SAS in Malaya: Jungle Operations
What the British would call, “a trot through the leaves.”
Selous Scouts
An American adventure and sacrifice in Rhodesia
John Alan Coey was an American who fought and died in Rhodesia. This article is a commentary and analysis of a complicated and unique person based on his memoirs. It was received well and regarded as accurate by those who knew him, including his brother. I consider Rhodesia a bit of American Military History due […]
Epic tale of Rhodesian commandos gets a reprint
It has been 32 years ever since Chris Cocks first published his acclaimed book narrating his experiences with the elite Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI). Now, five editions later, he is reprinting his masterpiece. But it’s not just a reprint. Cocks has gone in and re-wrote the book to make it even better. “Over the last […]
The Rhodesian SAS: Covert external operations
You can read the previous part here. We explored the historical background of the Rhodesian SAS C Squadron. Now it is time to focus on a few of the missions that they undertook during the Rhodesian Bush War, a war that threatened to destroy the government of Rhodesia, take the land and evict those of […]
The Rhodesian SAS: selection & operator training
The men of the Malayan Scouts returned as Heroes to their Native Rhodesia. Filled with experience and the haggard look of men hardened by battle, they were promptly deactivated. Rhodesia relied mainly on the Rhodesian African Rifles, the Native Regiment led by white officers and Territorials or Reservists for their standing Army. Like many Armies […]
The Rhodesian SAS, a little known but deadly Special Operations unit
The U.K.’s Special Air Service needs no introduction to anyone remotely interested in military history or Special Operations. However, there is much more to learn about this elite unit when one traces its existence and influence across the once global British Empire. Much of the power of the Brits was derived from their colonies and […]
Learn to Track Like a Rhodesian Scout
Learning to track on the modern battlefield is less ancient art form, more hard science.
Grey’s Scouts member interview: Michael Watson
Horses and war were intertwined throughout history until the advent of the automobile. Even though the wide variety of Fighting Vehicles now carry the Cavalry into battle, horses have found their utility in 20th century Law Enforcement and War. Although the day of General George Armstrong Custer and J.E.B. Stewart engaging in major battles are […]
Track like a Rhodesian Scout
The ground doesn’t lie. Short of teleporting or being a ghost, a human being will leave some evidence of its presence or movement. It is science; tracking is empirical and fact-driven. It is not an abstract, ancient art form. Those two basic tenants would be drilled into our brains during the week-long combat tracking course with the […]
Book review: ‘Recce: Small Team Missions Behind Enemy Lines’
Most people are familiar with the British SAS and American Navy SEALs. Some may have heard of the Rhodesian Light Infantry and Selous Scouts, but nearly lost to contemporary military history is the South African Recces. These white, black, and interracial soldiers pulled off some of the most hair-raising operations that you have never heard […]
America’s guide to conspiracy: The Dag Hammarskjöld mystery 55 years on
An aircraft goes down over Africa under “mysterious circumstances.” The secretary general of the United Nations and 14 others, the crew and other members of his team, died. The only survivor of the 15 was an American Army sergeant on special assignment to the secretary general as security. He flatly insisted that the plane was shot down. His statement was […]
Rhodesia’s D Squadron: The South African Connection (Pt. 1)
In 1977 and 1978, Rhodesia’s war against the communist terrorists was heating up to proportions not experienced before. It was all hands on decks. Contacts and casualties mounted as the CTs grew exponentially and began utilizing the border of Mozambique, at that point abandoned by the Portuguese colonials. In particular, the Gaza province was made up […]
