A collection of some of the Rolls of Honour from various Rhodesian High Schools

Welcome to “THE SITREP” – your RLI RA- newsletter – Volume 9, November 2019.

Salutation Greetings all ouens and crows, from various Africa branches, to another edition of “The Sitrep”. A final edition, for 2019, is planned for December – perhaps to include a bit more humour and news before the “silly season” reaches its conclusion

Rhodesian Forces Memorial Service – Sunday 10 November 2019 Hearty congratulations must be poured upon the Rhodesian Forces Memorial Committee who organised, and ran, an outstanding show at Dickie Fritz the day before Independence. This was not the first of such gatherings and particular attention had been paid to ironing-out past “niggles”. It was the third invitation for Rhodesian High Schools to lay a wreath on behalf of their school, in honour of those fallen during the war years. Twenty-seven schools were represented this year, whereas, only 17 were present at the 2017 ceremony – a sure sign of the increasing popularity of the event.

Wing Cdr Bruce Harrison, Alan Strachan and Padre Bill Beer.

MC for the day was none other than Wing Cdr Bruce Harrison whose sense of presence never fails to instil an atmosphere of relaxation and family unity, despite the formalities about to unfold. The Rhodesian Forces Memorial Committee is chaired by Alan Strachan who delivered the welcome – followed by prayers, led Lt Col Bill Dodgen, lesson delivered by Alf Herbst and the sermon conducted by Padre Bill Beer. Steve Prophet (RhAF) showed us how to sing “Amazing Grace” – properly, before Marcus Main-Baillie (RhAF) “turned the pages” to read random snippets of those who fell, whilst serving with various units, during the bush-war – not forgetting members of the general Rhodesian population and the animals that perished in the conflict. Amongst the Rhodesian contingent, it was poignant to see invitations sent to the and SAAF who were in attendance to pay homage to their members who lost their lives during our war. Schools’ and private wreaths were laid in abundance before toasting, with sherry, concluded the ceremony – whereupon folks retired to the braai, beer, banter and balderdash (for want of a better word) for the afternoon. Mention must be made of others present. Col John Redfern (Flame Lily Association) was in attendance and, monies raised were in aid of supporting that association. BUT – how many of you ouens recognised this oke? This is the son, Ian, of the RLI’s very first commanding officer, Lt Col John Stevenson Salt – and, for those who remember Lt Col Salt, there is no mistaking the “chip off the old block”. It was good to have you with us, Ian. All in all, a supreme effort made by everyone involved. Many congratulations.

Fall in – fall in - I said FALL IN!

I said, "Short-arm dressing, Dempster, - not "short-arm jab" you bloody w%£&er!"

That's a bit better - but, will these ouens ever learn?

Rolls of Honour The rolls for previous months are as follows:

RLI RoH October KIA Rank First Name Surname Awards Commando DOD Carlos 24- Alberto de Rfn Casal 4 Tp, 1 Cdo Oct- Araujo 73 "Patrick" 31- Michael Tpr Aves 1 Cdo Oct- Arthur 74 11- Richard John Tpr Hope 9 Tp, 2 Cdo Oct- "Bob" 76 31- Graeme Rfn Fanner 2 Tp, 1 Cdo Oct- Richard 76 04- Peter Martin L/Cpl Garnett MFC 11 Tp, 3 Cdo Oct- "Pete" 77 26- Joseph Tpr Byrne 14 Tp, 3 Cdo Oct- Patrick "Joe" 78 Henry 14- Recce Tp, Spt Tpr Lawrence H. Furness Oct- Cdo "Geordie" 79 21- Andrew Tpr Houghton 3 Cdo Oct- Petrie "Andy" 79

KOAS 29- Tpr Geoffrey Paul Bailey Base Grp Oct- 66 27- Ronald Tpr Stockil-Gill Spt Grp Oct- Vaughn 74 07- Clive Tpr Griffin 3 Cdo Oct- Warwick 77 14- Anthony L/Cpl Harmer Base Grp Oct- Maxwell 77

DOAS 04- Michael T/L/Cpl Bailey Base Grp Oct- Charles 73

RLI RoH November KIA Rank First Name Surname Awards Commando DOD Mathew 07- L/Cpl Charles Lamb 12 Tp, 3 Cdo Nov- "Matt" 76 15- Francisco Tpr da Costa 11 Tp, 3 Cdo Nov- Duarte 76 26- Tpr Anthony John Millar 2 Cdo Nov- 78

KOAS 05- John 2Lt Gillfillan A Coy Nov- Flemmer 61 15- L/Cpl John Gibson Korb 1 Cdo Nov- 66

The President's Walter 11- Commendation Col Sgt Ferreira 2 Cdo Nov- for Brave "Wally" 69 Conduct

Sunset Calls It was reported on Wednesday 23 rd October that Raymond “Ray” Grossberg passed away, in Brisbane, after a long struggle with cancer. Eddie Scott passed away on Thursday 24 th October. On 19 November we learned of the death of Maj. M.J. “Boet” Swart (OLM) who served with the RLI before transferring to .

On 20 November we received this message from Rudi van Aarde (Chairman RLIRA), “ It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of a great man, Major Peter Cooper, last night in the Cape.” May they all rest in peace.

New Research Project

In the previous “The Sitrep” an order was issued to respond to the details below. It is disappointing to report that less than a dozen returns were received but, grateful thanks to those who did. Approximately 3700 names have been recorded to date, thus making the RLI nominal roll the most comprehensive yet. It does mean, however, that the data needs to be checked and verified and, therefore, your (and your fellow brothers’) data is vital for inclusion. 1. First Names: 2. Surname: 3. Nickname: 4. Intake #: 5. Service #: 6. Awards/Medals (above RGSM and Zim Indep): 7. Rank:(highest rank in RLI only): 8. Commando/s (platoon not necessary): 9. Para trained- Yes/No?: 10. Status: STW (survived the war) or DS (died subsequently – provide DoD): 11. Period of service from: 12. Period of service to: 13. Attach a photograph that you do not mind being used with your details 14. Any notes you would like to add:

Many RLI members have passed away subsequent to the war and, therefore, an appeal is made to relatives/friends for the provision of details of those who have left us. No matter whether you were a high-ranking officer or a troopie – if you earned your green and silver, make sure your name is recorded amongst the finest counter-insurgency force in world history. Email data to [email protected]

Part of the estate of the late Capt Neill St John Jackson Here is a special offer restricted to readers of “The Sitrep” and the RLI family as a whole. Neill Jackson left a “library” of collectable books that are offered to oeuns and crows on a first-come- first-served basis. Monies raised will go partly to the welfare fund and partly to Neill’s widow. Included in the collection is a full set (36 volumes) of the Reprint Gold Series that will go (in its entirety) to the first interested person. There is also the Rhodesiana Reprint Silver Series (24 volumes) but, Vol 2 is missing. Men of Our Time Series (6 volumes) but, Vol 1 is missing – and, the Matching Series (4 volumes), complete.

All the values of titles, listed below, have been researched on the Internet and the prices slashed in order to make purchases affordable to members of this special regiment. This is not an auction – if you are interested in any of the books mentioned, simply enquire to [email protected] and, if the price suits you, it’s yours. Delivery to Dickie Fritz is preferable but, postage/courier can be arranged. Apart from the series mentioned above, here is a list, in alphabetical order, of the other titles:

