FIREFORCE: One Man's War in The Rhodesian Light Infantry

475 Pages·2006·8.15 MB·English

by  Chris Cocks

By the same author:
Survival Course
Cyclone Blues
The Saints—The Rhodesian Light Infantry
PRINT ISBN 9780958489096
EPUB ISBN: 9781908916815
eBook co-published in 2012 by:
Helion & Company Limited
26 Willow Road
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 1UE
England
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
email: [email protected]
website: www.helion.co.uk
and
30° South Publishers (Pty) Ltd.
16 Ivy Road
Pinetown 3610
South Africa
email: [email protected]
website: www.30degreessouth.co.za
Copyright © Chris Cocks, 1988, renewed 2006
eBook © Chris Cocks, 2012
Cover painting by Craig Bone
Design and origination by Pointset, McManus & Dando, Randburg, 1997
Maps by Richard Wood
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored,
manipulated in any retrieval
system, or transmitted in any mechanical, electronic form or by any other
means, without the prior written
authority of the publishers except for short extracts in media reviews. Any
person who engages in any unauthorized
activity in relation to this publication shall be liable to criminal prosecution and
claims for civil and
criminal damages.
This book is dedicated in loving memory to my two friends who were killed in
action
SERGEANT HUGH McCALL
and
LANCE CORPORAL PETE GARNETT
They were there and are with me now
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to:
The editors of ‘Cheetah,’ the no longer extant RLI magazine for the excerpts I
have used. ‘Scope’, for the extract in the Epitaph.
The Rhodesia Herald for the three articles I have included.
Charlie Norris for his unflagging support and for gathering photographs and
material.
Tom Argylle for the loan of his wonderful collection of photographs, many of
which I have included in the book. And also for his enthusiasm and joie de vivre
– even after losing a leg in a freak hunting accident.
Claude Botha, Mike MacGeorge, Mike Orylski, Keith Holshausen, Craig Fourie,
Lome Knox, Ian Cuthbertson, The Rhodesia Herald and particularly Tony Coom
and Steve Prowse for photographic material. Some pictures are unacknowledged
although the publishers have made every effort to establish the authorship. For
this, the publishers apologise and will be glad to amend or add credits in
subsequent editions.
Geoff Higgs for the superb sketches.
Dr Richard Wood for the map.
Rod Smith.
Paul Moorcraft
John Coleman in Colorado.
Sue Evans and Lt. Col. David Wilson in Australia.
Craig Bone for the cover artwork.
John Connelly, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle crash in 1994.
Paul Abbott for being alive.
and especially to Jacky for retyping the manuscript.
EXTRACTS
from the RLI magazine ‘Cheetah’, 1978.

In 1960 it was decided for the first time to include a regular European (white)
Battalion in the Army order of battle and as a result No. 1 Training Unit was
established at Brady Barracks, Bulawayo. No. 1 Training Unit not only provided
personnel for the Battalion, which was formed later, but also provided personnel
for C Squadron, the Special Air Service and the Selous Scouts, a reconnaissance
squadron.
The 1st Battalion, The Rhodesian Light Infantry, was officially formed on 1st
February 1961. This is now recognised as the Regimental Birthday.
In the latter part of 1961, the Battalion moved from Bulawayo to the new
barracks in Salisbury, Cranbome Barracks, having just returned from operations
on the Northern Rhodesia-Congo border.
In 1964 the organisation and role of the Battalion was changed from the
conventional infantry unit to a Commando Battalion, The wearing of the green
beret was also introduced.
Colours were presented to the Battalion on 19th June 1963 by the then Governor,
Sir Humphrey Gibbs, K.C.M.C., O.B.E., on behalf of Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II.
On 27th June 1970, the Regimental Colour was trooped before the Prime
Minister, The Honourable I.D. Smith.
Regimental traditions which form an important part of Battalion life, are quickly
being built up. Two are noteworthy, namely the Regimental Quick March, “The
Saints,” and the mascot – the Cheetah.
For the past few years the Battalion has borne the brunt of border control
operations against terrorist gangs that have infiltrated into Rhodesia.

CONTENTS

Foreword
Map of Rhodesia
BOOK ONE
AN ORDEAL AHEAD

Prologue Harare, June 1986
Chapter 1 Basic Training
Chapter 2 Classical War Training
Chapter 3 Counter-insurgency (COIN) Training
Chapter 4 The Battalion and Fireforce
BOOK TWO
1976 – INNOCENCE LOST

Chapter 5 Early Days – May 1976
Chapter 6 Gona-Re-Zhou – Winter 1976
Chapter 7 Honde Valley – Winter 1976
Chapter 8 Bulawayo – August 1976
Chapter 9 Rambanayi – September 1976
Chapter 10 Battle of Hill 31 – November 1976
Chapter 11 My First Command – December 1976
BOOK THREE
1977 – THE ESCALATION

Chapter 12 The Civilians
Chapter 13 Mtoko – January 1977
Chapter 14 Parachute Training – February 1977
Chapter 15 Enlistment For 3 Years – February 1977
Chapter 16 Lowveld and Moçambique – May 1977
Chapter 17 Detention Barracks – July 1977
Chapter 18 Grand Reef – September 1977
Chapter 19 Logistics
Chapter 20 Raid on Chimoio – Spring 1977
Chapter 21 Grand Reef – Summer 1977
Chapter 22 Lance Corporal – October 1977