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We Dared to Win Lib/E: The SAS in Rhodesia
Andre Scheepers grew up on a farm in Rhodesia, learning about the bush from his African childhood friends, before joining the army. A quiet, introspective thinker. Andre started out as a trooper in the SAS before being commissioned into the Rhodesian Light Infantry Commandos, where he was engaged in fire-force combat operations. He then rejoined the SAS.
Wounded 13 times, his operational record is exceptional even by the tough standards that existed at the time. He emerged as the SAS officer par excellence; beloved by his men, displaying extraordinary calmness, courage, and audacious cunning during a host of extremely dangerous operations. Andre writes vividly about his experience, his emotions, and his state of mind during the war, and reflects candidly on what he learned and how war has shaped his life since.
In addition to Andre's personal story, this book reveals more about some of the other men who were distinguished operators in SAS operations during the Rhodesian War.
RUNNING TIME ➼ 10hrs. and 48mins.
©2018 Hannes Wessels and Andre Scheepers (P)2020 Tantor
Wounded 13 times, his operational record is exceptional even by the tough standards that existed at the time. He emerged as the SAS officer par excellence; beloved by his men, displaying extraordinary calmness, courage, and audacious cunning during a host of extremely dangerous operations. Andre writes vividly about his experience, his emotions, and his state of mind during the war, and reflects candidly on what he learned and how war has shaped his life since.
In addition to Andre's personal story, this book reveals more about some of the other men who were distinguished operators in SAS operations during the Rhodesian War.
RUNNING TIME ➼ 10hrs. and 48mins.
©2018 Hannes Wessels and Andre Scheepers (P)2020 Tantor
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First published April 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 6, 2023
The book is an okay read. Not very exciting but nevertheless, well written and informative. For the non-historians, the minute details of the author´s countless military escapades can seem dispiriting. However, I believe the book is a valuable addition to the body of knowledge on the Southern African liberation history, particularly Zimbabwean liberation history.
Interestingly, the book begins with the author attempting to morally justify Rhodesia´s war against our liberation struggle. He was at pains, attempting to wash clean Rhodesia´s dark stains of the past. Boldly, he claims without shame, the war had nothing to do with race. He contends that it was all about defending Christianity and defeating communism. It is as if our liberation struggle was not about majority rule, or the return of our stolen land and or the restoration of the dignity of our people. I was amused but not surprised. It is too familiar a story among us the subalterns. We the wretched of the earth, had to be saved from our barbaric selves.
That said, the book does afford us any opportunity to view the war through the eyes of a white soldier who rose through the ranks to become a senior officer in the army and more importantly a soldier who participated in some historically significant missions during the war. I have read a number of books about our liberation struggle but almost exclusively through black lenses. This book was a departure from the norm and I am happy to say I am richer from the experience.
My key takeaways of the book
1. In the past I had heard claims from non-authoritative sources that the ZIPRA forces were better trained and better equipped than their ZANLA counterparts but had no means of assessing whether the statement was true or not. The author who was involved in running battles with both revolutionary parties in and outside Zimbabwe supports that notion.
2. For some reason I did not believe Robert Mugabe´s claims that the Rhodesian government wanted to assassinate him. I had always believed that it was propaganda. I thought if they wanted to assassinate him they could have easily done that whilst he was in Zimbabwe and later in prison. However, this author confirms that they were several attempts to assassinate Robert Mugabe and the ZANLA leadership in Mozambique and about two attempts to assassinate Mugabe post-independence by the military intelligence. Faced with this new evidence, I am forced to rethink my earlier positions on who could have killed general Tongogara and Chairman Chitepo. For some strange reason, I had come to strongly believe that it was an inside job.
