Legacy Conversations - Evan Davies - Author of "Teenage Safari" & 1 SAI & 6 Mech & Ops Meebos

Evan Davies served with 1 SAI and 61 Mech as as a mortar bomb specialist. On August 3 1982, during Ops Meebos, under command of Company Commander Capt Jan Malan, and platoon commander, Lt Pierre de Jager, Evan flew with SAAF Puma helicopters north to ambush an enemy log convoy. They left their Ratel IFVs behind operating as infantry. What followed became one of the most successful ambushes of the war. Evan later wrote a book on his time in the Army, "Teenage Safari." If you have questions for Evan, please leave them below. Subscribe and activate the bell to be informed of new episodes.
LINKS:
Evan Davies book can be found at:
Teenage Safari: A South African Conscript in the Border War in Angola and Namibia: Davies, Evan: 9781911512936: Amazon.com: Books www.amazon.com...
Teenage Safari: A South African Conscript in the Border War in Angola and ... - Evan Davies - Google Books books.google.c...
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[@corneliusvermaak7882]

Thank you for your service and telling your story, Evan. Your civilian "counter insurgency" tactics is another example of the excellent training we received in the SADF that is applicable to this day! Salute.

[@JamesBond-006.5]

Evan, thank you for a wonderful interview. Thank you Vossie and Koos for always being such great hosts and for your service to capture this great history. Blessings to you all!

[@andycap1223]

I so enjoyed that!
I grew up a SAAF child, so can say with a fair degree of accuracy that Evan has the ideal 'cut out' for a SAAF officer.
Also, the Scripture stating, 'The righteous are as bold as a lion' seems to ring true, here.
May GOD bless & protect you, Evan!
Thank you to all involved in the production of this interview.

[@evandavies1230]

Rare compliments, thank you. And yes, we should fear nothing if we're right

[@cccmmm1234]

All interesting, especially about the civilian counter insurgency stuff.

[@adf8315]

Thank you for your service. Salute! From a fellow architect.

[@ronaldhobden4290]

Thanks for sharing and your sacrifice. God bless you.

[@deniscoyne5671]

Thank you Evan, another great story. We have certainly been through some interesting times.

[@evandavies1230]

Thanks Denis, yes we have

[@desertchild3550]

That specific Ratel burned for a long time and i,w never forget that smell. We were with a follow up group and helped with the recovery. I think it was hit with 6 or7 RPG shots from different sizes. There is also another very brave story attached to that specific incident. Tannie Pompie was legendary in that area and although her Husband and Son in law was killed, she continued to relay messages and on top had to give the names through who lost their lifes till somebody could fly out to their farm to comfort her and give support. Deon Lamprecht wrote a book about her. "Tannie Pompie se Oorlog"

[@evandavies1230]

I have the book, yes we all inspected the ratel a few days later at Tsumeb airfield. The smell.

[@flipfouche4780]

Interessant... Baie dankie, Evan!

[@evandavies1230]

Plesier Flip!

[@willyct207]

Thanks guy's for another great Legacy video!!!!

[@Vlerkies]

Great discussion Evan, thank you and Merry Xmas to all at Legacy and the viewers.

[@vossierebel]

Thanks Vlerkies... your support is much appreciated!

[@kempvdwesthuizen9245]

Thank you Evan for sharing your story. It was really interesting and I enjoyed it. God bless

[@ianhinrichsendrummer2113]

I can totally support what he said about 1 SAI BN - basics was utter Hell. It was a miserable base compared to the Bat's, 1 SSB and Pantser Skool - they had tarred roads and green grass - 1 SAI was like a Foreign Legion outpost - just gravel and dust. I was on probably the same train going up to Bloem, 15 January 1981. We were very miserable and moral was low. (at the time) Luckily for me I went to HQ Coy or I might not be speaking to you today as I might have been in that terrible Ratel ambush on the 15th April 82. I was in F Coy Platoon 2, which became A Coy at 61 Mech, and a close friend of mine Wolfaardt was in that Ratel and I would've probably also been in there as we stuck together quite a lot being the only Capeys in the entire bungalow. You can see his name on the 61 Mech Role of Honour.
We totally KAKKED off for the 1st few months. It was hectic. I almost AWOL'ed.

[@evandavies1230]

Same page... Yes I saw Wolfaardts body bag afterwards. Rapid growing up followed

[@IansDrumsandBass]

​@@evandavies1230A friend of mine from Golf COY during basics and also a Capey was also there, he said they were blown to pieces, apparently 2 or more rpg s hit the ratel and rifle grenades. Capt Malan in his report said after the ammo stopped exploding he looked in the ratel and it was clear there was nothing they could do. About 9 guys died that day, 5 from 1 SAI. We're you also there that day at the ambush or were you at 61 when it happened?

[@danielswart64]

Bought your book and must say one of the best books on the Angolan bush war. Really enjoyed it. Thanks Evan!

[@evandavies1230]

Thanks for that!

[@zanebeswick3551]

Thank you Evan

[@os4956]

Another interesting piece of the puzzle,thanks for your contribution

[@andriesvanzyl4867]

Vossie and the boys great stuff. Evan thank you so much for your experience and for sharing. Best wishes guys, keep up the good work please

[@vossierebel]

Thanks Andries - yes, it was great chatting with Evan... let's hope he'll grace us again with more tales! May your 2023 be a year of winning!

[@koosheymans9507]

Thanx Evan, super great chat with great tips for CPF teams. Merry Christmas to "Legaciers".

[@vossierebel]

Thanks Koos - stay safe and have a great Christmas!

[@evandavies1230]

Thanks Koos, there's a lot more to say about that. We used all resources, with very good management comms and control that I didn't give enough credit for, LPR was very useful, and good team work

[@chrismoll6862]

Dankie Oukies!

[@tommiesteyn3520]

Just bought the kindle version from Amazon for those who are interested.

[@TOMTOM-nh3nl]

Thank You for sharing

[@craigbritz1684]

Hi Evan, I was also in Mortars at 1 SAI and with 61 Mech on the border, 1981/82. I remember you from 1 SAI and that you were from Cape Town. Didnt know you wrote a book.

[@evandavies1230]

Hi Craig!

[@craigbritz1684]

@@evandavies1230 Hi Evan, how many camps did you do?

[@mrg9769]

Evan Davies!!! We were at Varsity together studied Architecture at UPE.

[@evandavies1230]

Hi, your full name?

[@mrg9769]

@@evandavies1230 Hi Evan, it's Ian Gunstone. I now live in the UK. Best wishes, Ian

[@AW-rj6qf]

Salute / Saluut.

[@mazambaan]

Terrific bru ...... loved your book too.....
🥃😎

[@soidog659]

So from fighting SWAPO/PLAN
/ANC in Angola to fighting ANC/EFF in Cape Town. Same same.

[@barrypatterson4915]

Maybe the rangers of the Table Mountain National Park would benefit from a presentation by you to learn how to deal with their "insurgent" problem.