Operation Barras: The SAS Rescue Mission, Sierra Leone 2000

by Will Fowler

In September 2000 eleven British soldiers were captured by a notorious militia gang in Sierra Leone. The so-called 'West Side Boys' had subjected their part of the country to a long reign of terror, murdering, kidnapping and mutilating anyone who stood in their way. Now British soldiers were at their mercy. Surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered, any resistance would have seen them all killed; yet their hopes of a quick exchange soon faded. They were assaulted and subjected to mock executions. Negotiations with the 'Revolutionary United Front' leaders and the 'West Side Boys' proved futile. Prime Minister Tony Blair ordered the armed forces to get the men back. The SAS and elements of the Parachute Regiment were rushed to West Africa and a naval squadron assembled offshore. The stage was set for the biggest British military operation on the continent for a generation - and their most daring rescue mission ever.

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

Will Fowler is Professor of Spanish at the University of St Andrews, where he has taught since 1995. He earned his PhD at the University of Bristol and worked as a lecturer in Spanish at Leicester Polytechnic (subsequently renamed De Montfort University) for four years before joining the University of St Andrews.

Reviews

[Justin gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and very interesting and factual book

As above, great read and in site in to the build up, history and political situation in Sierra Leone. Excellent

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough and in depth look at the history and events leading up to and including Operation Barras. An interesting read on more modern UK military operations.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping electric page turner.

[Richard Marman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though Operation Barras is only 200 pages, it's crammed with details about what a basket case post-colonial Africa in general is with Sierra Leone in a particular parlous state.
A bunch of bad-arse bandits called the West Side Boys who are downright awful, capture a British peacekeeping unit and the SAS is sent in to rescue them.
The book tells how they go about it in a most Rambo-esque fashion.
I found the massively detailed buildup a bit heavy going, but was rewarded by the climax.
William Fowler writes well considering the density of his subject matter, so it's a good yarn for those interested in modern African turmoil and the diplomatic minefields facing the rest of the world.