3. I had read several texts that alleged that RENAMO a militant organization and political movement in Mozambique was funded and equipped by the South African apartheid regime and supported by the Rhodesian government. What I did not know was that the Rhodesian regime actually trained many of the early RENAMO recruits in Zimbabwe. In return, the Rhodesians used RENAMO as cannon fodder for some of their excursions into Mozambique. Although, the author says they were under strict instructions to avoid confrontations with the Mozambiquan army. Mozambique as a country did pay dearly for hosting ZANLA bases and the ANC exiles. Their country was ravaged by civil war that was fuelled by Rhodesia and South Africa.
Zambia did incur military incursions, several sabotage attacks, some in the heart of the capital from the Rhodesian army. In three of those attacks the author was involved. Zambia was paying the price for hosting ZIPRA bases, which were used as launch pads for incursions into
Rhodesia.
The book notes in passing the clandestine cooperation of South Africa and the USA in the backing of UNITA in the Angolan civil war. Not only did they fund and equip UNITA, they had boots on the ground in Angola. I am convinced beyond doubt that the South African boots on the ground were not only to bolster UNITA forces but were training in preparation of their own bush war.
4. The hardliners in both the military and the parliament had been forced to accept the cease fire and the terms of the Lancaster House agreement against their will. They had two enemies, Nkomo and Mugabe but they hated Mugabe more. They thought he was more radical and Marxist. The Rhodesian political leadership in connivance with British were banking on Muzorewa winning. But as the election campaigns were under way it became clear to the military intelligence that Nkomo and Muzorewa were no match for Mugabe´s campaign tactics and that the British were unwilling to entertain Nkomo and Muzorewa´s complains. The military under pretext of unfree and unfair elections planned to usurp power. However, when the elections came the leadership could not make the call. Thereafter, there were attempts to sabotage the new government with the cooperation of the apartheid government of South Africa.
Of course the book is much more than my key takeaways but in a nutshell that is what I found most interesting in the book. It is such a shame that many of our fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts who participated in the liberation struggle are dying without writing their own stories. In the next three decades, if not two, almost all these unrecorded stories will be buried with our sung and unsung heroes and heroines. Perhaps it is a challenge to all of us with surviving relatives who fought in that war, to entice them to speak, for our historians to record and all of us to eternalise their dedication and sacrifice.
Interestingly, the book begins with the author attempting to morally justify Rhodesia´s war against our liberation struggle. He was at pains, attempting to wash clean Rhodesia´s dark stains of the past. Boldly, he claims without shame, the war had nothing to do with race. He contends that it was all about defending Christianity and defeating communism. It is as if our liberation struggle was not about majority rule, or the return of our stolen land and or the restoration of the dignity of our people. I was amused but not surprised. It is too familiar a story among us the subalterns. We the wretched of the earth, had to be saved from our barbaric selves.
That said, the book does afford us any opportunity to view the war through the eyes of a white soldier who rose through the ranks to become a senior officer in the army and more importantly a soldier who participated in some historically significant missions during the war. I have read a number of books about our liberation struggle but almost exclusively through black lenses. This book was a departure from the norm and I am happy to say I am richer from the experience.
My key takeaways of the book
1. In the past I had heard claims from non-authoritative sources that the ZIPRA forces were better trained and better equipped than their ZANLA counterparts but had no means of assessing whether the statement was true or not. The author who was involved in running battles with both revolutionary parties in and outside Zimbabwe supports that notion.
2. For some reason I did not believe Robert Mugabe´s claims that the Rhodesian government wanted to assassinate him. I had always believed that it was propaganda. I thought if they wanted to assassinate him they could have easily done that whilst he was in Zimbabwe and later in prison. However, this author confirms that they were several attempts to assassinate Robert Mugabe and the ZANLA leadership in Mozambique and about two attempts to assassinate Mugabe post-independence by the military intelligence. Faced with this new evidence, I am forced to rethink my earlier positions on who could have killed general Tongogara and Chairman Chitepo. For some strange reason, I had come to strongly believe that it was an inside job.
3. I had read several texts that alleged that RENAMO a militant organization and political movement in Mozambique was funded and equipped by the South African apartheid regime and supported by the Rhodesian government. What I did not know was that the Rhodesian regime actually trained many of the early RENAMO recruits in Zimbabwe. In return, the Rhodesians used RENAMO as cannon fodder for some of their excursions into Mozambique. Although, the author says they were under strict instructions to avoid confrontations with the Mozambiquan army. Mozambique as a country did pay dearly for hosting ZANLA bases and the ANC exiles. Their country was ravaged by civil war that was fuelled by Rhodesia and South Africa.
Zambia did incur military incursions, several sabotage attacks, some in the heart of the capital from the Rhodesian army. In three of those attacks the author was involved. Zambia was paying the price for hosting ZIPRA bases, which were used as launch pads for incursions into
Rhodesia.
The book notes in passing the clandestine cooperation of South Africa and the USA in the backing of UNITA in the Angolan civil war. Not only did they fund and equip UNITA, they had boots on the ground in Angola. I am convinced beyond doubt that the South African boots on the ground were not only to bolster UNITA forces but were training in preparation of their own bush war.
4. The hardliners in both the military and the parliament had been forced to accept the cease fire and the terms of the Lancaster House agreement against their will. They had two enemies, Nkomo and Mugabe but they hated Mugabe more. They thought he was more radical and Marxist. The Rhodesian political leadership in connivance with British were banking on Muzorewa winning. But as the election campaigns were under way it became clear to the military intelligence that Nkomo and Muzorewa were no match for Mugabe´s campaign tactics and that the British were unwilling to entertain Nkomo and Muzorewa´s complains. The military under pretext of unfree and unfair elections planned to usurp power. However, when the elections came the leadership could not make the call. Thereafter, there were attempts to sabotage the new government with the cooperation of the apartheid government of South Africa.
Of course the book is much more than my key takeaways but in a nutshell that is what I found most interesting in the book. It is such a shame that many of our fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts who participated in the liberation struggle are dying without writing their own stories. In the next three decades, if not two, almost all these unrecorded stories will be buried with our sung and unsung heroes and heroines. Perhaps it is a challenge to all of us with surviving relatives who fought in that war, to entice them to speak, for our historians to record and all of us to eternalise their dedication and sacrifice.
January 18, 2019
Interesting first-hand account of the SAS in their fight against the Zambian communist guerilla forces, which were seemingly trained in Soviet-run training camps in neighboring Mozambique. So, I'm assuming this was partially a proxy war against the Soviet Union.
The anecdotes were lively and varied, and give you an idea of how impossible it is to be fully equipped to survive the African bush. Poisonous snakes and scorpions, charging elephants and hippos, maddening swarming insects. The SAS were extremely well trained, of course, so that even an unsuspecting terrorist urinating on them at night would never know they were hiding there.
Overall an intriguing read, very detail-oriented though, so don't expect a history lesson about Rhodesia. It's focused on the SAS operations only.
The anecdotes were lively and varied, and give you an idea of how impossible it is to be fully equipped to survive the African bush. Poisonous snakes and scorpions, charging elephants and hippos, maddening swarming insects. The SAS were extremely well trained, of course, so that even an unsuspecting terrorist urinating on them at night would never know they were hiding there.
Overall an intriguing read, very detail-oriented though, so don't expect a history lesson about Rhodesia. It's focused on the SAS operations only.
April 21, 2025
Témoignage important, mais profondément marqué par les préjugés d’un homme blanc engagé dans la défense d’un régime d’apartheid. Il offre, malgré lui, un aperçu brut de ce que fut l’expérience des perdants dans l’un des derniers conflits de la décolonisation africaine.
Une lecture qui nous permet de comprendre comment le loup se justifie lorsque le bélier lui tient tête.
Une lecture qui nous permet de comprendre comment le loup se justifie lorsque le bélier lui tient tête.