Title Author A Walk Against the Stream A.J. Ballinger A Bird called Cousin Alan Weaving A Glimpse of Eden Evelyn Ames A Hunter's Life R. Gordon Cumming A Measure of the Man Pat Lawless A Pride of Eagles Beverley Whyte A Pride of Men Beverley Whyte A Time to Die Robert Cary A Town called Victoria Katherine Sayce Acabou Tim Green African Hunting Charles Baldwin Africa's Commandos Mark Adams/Chris Cocks An Arrested Heart Ray Haarkonsen Angel in a Thornbush Rob Fynn Apache Ed Macy Apache Dawn Damien Lewis Assignment Selous Scouts Jim Parker Beneath a Sun Beverley Whyte Bid Time Return Basil Fuller Birds Afield G.G. Arnott Birds of the Highveld Peter Ginn Birds of the Lowveld Peter Ginn Birds of Zimbabwe Peter Ginn Directory Alexander Davies Butterflies of Richard Cooper Call of the Marsh Jill Whylie Cheetah Magazine of the RLI Cheetah Magazine of the RLI Cheetah Magazine of the RLI Chibaya Moyo A. Telfer & R. Fulton Chopper Pilot M. Wilkins Choppertech Beaver Shaw Contact John Lovett Counter-Strike from the Sky J.R.T Wood Countess Billie Robert Cary Dead Leaves Dan Wylie Dear Elephant, Sir Clive Walker Dingo Firestorm Ian Pringle Down Memory Lane - Some Early Rhodesian Women Madeline Heald Dressed to Kill Charlotte Madison Echoes of an African War Chas Lotter Elephant Memories Cynthia Moss Everywhere But at Home Alf Herbst Faces of War Peter Badcock Faces of War Peter Badcock Farmer at War Trevor Grundy Fighting Forces of Rhodesia Colin Black Chris Cocks Footing With Sir Richard Ghost Patricia Glyn Four Voices Rowland Malony Frontiers Noel Mostert Golden Dawn H.J Quinton Gonarezhou Colin Saunders Good-bye Dolly Gray Rayne Kruger Grey Ghosts at Buffalo Bend Allan Wright Guide to Waterfowl of Rhodesia Smithers & MacKenzie Hilmar, Son of the Forest Wasifiri Hope Deferred Brian Chikwava In the Shadow of a Baobab John Osborne Into the Thorns Wayne Michael Grant Ivory, Apes and Peacocks Emily Dibb Jane's Fighting Ships 1952-1953 Journey Without Boundaries Andre Diedriricks Killing for Profit Julian Rademeyer Larger Mammals of Africa Jean Dorst Long Walk to Freedom Long Way Down Ewan McGregor Lost Lion of Empire Edward Paice Margaret Thatcher Mugabe D. Smith & C. Simpson Murray Macdougall & the Story of Triangle C.R. Saunders Nam Mark Baker Once in a Lifetime Richard Bennett Only my Friends call me Crouks Dennis Croukamp Operation Miracle Geldenhuys, Manser & McKenzie Operation Peter Armstrong P.K. van der Byl Hannes Wessels Pamwe Chete Ron Reid-Daly Perhaps Tomorrow Tom Wigglesworth Ragtime Soldiers Peter McLaughlin Reflections of a God Botherer Bill Dodgen Report From the H. Maclear Bate Rhodes - the race for Africa Antony Thomas Rhodesia Paddy Hartdegen Rhodesia Accuses A.J.A. Peck Peter Baxter Operations Prop Geldenhuys Rhodesian Combined Forces Roll of Honour 1966-1981 Adrian Haggett Rhodesian Epic T.W. Baxter Rhodesian Memorials Prop Geldenhuys Rhodesian War Casualties & Air Force Memorials Prop Geldenhuys Rhodesian War Casualties & Air Force Memorials Prop Geldenhuys Rhodesia's Dams International Commission of Large Dams Rough Diamonds & Other Gems Derry MacIntyre Sabotage and Torture Barbara Cole Sand in the Wind Keith Meadows SAS Rhodesia Jonathan Pittaway Selous Scouts Peter Baxter Selous Scouts Top Secret War Ron Reid-Daly Serving Secretly Serving Secretly Ken Flower Shadows in the Sand Sisingi Kamongo Snakes of Rhodesia Broadley & Cock Sniper One Dan Mills Soldier Magazine of the British Army Some Famous Rhodesian Trials Alan Hardy Special Air Service Jonathan Pittaway War Ed Bird Stanley Tim Jeal Strip Roads and Sports Cars Rod Wells Survival Course Chris Cocks Tales and Poems of the Rhodesian Bush-War Winston Stanley Pullin The '96 Rebellions Various The African Giant Stuart Cloete The Arab Builders of Zimbabwe James E. Mullan The Captain's Journey Ian Scott The Chopper Boys A.J. Venter The Defence of Duffer's Drift Ernest Swinton The Elite Barbara Cole The Elite Barbara Cole The Elite (Pictorial) Barbara Cole The Great Betrayal The Guardians Joy Maclean The Incredibles G. Bond The Lost World of the Kalahari Laurens van der Post The Mediterranean & Middle East I.S.O. Playfair The Mediterranean & Middle East I.S.O. Playfair The Originals (SAS) Gordon Stevens The Quiet Man Phillipa Berlyn The Red Soldier Frank Emery The Christopher Owen The Rhodesian War Paul Moorcroft The Romance of the Posts of Rhodesia H.C. Dann The Saints Alexandre Binda The Scramble for Africa Thomas Pakenham The Search for Puma 164 Neill Jackson The Seed & the Sower Laurens van der Post The Shallow Grave Chip Michie The Shattered Nation J.G. Storry The Silent War Peter Stiff The Struggle for Zimbabwe David Martin & Phyllis Johnson The Valiant Years Beryl Salt The Valley of Tantalika Richard Rayner The Voortekkers Johannes Meintjes The War Diaries of Andre Dennison J.R.T Wood The Washing of the Spears Donald R. Morris The Welensky Papers J.R.T Wood The Wind Makes Dust Ben Maclennan The Yompers Ian Gardiner Their Finest Hour (Battle of Britain) Edward Bishop These Men Shall Never Die Lowell Thomas This is Zimbabwe Gerald Cubitt Thomas Baines J.P.R. Wallis Three Sips of Gin Tim Bax Tip & Run Edward Paice Turning Wheels Stuart Cloete Valley of the Ironwoods Allan Wright Various Outspans E. Plewman Veld Sketchbook Jeff Huntly Venture to the Interior Laurens van der Post War Stories A.J. Venter We Fear Naught but God Paul J. Els We need New Names No Violet Bulawayo When Life was Rusted Through Owen Letcher Who Will Teach the Wisdom Tim Bax Wild Flowers of Rhodesia Plowes & Drummond Wild Places of Zimbabwe Dick Pitman Winds of Destruction .J.H. Petter-Bowyer World to World on Rhodesia's Magic Carpet R.E. Cole-Bowen You Must be New Around Here Dick Pitman

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Cheers. Until next time – keep your pecker up – head down – keep well – PAY YOUR SUBS and keep supporting the RLIRA.

Ed