it.

[Predrag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Hard to read but obligatory for professional military personnel and fascinating for those with interest in Southern Rhodesia/Zimbabwe history.