November 20, 2022
As a fighting force there is much modern militaries can learn from the Rhodesian SAS and RLI. The politics around the war can be, and certainly still are, very much debated.
November 3, 2021
It is a book that left me Out of Breath, angry and disappointed. It is about soldiers of a dying creed fighting a conflict that most people did not even know was going on that they were not allowed to win a war to save a country from itself. Yet, it is a book of unmatched bravery and sacrifices against incredible odds. This book proves that some men are born to become warriors, others to become heroes, only a select few are both.
Many hero-warriors were born in Rhodesia, a small African country the world chose to criticize. Some become part of a small elite unit of men who dared to win. Andre Scheepers and his mates in the Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) were such men.
The country faced an armed onslaught from foreign-trained supported ‘liberation movements’ that enjoyed haven in hostile neighboring countries, a vicious and misleading propaganda onslaught and barrage spearheaded by the West, a hypocritical United Nations, and others who sought to punish the country for protecting its citizens and defending its borders from armed aggression, as well as a military supply chain from the East. It was not to mention a country that suffered duplicitous interference by South Africa’s politicians and their ‘Détente debacle.’ This was a war, maybe even a spiritual battle but not between races as the media deceptively popularised it, but a conflict between clashing, diverse, and uncomparable ideologies and shadow governments.
It was a significant amount of time before GPS, UAVs, and precision-guided weapons. Standing between these threats and the insurgents from ZANLA and ZIPRA—supported by Mozambique’s FRELIMO and Zambia’s ZDF—were young but battle-hardened soldiers, men from the Rhodesian African Rifles and the Rhodesian Light infantry as well. Sometimes fighting with these combat machines but usually far to their front were a handful of elite men from the Rhodesian SAS. They where called
Men who dared to win. They were men who launched Barbaric attacks and raids deep into enemy territory with minimal gear and support. Their firefights were brutal and often at very close range. The smell of victory was often met with great sadness as friends were killed in action. Yet, when young boys entered the smoke of battle and emerged as older killing machines, sometimes parachuting into constant firefights two or three times a day, a feat yet to be matched by any modern armed force, it was a time when men earned respect through their sheer bravery, tenacity, and dedication to their country and cause. Men, staring death in the face and laughing, A time when men lived on the edge of extinction.
The cross-border raids, ambushes, attacks, and killings are recounted matter-of-factly. Tactics, techniques, and procedures fill the pages. The importance of motivation and inclusive leadership shows the actual value of aggressive resourcefulness and the competence of the SAS troopers, NCOs, and officers. It shows the need for a strict selection, intense and purpose-driven training, as their breathless and adrenaline-fuelled war intensified, so too allegations generated to cast suspicion on the real soldiers and their commanders.
This was when soldiers like Andre Scheepers and the soldiers just like him made their dent in history. ‘We Dared to Win’ is an unapologetic and accurate account of his transition from schoolboy to a highly-respected, militarily-gifted Rhodesian SAS soldier. His story is interlaced with the stories of others who lived through and witnessed the extraordinary operations they engaged in.
It is a book of great sadness and loss. These men gave so much for their country, to lose in the end, not through enemy action but sadly through the betrayal of those they trusted and believed in.
I will leave you with a quote.
After all, have come and gone.
We will remain shadows.
Of a forgotten past.
Those that follow
After we are long forgotten
Will say
Here stayed men of substance
Therefore I pray
God bless all sons of Rhodesia
At least we tried, didn’t we?
Yet how did we fail
When we were so sincere
Found on a wall of an abandoned barrack somewhere in the bush. February 1977.
Many hero-warriors were born in Rhodesia, a small African country the world chose to criticize. Some become part of a small elite unit of men who dared to win. Andre Scheepers and his mates in the Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) were such men.
The country faced an armed onslaught from foreign-trained supported ‘liberation movements’ that enjoyed haven in hostile neighboring countries, a vicious and misleading propaganda onslaught and barrage spearheaded by the West, a hypocritical United Nations, and others who sought to punish the country for protecting its citizens and defending its borders from armed aggression, as well as a military supply chain from the East. It was not to mention a country that suffered duplicitous interference by South Africa’s politicians and their ‘Détente debacle.’ This was a war, maybe even a spiritual battle but not between races as the media deceptively popularised it, but a conflict between clashing, diverse, and uncomparable ideologies and shadow governments.
It was a significant amount of time before GPS, UAVs, and precision-guided weapons. Standing between these threats and the insurgents from ZANLA and ZIPRA—supported by Mozambique’s FRELIMO and Zambia’s ZDF—were young but battle-hardened soldiers, men from the Rhodesian African Rifles and the Rhodesian Light infantry as well. Sometimes fighting with these combat machines but usually far to their front were a handful of elite men from the Rhodesian SAS. They where called
Men who dared to win. They were men who launched Barbaric attacks and raids deep into enemy territory with minimal gear and support. Their firefights were brutal and often at very close range. The smell of victory was often met with great sadness as friends were killed in action. Yet, when young boys entered the smoke of battle and emerged as older killing machines, sometimes parachuting into constant firefights two or three times a day, a feat yet to be matched by any modern armed force, it was a time when men earned respect through their sheer bravery, tenacity, and dedication to their country and cause. Men, staring death in the face and laughing, A time when men lived on the edge of extinction.
The cross-border raids, ambushes, attacks, and killings are recounted matter-of-factly. Tactics, techniques, and procedures fill the pages. The importance of motivation and inclusive leadership shows the actual value of aggressive resourcefulness and the competence of the SAS troopers, NCOs, and officers. It shows the need for a strict selection, intense and purpose-driven training, as their breathless and adrenaline-fuelled war intensified, so too allegations generated to cast suspicion on the real soldiers and their commanders.
This was when soldiers like Andre Scheepers and the soldiers just like him made their dent in history. ‘We Dared to Win’ is an unapologetic and accurate account of his transition from schoolboy to a highly-respected, militarily-gifted Rhodesian SAS soldier. His story is interlaced with the stories of others who lived through and witnessed the extraordinary operations they engaged in.
It is a book of great sadness and loss. These men gave so much for their country, to lose in the end, not through enemy action but sadly through the betrayal of those they trusted and believed in.
I will leave you with a quote.
After all, have come and gone.
We will remain shadows.
Of a forgotten past.
Those that follow
After we are long forgotten
Will say
Here stayed men of substance
Therefore I pray
God bless all sons of Rhodesia
At least we tried, didn’t we?
Yet how did we fail
When we were so sincere
Found on a wall of an abandoned barrack somewhere in the bush. February 1977.
March 28, 2023
I enjoyed reading this first person non-fiction account of various operations conducted by the Rhodesian SAS during the bush wars against communist terrorists. The accounts were interesting and had the realism and unexpected twists and turns you don't get in a fiction book. These men were some very brave soldiers who were doing an excellent job with limited resources and backing. I liked the reflections section at the end where the author talked about the causes of the war, the mistakes his culture made that caused the rebellion, and some decisions that doomed his side to failure. This tied the whole thing together and gave context to the war stories in the book. This whole period is sad because nobody really won from all the misery and blood shed. The people of Zimbabwe are worse off than they were before whether African or European ancestry. The stupidity of the western powers leaders (especially Great Britain) and the suffering caused by their duplicity is tragic. Promises made, promises broken, only a few elites end up controlling all the wealth. Same story again.
February 14, 2021
As per the title, this book largely consists of describing a selection of the exploits of C Squadron SAS in the Rhodesian bush war. Where this book is better than almost all of these books covering the Rhodesian war, is that it spends some time discussing what went wrong militarily, and comes up with something I hadn't considered. It fails to ma Ky e any inroads into the question of intelligence leaks that is mentions in many if these books, and it doesnt provide any additional insight into the friction that developed between the SAS and the Selous Scouts. It does mention though that at a point the drain of men to the Scouts was such that the SAS was close to not having a core of excellence to build on. I enjoyed it.
February 10, 2025
This book is a sequel to A Handful of Hard Men by Hannes Wessels. It is quite similar - not the same stories, but the same type of oral history. Ambushes, escapes, tracking, encounters with African wildlife, assassination attempts, etc. There's a lengthy follow up to something from the first book that was quite controversial in the veterans community. It was certainly interesting, but for most people I think the first book would be found sufficient.
The story which stood out to me was one SAS officer who testified to having some sort of divine vision while on duty. He said this moment changed his life, and led to his conversion to Christianity, and eventually becoming an evangelist.
Some of the soldiers quoted are quite profane.
The story which stood out to me was one SAS officer who testified to having some sort of divine vision while on duty. He said this moment changed his life, and led to his conversion to Christianity, and eventually becoming an evangelist.
Some of the soldiers quoted are quite profane.
Read
May 9, 2020Should be compulsory reading for any "good politicians" if you can find any in this day and age.
This book filled in many gaps in my knowledge of a war that we were prevented from winning and for what so many good people, both black and white, died.
Political expediency and it's perpetrators should all feel very proud of themselves.
The words that come to mind readely are Retrebution and Restetution.
If the World Court in the Haig has any meaning at all it should visit the Mugabe family wealth throughout the world and restore these stolen Billions to the people of Zimbabwe.
I will not hold my breath.
We have leagle systems - we don't have "Justice" systems.
This book filled in many gaps in my knowledge of a war that we were prevented from winning and for what so many good people, both black and white, died.
Political expediency and it's perpetrators should all feel very proud of themselves.
The words that come to mind readely are Retrebution and Restetution.
If the World Court in the Haig has any meaning at all it should visit the Mugabe family wealth throughout the world and restore these stolen Billions to the people of Zimbabwe.
I will not hold my breath.
We have leagle systems - we don't have "Justice" systems.
October 2, 2019
Good read
This was an excellent collection of experiences from the SAS operators in Rhodesia during the Bush War of the 1970s. I think it gave a good picture of what the soldiers were going through during that war. These were men who were doing what they could to defend their country.
I recommend this if you want to get an understanding of what those soldiers were experiencing. It is not a full military history of the war but a collection of memories from several soldiers during the conflict.
This was an excellent collection of experiences from the SAS operators in Rhodesia during the Bush War of the 1970s. I think it gave a good picture of what the soldiers were going through during that war. These were men who were doing what they could to defend their country.
I recommend this if you want to get an understanding of what those soldiers were experiencing. It is not a full military history of the war but a collection of memories from several soldiers during the conflict.
January 19, 2020
Gut wrenching facts of betrayal brutality corruption and greed from a handful individuals. Betrayal by the British and Americans. Support for Rhodesians from surprising countries.
Acknowledged as the best fighting force) of its kind the Rhodesian army (both black and white side by side took on the communists in there thousands in daring cross border raids. The outcome could have been so different for southern African countries had the international community not ignored the facts. Make your own decisions on who to blame ??
Acknowledged as the best fighting force) of its kind the Rhodesian army (both black and white side by side took on the communists in there thousands in daring cross border raids. The outcome could have been so different for southern African countries had the international community not ignored the facts. Make your own decisions on who to blame ??
February 18, 2025
Overall a well written book about men of great courage and valor. This book feels a little less of a seamless story than the author’s other account “A Handful of Hard Men”. I believe this is because this book focuses on the stories of individual operators and does not tell much of the overall story of Rhodesia/the Bush War throughout. However, the stories are interesting and this book does a do a great job of giving a high level outline of the events after the fall of Rhodesia. This book is certainly a worthy read.
November 28, 2021
Required Reading for American Youth
SAS in Rhodesia provides a real time account of how international politics is used by the rich to further enrich themselves. They weaponize race, bring in socialism/communism to control the people and virtue signal while they strip the natural riches from the People to whom it belongs. Wake up America; these scum are knocking on your front doors.
SAS in Rhodesia provides a real time account of how international politics is used by the rich to further enrich themselves. They weaponize race, bring in socialism/communism to control the people and virtue signal while they strip the natural riches from the People to whom it belongs. Wake up America; these scum are knocking on your front doors.
October 7, 2019
I heard a lot about Rhodesian SAS but I didn't knew about bush war and how this country turned into Zimbabwe. Rhodesia is a perfect example of how a modern state can turn into a complete pariah in a blink.
For sure the achievements of these brave men should not be forgotten, they have lost the country but they dared to win.
For sure the achievements of these brave men should not be forgotten, they have lost the country but they dared to win.
September 22, 2024
This is my third Wessels book about the Rhodesian Bush War and in some respects his best. The other two focus more on the incredible men who fought and died for Rhodesian independence. With this book Wessels covers the heroic exploits of SAS Officer Andre Scheepers. While detailing his exploits he also clearly lays out the betrayal by key military leaders and politicians who screwed Rhodesia enabling that worthless corrupt despicable murderer Mugabe to take over in a rigged election in 1980. So while these men risked their lives time and time again a feckless desk bound leadership cadre made poor tactical and strategic decisions result8mg in unnecessary loss of soldiers lives. Sound familiar? Vietnam perhaps. Very few books so clearly lay out a failure of leadership and resolve as well as this book. What resulted was a once vibrant country with a strong economy was plundered and looted by terrorist scum. I highly recommend it, but be prepared to be pissed off about the outcome.
September 3, 2025
Outstanding book
Great read, great history, certainly don't get truth like this from most of today's schools. These fellas were true heroes at a time when the cards were stacked against them. Shame on Great Britain, the U.S. and the rest of the cowards that were against the Rhodies. Now the country is a basket case and a shell of its former self. A pity.
Great read, great history, certainly don't get truth like this from most of today's schools. These fellas were true heroes at a time when the cards were stacked against them. Shame on Great Britain, the U.S. and the rest of the cowards that were against the Rhodies. Now the country is a basket case and a shell of its former self. A pity.
December 21, 2019
This book was a little hard to read based on the style. However it told several individuals stories of their time with the Rhodesian SAS. The final two chapters were well done to show the end of the war, feelings amonst the professionals as Rhodesia ended and the murderous Marxists took over.
September 10, 2021
A true account of the Rhodesian War (from a soldiers point of view ), which ended in the usual political cock-up & final betrayal , allowing Mugabe to rule in his oh-so humanitarian & ethnic cleansing ways !
February 12, 2025
It was a fantastic book, it filled in the blanks that the other books left out or forgotten.
It some of the same stories from different operators that fought together to try and save Rhodesian from communism. Read handful of hard men ,The SAS battles for Rhodesian, and Bush War operator.
It some of the same stories from different operators that fought together to try and save Rhodesian from communism. Read handful of hard men ,The SAS battles for Rhodesian, and Bush War operator.
December 29, 2020
Important, crucial work of history.
May 15, 2024
‘Wind your fking neck in’. Hahah. Great book about incredible men of war.
July 24, 2024
Third book on Rhodesia again a memoir. I'll be finding some history books to go along with these now.
October 21, 2025
DNF'ed at 19%.
January 4, 2026
Loved this one. You know it’s a crazy war when a casualty report for enemy KIA after a battle lists 1 killed by a lion and 1 killed by a crocodile.
May 27, 2023
Another great account of the Rhodesian SAS and their heroic missions. Follows on from the parts that were missed out in A Handful of Heroes. It starts a bit slow but really gets engaging the further you read. Highly recommended.
June 4, 2021
Too many anecdotes and not nearly enough context.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews