Rhodesia Fire Force - Rhodesian Army Veteran
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- In part 1 of his episode, Chris shares life growing up in Africa in the country of Rhodesia, joining the army through conscription, and becoming part of a Fire Force where he trained to be a paratrooper for operational jumps.
Chris joined the Rhodesian Army in 1976 and served with 3 Commando in the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) for 3 years.
Publishing Company: limetreepress.com
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Growing Up in Africa
11:26 - Joining - National Service
15:57 - Training
20:30 - 3 Commando - Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI)
22:39 - Fire Force
26:47 - Combat Operations
30:01 - Scorpion Sting & Explosives
35:10 - External Raids
40:46 - 6 Weeks In 6 Weeks Out
43:00 - British South Africa Police
47:21 - Transition Back to Civilian Life
Music created by Gavin Watson
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God bless Rhodesia and the men who fought till the end
Being a born Rhodesian and I was injured laying ap mines along the border I can appreciate his book thanks Michael Hineß
Rhodesia has all my admiration, as a descendant of Portuguese from Africa I know what they suffered. The West should never have lost its positions in Africa, it was a suicidal mistake.
Fernando. What happened to the Portuguese in Africa was a major tragedy
how about no
Many in Africa wish for the Portuguese to comeback.
@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 doubt
As an Zimbabwean born in '86 it's so difficult to imagine living comfortably as a second class citizen in the country of my own ancestors despite some of the good things that Europeans brought.
Well done Chris.... I was your DI in training troop!!!!
Enjoyed the chat ...
Great interview 👍.
As an U.S. Army veteran I appreciate getting a veteran's perspective on war and other parts of a conflict.
Stay awesome 🇺🇸
Fantastic interview. Great to put a face and voice to a man whose books I've read and re=read.
His Books are a cracking read
Agree
Thanks Barry! Cheers Chris
I am reading his book now and it's very gripping, can't put it down. This is a great interview!
Probably the best books on the Rhodesian War. We studied it to learn and we did. K
My book, "A walk against the stream" has been put on a par with his book "Fireforce". Available on Amazon (the one with the soldier standing near Victoria Falls).
It’s nice to hear someone tell it as it was! Thank you , I wish you well , keep safe.
Chris, I can still see you in my minds eye keeping wicket in Colts at St Johns. Appreciated the frankness of both the interviews. Salute, and God bless.
Alan!!! brilliant to hear from you. What a blast from the past!. Cheers Chris
Great Interview Chris, Keep well always.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Chris. I got a lucky break compared to you (and our other class mates) ending up in the SA army instead. My heart still hurts for the tough experiences you all went through. Many didn’t make it through. MTSRIP
Nice to hear you Chris . I was a kiwi import but a 4 son pilot and I know everything you said is tru e I bought your book years ago good luck
Hi Russell. Thanks for the comments and great to catch up. Cheers
Chris
@@chriscocks3670 I have pulled out your bookand having a good re-read. Very much de ja vu all over again !. I flew Trojan,,Provost and Lynx on 4 Sqn from 75 to 77. My call sign changed gradually from K4 to D4 as time went by. I had great admiration for all the ground Troopies. I am sure we must have shared a few contacts. I fully understand the mental health issues many have endured since and I have ben lucky to have not suffered too much-( although my Wife and kids may have a differnt view!) Still flying though! It helps keep me sane here in Australia. I meet mostly with the Brown Jobs on ANZAC day and march proudly behind our Flag rembering all who served.
Russell
@@russellbroadbent7995 Russell. We would have undoubtedly shared a few contacts. We would have seriously struggled with all the awesome air support from you guys. That's what made the difference in the end.
Just went down the whole Rhodesian bush war rabbit hole, all heroes in my book holding their own.
Where's a good place to start. I saw these guys in combat shorts and now I need to know more
What a wretched book that is.
@@danebrass1473 watch "Africa Addio" or you might also find under the name "Africa: Blood and Guts". Its a good documentary.
@@danebrass1473 Zimbabwe | goodbye Rhodesia is a good one there’s tons of news reels
Harold Wilson, Labour Party Prime Minister of UK at the time of Rhodesian UDI, very determined to impose sanctions as I remember (my family had voted Conservative & I remember having been taken to hear Sir Alec Douglas Hume the previous PM speak after he arrived in a helicopter - a great novelty at the time!).
"Lusaka Green Leader". one of the most famous external opps
Chris nice interview as a 2 Cdo member I am so sorry you had to go to 3 Cdo must have been terrifying! LoL
Territorial some of us were 6 in 2 out in 1979
In the latter years it was continuous call up for most
It was really tough for you guys. Cheers Chris
@@chriscocks3670 for my older brother and many many others yes. They really got the short end of the stick in many ways, hats off to them. Some did ended doing 18 to 24 months NS. I had my NS extended indefinitely. I didn't mind... i was so used to that way of life, i had by now forgotten about civvie days and my contract with ESC as an appy electrician at 16 which i returned to and qualified after the war. Unbeknownst to me moving to another country, i quickly learned we certainly were a different bunch with a don't take shit attitude. For me anyway.
Deepest respect. Thank you.
Dodsington Farm. Eddie and Moira Mostert. Hartley/Gatooma/Chakari loop road. Where at all can I research any possible news regarding these wonderful people. Or their kin?
Please, and thank you.
That is my dad
witha white beard
Live on intake 146
what an experience it was you must not for get transport and services mainly coloured soldiers we the ones that transported the food to the camps around the country.
I had never heard of what happened to the Belgians in the Congo towards the end of the interview. I would probably ask where he ended up because in the long run i don't think Zimbabwe worked out for him given the mismanagement and overt hatred apparent in the last few decades.
The USA should have stood up and helped, knowing what we went through with Britain America should have stood tall.
USA had no interest in that.
Had Rhodesia never been developed by European people, as with the rest of Africa, Africa would have been today as it was a thousand years ago. YES!
The US based Oligarchic criminals did for Rhodesia, etc. Now others see today the dangers of evil US / CH based Swiss oligarchic criminality (psychopathic).
Trainings was mostly using the n- word in public.
Typical brit did you grow up with wild animals etc. No we grew up in city's. Ive had the same thing coming ftom south Africa. Joburg lil town called Benoni. Which would be a city here in England. I was born at the time of the boarder wars. I remember the names of the fallen every night. Lest we forget, i never will. Rest of the world has no idea of what went on at that time. They basically turned their backs on us. Hence the state of southern Africa today.