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Geheim commando
In 1994 Cameron Spence travelled to Bosnia as Second-in-Command of an SAS troop. This book details the patrol's rollercoaster ride through a lawless country, leading to the book's climax: a daring bid by a trapped SAS patrol to break out of the besieged Muslim town of Gorazde.
287 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 7, 2018
The book has been authored by Cameron Spence, who was the second-in-command of the SAS (British Commando Unit) team deployed to Bosnia during the war. The SAS team had been covertly deployed under the guise of UKLO (United Kingdom Liaison Officers), but people did understand what they were.
Anyway, the book starts like a military/ spy thriller about a covert operation in Norway. Later you will get to know the relevance of this affair in the story.
The SAS team reaches Bosnia to find a beautiful country ravaged by civil war and ethnic cleansing. The Serbs, Croats and Bosnian Muslims had turned on each other and innocents were dying or fleeing their homes. Armed militia roamed the streets, and towns and villages were destroyed beyond repair.
The book chronicles the experience of the team – the people they met, the dangers they faced, the suffering they witnessed, the diplomatic wrangling that went on, and ends with the SAS team fleeing from the besieged town of Gorazde.
During their stint in Bosnia, the team would have to interact with various parties – Croats, Bosnian Muslims, the Norwegian forces and the Spanish battalion. Danger came in many forms and in a war zone you simply can’t trust anybody. Allies can turn into enemies just like that.
The author has done a decent job of describing the savagery of war and did it using a dry sense of humour.
A character I must mention is Crusha. She was a language teacher to the team and had seen her friends and neighbours turn into bloodthirsty maniacs. This lady had, in retrospect, more awareness of the situation than diplomats and soldiers.
I particularly liked how the author brought forth the poignancy of the situation without being melodramatic. In the midst of genocide, an action figure left behind by a child or an abandoned pet dog can still make you despondent.
Despite being a veteran special forces soldier, the author claims, that Bosnia did get under his skin.
“… Bosnia was a sick game, fuelled by the basest of emotions, and played out on a large, incomprehensible scale. As the thought tumbled through my head, the exasperation and sadness I’d felt welled in the pit of my stomach as anger.”
The military action was very realistic and the book has quite a few moments of suspense and tension. The author praises the bravery of the Bosnian Muslims in face of the heavily armed enemies.
About the mission the author says - “Along with our operation in the Gulf, I found it the most challenging – and, it’s true, the most frustrating – mission of my career. The memories of the bitterness, not to mention the wanton destruction of such a beautiful country, will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
I enjoyed reading the book. If you are looking for a Rambo-style military adventure then this book is not for you. Otherwise, if the story appeals to you then you can give one this one a try.
Anyway, the book starts like a military/ spy thriller about a covert operation in Norway. Later you will get to know the relevance of this affair in the story.
The SAS team reaches Bosnia to find a beautiful country ravaged by civil war and ethnic cleansing. The Serbs, Croats and Bosnian Muslims had turned on each other and innocents were dying or fleeing their homes. Armed militia roamed the streets, and towns and villages were destroyed beyond repair.
The book chronicles the experience of the team – the people they met, the dangers they faced, the suffering they witnessed, the diplomatic wrangling that went on, and ends with the SAS team fleeing from the besieged town of Gorazde.
During their stint in Bosnia, the team would have to interact with various parties – Croats, Bosnian Muslims, the Norwegian forces and the Spanish battalion. Danger came in many forms and in a war zone you simply can’t trust anybody. Allies can turn into enemies just like that.
The author has done a decent job of describing the savagery of war and did it using a dry sense of humour.
A character I must mention is Crusha. She was a language teacher to the team and had seen her friends and neighbours turn into bloodthirsty maniacs. This lady had, in retrospect, more awareness of the situation than diplomats and soldiers.
I particularly liked how the author brought forth the poignancy of the situation without being melodramatic. In the midst of genocide, an action figure left behind by a child or an abandoned pet dog can still make you despondent.
Despite being a veteran special forces soldier, the author claims, that Bosnia did get under his skin.
“… Bosnia was a sick game, fuelled by the basest of emotions, and played out on a large, incomprehensible scale. As the thought tumbled through my head, the exasperation and sadness I’d felt welled in the pit of my stomach as anger.”
The military action was very realistic and the book has quite a few moments of suspense and tension. The author praises the bravery of the Bosnian Muslims in face of the heavily armed enemies.
About the mission the author says - “Along with our operation in the Gulf, I found it the most challenging – and, it’s true, the most frustrating – mission of my career. The memories of the bitterness, not to mention the wanton destruction of such a beautiful country, will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
I enjoyed reading the book. If you are looking for a Rambo-style military adventure then this book is not for you. Otherwise, if the story appeals to you then you can give one this one a try.
March 23, 2021
Mildly dull read. I found myself trying to pin point the exact time of their adventure for entertainment. I can't help but compare it Eastern Approaches (author is an original SAS member) which was riveting and left me emotionally invested until the end. Hopefully page 103 onward will be more engaging.
March 31, 2024
Very interesting book from the perspective of the SAS on more of a humanitarian than combat mission.
October 18, 2022
Great read
April 21, 2025
A gripping tale that is clearly drawn from the experiences of several members of the unit.
This takes no sides (paints no blame) in its recording of what was experienced by the writer and his colleagues during their deployment to this conflict zone whilst highlighting horror and stupidity of it all, as well as attempting to describe the lack of any understandable (to an outsider) logic,of this conflict, if there is/was any.
This takes no sides (paints no blame) in its recording of what was experienced by the writer and his colleagues during their deployment to this conflict zone whilst highlighting horror and stupidity of it all, as well as attempting to describe the lack of any understandable (to an outsider) logic,of this conflict, if there is/was any.
March 23, 2021
A very easy read i.e. the way it is written. Felt like not much happened except in parts but was still insightful into the peace keeping role NATO was carrying out. Overriding feeling that such a country can be demolished and so many people killed all from extremism and bigotry. A lesson for us all, that history is just that, it’s past, and should be buried to learn from and move on together for the greater good.
January 4, 2016
Not the typical adrenaline filled war story. The author tells a detailed and gritty story of UN troops trying to fulfill their mandate at the turning point of the Bosnian conflict. The story is somewhat dated, being about Bosnia in the early 1990's, but the challenges of the modern battle space are well described. Equally relevant today are the ethical dilemmas faced when dealing with an unconventional enemy who targets civilian populations.
January 13, 2016
This is a well written and interesting story. The author provides a good account of what is involved on UN peace keeping deployments for NATO soldiers in regions torn apart by civil war.
September 17, 2016
Boring nonsense.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews