Military Despatches Vol 9 March 2018 Ten game changers Ten weapons that changed the face of warfare Surrender! Forget about it The best responses to ultimatums to surrender

Head-to-Head The Toughest Military Training

Battlefield Operation Nimrod

Lady Death & The White Death Two of World War IIs most deadly snipers.

For the military enthusiast Military Despatches March 2018 What’s in this month’s edition

Feature Articles 6 Top Ten Weapons that changed warfare Click on any video below to view Ten weapons that changed the face of warfare forever.

How much do you know 12 Surrender! Forget about it. about movie theme On given an ultimatum to surrender, some responses songs? Take our quiz have been rather surprising to say the least. and find out. 16 Is that a fact Some facts about World War I. Short, sharp and to the Page 6 point. Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Page 19 Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Quiz Williams. Afrikaans, slang and 19 Modern Day Tanks techno-speak that few How well do you know the tanks of today? outside the military 20 Rank Structure - British Armed Forces could hope to under- Over the next few months we will be running a se- stand. Some of the terms ries of articles looking at the rank structure of various were humorous, some armed forces. were clever, while others were downright crude. 24 Charles Daniel Holloway Lt Col Robbie Roberts pays tribute to Charles Daniel Holloway - an officer, gentleman, and legend. Part of Hipe’s “On the couch” series, this is an 28 PVO Cheese and Wine interview with one of The Parabat Veteran’s Organisation held a cheese and author Herman Charles wine evening to meet and honour former command- Bosman’s most famous ing officers of 1 Parachute Battalion. characters, Oom Schalk Cover Photograph Page 24 A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in The explosion from an American nuclear test at a re- dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area mote site in the desert. war between rival taxi plagued with gang organisations. violence, to view first- hand how Project Ceasefire is dealing with the situation. Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. 00 3 Head-to-Head 30 Toughest Military Training Think your military training was tough? Take a look at what some people have to go through. Famous Figures Editor’s 34 Lyudmila Pavlichenko & Simo Häyhä PUBLISHER Sitrep Two of the most deadly snipers of World War II. Hipe Media Page 30 EDITOR Forged in Battle Matt Tennyson 38 The 1939 Finnish Army Page 34 CONTRIBUTORS When Russia invaded Finland in 1939, they bit off more than they could chew. Raymond Fletcher, Ryan Mur- s most of you know, I Putting this month’s issue to- phy, Ernie Nel, Matt O’Brien, am Irish. I was born in gether was a bit of a challenge. Lt Col Robbie Roberts, Matt Ireland and moved to I have a cataract in my left eye Battlefield A Tennyson, Lt Cdr Glenn von 41 Operation Nimrod South Africa where I did my for which I will have to undergo Zeil. last two years of schooling. surgery. When the British SAS assaulted the Iranian Embassy Then, after completing On Friday, five days before in London in 1980 to rescue hostages, the entire world Military Despatches is pub- watched it live. school, I was called up for Na- deadline, my eye suddenly went lished on-line every month. tional Service. Due to my lack squint. I now have double vision The articles used in Military of Afrikaans, I ended up sign- that means I’m seeing two com- Page 41 Despatches are copyrighted Reviews ing up for the permanent force. puter screens instead of one. The and may not be used without So, as I’m Irish and this is accompanying headache is also 52 Game Review - Stalker Series prior permission from the edi- As if Chernobyl wasn’t enough of a problem, when March, I celebrate St. Patrick’s not fun. tor. Day on 17 March. So may I I had to put off a visit to the Matt O’Brien arrives in the area you somehow know The views stated in this mag- that things are going to go from bad to worse. start off with an Irish blessing. doctor until the magazine was azine do not necessary reflect Seosláinteantséitéara, an gha- complete. So hopefully he can the views of Hipe!, the editor, daí, an trodaí, agus an óltóra! tell me what is wrong and what the staff, or Hipe Media. 54 Movie Review - My Father’s War Mádhéananntuséitéireacht, go we need to do to sort it out. A must-see film for all military veterans. ndéanatúséitéireachtar an mbás, I was sad to learn of the passing Hipe! Mághoideanntú, go ngoide- of Major Charles Holloway on P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 Book Reivew - Pathfinder Company túcroímná; Máthroideanntú, 23 February. I had the pleasure 55 South Africa. The story of the ‘Philistines’. Page 54 go dtroidetú i leith do bhráthar, of meeting him a few times and Agusmáólanntú, go n-ólatúliom- what a remarkable man he was. email féin. A veteran of World War II, [email protected] The Lighter Side That, by the way, was in Irish he passed away less than four Gaelic. It means, “If you cheat, months before his 100th birth- 56 Happy Days may you cheat death. If you steal, day. We will remember him. The trials and tribulations of an Irish publican. may you steal a woman’s heart. If you fight, may you fight for a Until next month. brother. And if you drink, may you drink with me.” Also, the ‘On the Lighter Side’ section this month is not a mili- tary article. Rather it is an Irish one. Hey, it’s only St. Paddy’s day once a year, so indulge me. Matt 4 5 English. After the word spread fire arrows, a bag of incendiary Top Ten of its power, Edward I adopted gunpowder attached to the shaft Gladius the weapon for the rest of the of an arrow, from at least the English army in its fight against 10th century. In the following the Welsh. Ironically, a weapon centuries various gunpowder 10 Weapons that used by the Welsh was used weapons such as bombs, fire against them to good effect. lances, and, eventually, the gun changed warfare Archers, using the longbow, appeared in China. Ten weapons that changed the face of warfare forever. became the cornerstone of the It was probably the Mongols British army. Archers would that introduced gunpowder to often outnumber the infantry the West. The earliest Western by as much as 10 to 1. English accounts of gunpowder appear he historical develop- be thrown at an opponent and The reason why Rome was use of longbows was effective in texts written by English phi- ment of civilization has if they were hit in a vulnerable able to conquer such a vast area mans were so impressed with against the French during the losopher Roger Bacon in the always gone hand-in- spot such as the head, it could was mainly due to the Roman the gladius that they quickly Hundred Years’ War, particu- 13th century. Several sources T adopted it for their own use. hand with the history of war- cause serious damage or even Army, especially the Roman larly at the start of the war in mention Chinese firearms and fare. kill them. Legions. The Legions were The sword had at least three the battles of Sluys (1340), Cré- gunpowder weapons being de- In fact, the shift in paradigms Then man discovered ‘haft- made up of professional heavy evolutions, moving from the cy (1346), and Poitiers (1356), ployed by the Mongols against and institutions have only tak- ing’, the process of attaching infantrymen of the Roman Gladius Hispaniensis (Span- and perhaps most famously at European forces at the Battle of en place with the utilisation of a sharpened stone to a spear. It Army. ish Gladius), to the early Ro- the Battle of Agincourt (1415). Mohi in 1241. weapons of war to behead kings could be thrown much further The primary weapon of a man version of the sword, to A longbow was able to shoot The impact of gunpowder and dethrone emperors. The de- than a stone and it was deadly. Legionary was the gladius, a the latter ‘Pompeii’ Version. a 53.6 g arrow 328 m and one would prove to be immeasur- velopment of weapons has been It could cut down an opponent Latin word that simply means This last version had a length of weighing 95.9 g arrow a dis- able. Gunpowder replaced critical to the advancement of long before they were in range ‘sword’. The gladius was used 65-70 cm, a blade width of tance of 249.9 m and could pen- siege weapons, giving birth to societies and the fates of peo- to use a stone or a club. primarily as a stabbing weap- 6 cm, and weighed 700 grams. etrate a knight’s armour with the cannon. Overcoming castles ples and governments. Up until recently, it was ons and it featured a v-shaped The gladius is considered by relative ease. and fortresses would prove to In this article we will look at thought attaching a stone tip tip that was perfect for slip- many to be one of the most im- be far easier with the ability to ten weapons that changed the to a spear - known as ‘hafting’ ping through the spaces in ribs, portant swords in history, both Gunpowder project missiles towards enemy way warfare is conducted. - started about 300,000 years or through the cartilage itself. due to the impact it had on the Here’s a little formula that emplacements with increased ago. Both edges were sharpened and Roman troops and to the ad- will cure all diseases as well damage and accuracy. The Bone and the Stone A study carried out in 2012 it could also be used to slash. vancements it represented in as granting you eternal life and Anyone that has seen the shows that stone points from The weapon was ideal for sword evolution. eternal youth. It’s a mixture of The Colt Revolver movie will remember the epic the South African archaeologi- the Romans, who used it in sulphur, charcoal and potas- It is often referred to as “The scene from Stanley Kubrick’s cal site of Kathu Pan 1 shows formation. All soldiers drew The ‘English’ Longbow sium nitrate (saltpetre). It was gun that won the west” – the 2001 A Space Odyssey where stoned tipped spears were used the sword with their right hand Another crowd that had a invented in the 9th century by Colt Revolver. In 1936 Con- a tribe of hominids is driven 500,000 years ago. This was while in their left hand they car- large empire at one stage were Chinese alchemists who were necticut-born gun manufacturer away from their water hole by a during the early Middle Pleis- ried the huge rectangular scu- the British. In fact it was said trying to create the elixir of life. Samuel Colt received a US pat- rival tribe. They awaken to find tocene, a period associated with tum (shield). This gave the for- that the sun never set on the While their invention may ent for a revolver mechanism a featureless black monolith Homo heidelbergensis, the last mation speed and the ability to British Empire. Naturally they not have been very good at giv- that allowed a gun to be fire has appeared before them. In- common ancestor of Neander- withdraw the weapon quickly tended to appropriate technol- ing eternal life, it became very multiple times without reload- fluenced by the monolith, they tals, and modern humans. and defend themselves solely ogy from those nations they had good at taking life. What they ing. discover how to use a bone as with the shield. colonised or conquered and put had invented was gunpowder, He then founded a company a weapon and drive their rivals The Gladius Yet the gladius was not origi- the word ‘English’ before it. the earliest known chemical ex- to manufacture his revolving- away from the water hole. At the height of its power, nally a Roman sword. It was Bearing that in mind the plosive. cylinder pistol. Sales were slow Used as a club, the bone the Roman Empire stretched to in fact Spanish. The Spaniards ‘English’ longbow should ac- Also known as black powder, and his company was in dan- could give an attacker the ad- three continents and five mil- had two weapons that both im- tually be called the ‘Welsh’ it is classified as a low explo- ger of going bankrupt. Then, in vantage of reach and it could lion square kilometres. It ruled pressed and scared the Romans longbow. In the early 12th cen- sive because it burns at subsonic 1946, with the Mexican War un- generate far more power than a an estimated 70 million people – the falcate, a slashing weapon tury during a skirmish between speeds whereas high explosives der way, the US government or- fist. The stone was probably the which was, at the time, 21% of with a lethal forward curving the Welsh and the English, the detonate, producing a super- dered 1,000 Colt revolvers and first ‘ranged’ weapon. It could the world’s entire population. blade, and the gladius. The Ro- longbow was used against the sonic wave. The Chinese used overnight Colt’s future looking 6 7 a lot brighter. using chlorine gas, a UN-led sign. Powered by a Rotax engine In 1855 Colt opened what enquiry proved that it had used The final result was the Fok- and driven by a propeller, the was the world’s largest private the gas on at least two occa- ker Dr. I. The Dr stood for air vehicle can fly up to 740 km armament factory, in which he sions. Dreidecker (triplane). It became to a target, loiter overhead for employed advanced manufac- AK-47 one of the most icon aircraft of 14 hours, and then return to its turing techniques such as inter- Fokker Dr. I Triplane the war. base. changeable parts and an organ- On 17 December 1903, Wil- Despite being slower than a In the early 1990s the Central ised production line. By 1856 bur and Orville Wright made biplane in level flight or in a Intelligence Agency (CIA) be- the company could produce the late 1940s. launched the first gas attack on four brief flights at Kitty Hawk dive, it had superior manoeu- came interested in the ‘Amber’, 150 weapons per day. Weighing 3.47 kg and 880 22 April 1915. with their first powered aircraft. vrability and rate of climb. a drone developed by Leading The Colt revolver would also mm in length, it uses a box The French troops and their Eight years, in 1991, powered The Dr.I saw widespread ser- Systems Inc. Abraham Karem, prove a major benefit to the Con- magazine that holds 30 7.62 x Algerian comrades though that aircraft were first used in war vice in the spring of 1918. It be- the former chief designer for federate Army during the Amer- 39 mm rounds. the yellow-green cloud mov- by the Italians against the Turks came famous as the aircraft in the Israeli Air Force, owned ican Civil War (1861-1865), as ing towards them was a smoke- near Tripoli. But it was not until which Manfred von Richthofen, the company. He had immigrat- Colt would not sell the weapon Chlorine Gas screen to disguise the move- World War I that their use be- the Red Baron, gained his last ed to the United States in the to the North. Samuel Colt died Fritz Haber discovered and ment of a German attack. As came widespread. 19 victories, and in which he late 1970s. His company went a wealthy man in 1862 and the patented the Harber-Bosch pro- such, all troops in the area were At first, aircraft were unarmed was killed on 21 April 1918. bankrupt and had been bought company he founded is still in cess in 1910 for the fixation of ordered into the firing line of and employed for reconnais- up by a US defence contractor. business today. nitrogen as ammonia. It earned their trench. The dense chlorine sance. Opposing pilots would The Drone On request by the CIA, Karem him the 1918 Nobel Prize in was heavier than air and poured often pass each other in the Imagine having the ability to agreed to produce a quiet en- The AK-47 chemistry. This process made into the trenches. Of the more skies and wave or salute. Then carry out reconnaissance on an gine for the vehicle, which until It’s probably the most recog- the manufacture of artificial than 15,000 casualties, 5,000 someone hit upon the idea of enemy thousands of kilome- then had been noisy. It was said nised firearm in the world. It is fertilizers possible and would were killed. taking a revolver up with them tres away, receiving live High to have sounded like “a lawn- used in 115 countries and man- save millions of farmers and ci- After Harber’s initial success and taking a few shots at the op- Definition video feed of ex- mower in the sky”. The new ufactured in 33 countries. vilians in rural communities. things didn’t go well for him position. Soon aircraft were be- actly what the enemy is up to. development became known as Even after nearly seven de- Yet it also enabled the mass afterwards. A patriotic German, ing armed with machine guns Then imagine you could fire the Predator. cades it remains the most pop- production of nitric acid, source he returned home on 1 May to and aerial warfare came into its a missile at the target. Finally, The Predator air vehicle and ular and widely used assault of the explosives that Germany celebrate the success of the at- own. imagine that you could do all sensors are controlled from the rifle in the world. It is simple to used in World War I. Harber tack, but that night his wife, Various aircraft designs and this without any threat to the ground station via a C-band line- maintain, reliable under harsh was the head of the chemistry Clara, committed suicide after armaments were tested in com- lives of your own forces. This of-sight data link or a Ku-band conditions, costs little to pro- section in the Ministry of War, an argument (possibly over the bat as each side fought for dom- is exactly the abilities that the satellite data link for beyond- duce and, above all, is easy to coordinating the production of morality of what he was doing). inance of the skies. In February General Atomics MQ-1 Preda- line-of-sight operations. Dur- use. ammonia used to fight the war. A few years later he developed 1917, the Sopwith Triplane be- tor can provide. ing flight operations the crew in The weapon in question is, He was also in charge of chemi- a system for getting rid of insect gan to appear over the Western The remotely piloted aircraft the ground control station is a of course, the Avtomat Kalash- cal warfare. pests, using hydrogen cyanide. Front. Despite its single Vick- (RPA), better known as a drone, pilot and two sensor operators. nikova - better known as the It was the French, and not It became known as the Zyklon ers machine gun armament, the was conceived in the early The aircraft is equipped with AK-47 or just AK. Of the es- the Germans, that first used system. A derivative pesticide, Sopwith swiftly proved itself 1990s for aerial reconnaissance the AN/AAS-52 Multi-spectral timated 500 million firearms gas in World War I. In August Zyklon B, was later used to kill superior to the more heavily and forward observation roles. Targeting System, a colon nose worldwide, approximately 100 1914 the French used tear gas millions in Nazi concentration armed Albatros fighters then in They carry cameras and other camera (generally used by the million belong to the Kalash- grenades containing xylyl bro- camps. Harber was a German- use by the Luftstreitkräfte (Ger- sensors and have been modi- pilot for flight control), a vari- nikov family, three quarters of mide on the Germans. Harber Jew and many of his close rela- man Air Force). fied and upgraded to carry two able aperture day-TV camera, which are AK-47s. decided that the ideal chemical tives died in the camps. In April 1917, Anthony Fok- AGM-114 Hellfire missiles or and a variable aperture thermo- The AK-47 was designed by weapon would be chlorine. Chlorine remains the simplest ker viewed a captured Sopwith other munitions. In use since graphic camera (for low light/ Russian tank sergeant Mikhail He supervised the installation chemical weapons and was Triplane while visiting Jasta 1995, they have seen combat night). Kalashnikov to be a simple, re- of the first chlorine gas cylinders used on the battlefield during 11 (No 11 Fighter Squadron). in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Previously, Predators were liable automatic rifle that could in the trenches on the Western the Iraq War. In August 2016 it Upon his return to the Schwerin NATO intervention in Bosnia, equipped with a synthetic aper- be manufactured quickly and front, near Yprese. Along with was claimed that Syria dropped factory, Fokker instructed Re- Serbia, the Iraq War, Yemen, ture radar for looking through cheaply, using mass production specialist troops, he waited for barrel bombs full of chlorine on inhold Platz to build a triplane, 2011 Libyan Civil War, the smoke, clouds or haze, but lack methods that were state of the the wind to blow from the east a suburb of Aleppo. Although but gave him no further infor- 2014 intervention in Syria and of use validated its removal to art in the Soviet Union during towards the Allied trenches and the Syrian government denied mation about the Sopwith de- Somalia. reduce weight and conserve 8 9 fuel. The cameras produce full sickness and related cancers. motion video and the synthetic On August 15, Emperor Hiro- aperture radar produced still hito announced Japan’s surren- frame radar images. There is der. sufficient bandwidth on the da- Since then even more power- talink for two video sources to ful nuclear weapons have been be used at one time, but only developed such as the hydro- one video source from the sen- gen bomb. Delivery methods sor ball can be used at any time such as Intercontinental Ballis- due to design limitations. Either tic Missiles (ICBM) means that the daylight variable aperture they can be deployed on targets or the infrared electro-optical thousands of kilometres away. sensor may be operated simul- A multiple independently tar- taneously with the synthetic ap- getable reentry vehicle (MIRV) erture radar, if equipped. is a ballistic missile payload All later Predators are containing several thermonu- DEADLY MUSHROOM: A nuclear weapon is tested at a remote equipped with a laser designa- site in the desert. clear warheads, each capable tor that allows the pilot to iden- SILENT ASSASSIN: A MQ-1 Predator drone fire a AGM-114 of being aimed to hit a different tify targets for other aircraft and Hellfire missile at a target. detonated above the Japanese one hundred thousand Japanese target. even provide the laser guidance city of Nagasaki. To date, Hiro- civilians and military personnel Currently nine countries are for manned aircraft. This laser formed. On July 16, 1945, in the des- shima and Nagasaki remain the outright, with the heat, radia- known to have nuclear weap- is also the designator for the After D-Day, General Groves ert north of Alamogordo, New only two instances of nuclear tion, and blast effects. ons. At one stage South Africa AGM-114 Hellfire that are car- ordered a team of scientists to Mexico, the first nuclear test weapons being used in combat. Many tens of thousands had six nuclear bombs with one ried on the MQ-1. follow eastward-moving victo- took place, code-named “Trin- The atomic raids killed at least would later die of radiation under construction. rious Allied troops into Europe ity”, using a device nicknamed The Nuke to assess the status of the Ger- “the gadget.” While all the weapons previ- man nuclear program (and to The test, a plutonium implo- Parabat Veteran’s Organisation (PVO) ously mentioned in this article prevent the westward-moving sion type device, released en- changed the face of war, only Soviets from gaining any ma- ergy equivalent to 19 kilotons This month we look at the Parabat’s Veteran’s Organisation. one weapon has the ability to terials or scientific manpower). of TNT, far more powerful than wipe out the entire human race They concluded that, while any weapon ever used before. – nuclear weapons. Germany had an atomic bomb The news of the test’s success s an approved member Falcon can operate within their During 1939 there was con- program headed by Werner was rushed to Truman at the of the CMVO (Council own jurisdiction) abides under cern that scientists in Nazi Ger- Heisenberg, the government Potsdam Conference, where for Military Veterans the Parabat Veterans Organisa- many had discovered the secret had not made a significant in- Churchill was briefed and So- A Organisation), the PVO Group tion (PVO) umbrella to splitting the uranium atom. vestment in the project, and it viet Premier Joseph Stalin was is the only officially recognised Furthermore to strive towards That same year the United had been nowhere near success. informed of the new weapon. Paratrooper Veterans organisa- establishing a bond of Parabats States launched the Manhattan On April 12, after Roosevelt’s On July 26, the Potsdam Dec- tion in the Republic of South that will endeavour towards the Project. death, Vice-President Harry S. laration was issued containing Africa, is, therefore, the sanc- achievement of common goals, A team led by J. Robert Op- Truman assumed the presiden- an ultimatum for Japan: either tioned national voice of the inter alia promoting the inter- penheimer, which included cy. At the time of the uncon- surrender or suffer “complete South African Paratroopers. est and well-being of members many exiles from Europe, were ditional surrender of Germany and utter destruction”, although by supplying a structure where tasked with the goal of produc- on May 8, 1945, the Manhattan nuclear weapons were not men- VISION MISSION the spirit of ‘belonging’ is of ut- ing fission-based explosive de- Project was still months away tioned. To unite, assist and support To identify and organize most importance. vices before Germany could. from producing a working On August 6, 1945, a urani- Parabats and their families Parabats that complies with For more information on the Britain and the U.S. agreed weapon. um-based weapon, Little Boy, wherever they may find them- the selection criteria under a Parabat’s Veteran’s Organisa- to pool their resources and in- Because of the difficulties in was detonated above the Japa- selves, and to keep the airborne National Association, to estab- tion, visit their website by click- formation for the project, but making a working plutonium nese city of Hiroshima, and spirit alive lish a chain of command where ing on this link. the other Allied power, the So- bomb, it was decided that there three days later, a plutonium- every PVO member (Canopy/ viet Union (USSR), was not in- should be a test of the weapon. based weapon, Fat Man, was 10 11 remembered for his actions dur- tured HMS Serapis. The victory der and attacked Greece. This Surrender! Forget about it. ing a scrap between the Con- not only enhanced Jones’ repu- initiated the Greco-Italian War On given an ultimatum to surrender, some responses have been rather surprising to say the least. tinental Navy and the British tation, it stunned the British and Greece’s brief participation In this article we look at some of them. Royal Navy during the Ameri- Royal Navy. in World War II. can Revolutionary War. That same day Greek citizens hen I was in my late the not as great? out of the nation, winning the Jones was a mere 13 years old Ioannis Metaxas poured into the streets shouting teens, many years During the First Greco-Per- second Greco-Persian War in when he began his career at sea. To say that Ioannis Metaxas Ohi (No), in open defiance of ago, I had a tee-shirt sian War the Greek victory at one of the greatest military up- He served on private merchant was a controversial figure in the Italian invasion. W vessels before volunteering for Greek political history would It all ended with a decisive with a slogan on it that I really the Battle of Marathon put a sets of all time. enjoyed. spoke in the Persian’s wheels Yet while “Come and take the Continental Navy in 1775. be putting it mildly. Axis victory, with Athens being It featured an eagle swooping and brought the war to a close. them” was a great response to a Jones distinguished himself in His tenure as Prime Minin- captured on 27 April, 1941, and down on a mouse. The mouse King Xerxes I was not all that demand to surrender, the Spar- maritime military service and, ster of Greece was marred with the Battle of Greece ending on was sitting on its hind legs with impressed with the defeat and tans really outdid themselves as a result, was awarded com- uthoritarianism and elements of 30 April, 1941. its right paw in the air with the vowed to overthrow and de- over a century later. mand of the USS Bonhomme a fascist, strongman regime. To this day 28 October is ob- middle finger extended. The stroy Greece. He amassed an Once again the Spartans Richard, a rebuilt French mer- A former soldier, Metaxas served in Greece as Epeteios slogan read, “The last great act invasion force which, accord- found themselves threatened chant cargo ship gifted to the was elected Prime Minister in tou “‘Ohi” (“No” Day). of defiance.” ing to the ‘Father of History’, and imposed upon by the expan- Continental Navy by Jacques 1936. For the first four months When faced with overwhelm- Horodotus, was the largest ever sion of empire. This was in the Donatien LeRay. he toed the line and complied Maor Digby Tatham-Warter ing odds and greatly outnum- to have walked the earth. He mid 300s B.C. when the Mace- On 23 September 1779, Jones with Greek Constitutional Law. The following incident may bered and given the ultimatum estimated the Persian army to donian Kingdom under Phillip ran into two escorts of the Bal- It didn’t last long and he soon or may not have taken place. to surrender, the logical thing to measure well over one million II, predecessor of Alexander the tic merchant fleet, the HMS began to abuse his power as he But it’s worth a look at. do would be exactly that - sur- men. Great, approached the heavily Serapis and the Countess of observed the rise of fascism in In a scene from the epic film render. In order to buy the Greek defended city of Laconia. Scarborough. both Italy and Germany. What- A Bridge Too Far Lt Col John The following people, how- army some time, a contingent The Macedonian’s warned Logic dictates that the wise ever Adolf and Benito could do, Frost and Major Harry Carlyle ever, did not follow the rules. of 300 Spartan troops gathered that if the Laconians chose to thing for Jones do have done he could do just as well. of the British Parachute Regi- When given an ultimatum to in the narrow coastal path of resist, all inhabitants of the city was cut and run. Instead he de- Yet his most famous moment ment watch as an SS panzer of- surrender, they had other ideas. Thermopylae (The Hot Gates). would be slain if the Spartans cided to engage both British came during the early years of ficer approaches their position The Persian generals ordered were defeated. vessels. World War II, towards the very during a lull in the Battle of The Spartans them to lay down their arms. The Spartan’s replied with a HMS Serapis was armed with end of his career. Arnhem. The SS officer is un- Many people will have seen The Spartans’ reply was “Come single word: “If….” 44 guns, while the Countess of As the German Wehrmacht der a white flag. the film 300 where a mere 300 and take them!” Scarborough had 22 guns. The blitzkrieged their way across “Rather interesting develop- Spartans, wearing little more And make no mistake, the Commander John Paul Jones USS Bonhomme Richard had Europe, it soon became clear ment, sir,” says Major Carlyle than tight little Speedo swim- Persian army did exactly that. Often referred to as the “Fa- 42 guns. that the Nazi war machine was to Lt Col Frost. He then ad- suits, held out against hordes of The thing is that it took them ther of the United States Navy”, Not long after the battle be- unstoppable. dressed the German. “That’s far invading Persians. more than three days to achieve. John Paul Jones is perhaps best gan, the USS Bonhomme Rich- The Germans had already enough! We can hear you from While the movie was a bit The Spartans achieved their ob- ard was badly damaged. The taken Luxembourg, France, there!” over the top, it was based on a jective of buying time for the captain of the HMS Serapis Holland, and most of Belgium “My general says there is no real battle - the Battle of Ther- Greek army. instructed Jones to surrender. by the time Italian forces un- point in continuing this fight- mopylae. The Spartans were destroyed Jones replied, “I have not yet der the command of Benito ing! He wishes to discuss terms The battle took place during to the last man. A commemo- begun to fight!” Mussolini, ally of the German of a surrender!” shouts the SS the Greco-Persian Wars, which rative epitaph engraved on a And then, true to his word, state, arrived on the doorstep of officer. were ultimately little more than plaque marks the spot where Jones did begin to fight. Mount- Greece. “Shall I answer him, sir?” a grudge match between the an- the last of the Spartans per- ing a furious counterattack, the On 28 October, 1940, Italian Carlyle asks Frost. cient Greeks and the kings of ished; it reads “Go tell the Spar- listing and heavily damaged ambassador to Greece Emanu- “Tell him to go to hell,” says the Persian Empire. tans, thou who passest by, that USS Bonhomme Richard de- ele Grazzi demanded uncondi- Frost. The Persian kings were Xe- here, obedient to their laws, we feated and captured both enemy tional Greek surrender and total “We haven’t the proper fa- rxes the Great, and his subse- lie…” vessels in a surprising victory. cooperation with Axis occupa- cilities to take you all prisoner! quent successor Artaxerxes I. Inspired by the courage of the DEFIANCE: The slogan on a The USS Bonhomme Rich- tion. Metaxas gave a clear and Sorry!” Carlyle shouts to the SS I always wonder if Artaxerxes Spartans, the Greeks united and tee-shirt that inspired this ar- ard sank the following day, and simple answer - “No!” officer. was also known as Artaxerxes successfully drove the Persians ticle. Jones took command of the cap- The Italians crossed the bor- “What?” says the SS officer, 12 13 looking very confused. drop zone. To reach the bridge McAuliffe surrender. Like the “We’d like to, but we can’t ac- they had to go through Arnhem Spartans and Ioannis Metaxas cept your surrender! Was there where the streets were blocked before him, McAuliffe’s replied anything else?” shouts Carlyle. by German forces. with a single word - “Nuts!” The German walks off shak- Digby led his men through The demand to surrender had ing his head. back gardens of nearby houses, been typed out and delivered “Well, that’s that,” says Frost. avoiding the Germans. They by two German officers under a The German officers returns travelled nearly 13 kilometres white flag. McAuliffes response to General Wilhelm Bittrich, in seven hours while also taking had also been typed out. When commander of the 2nd SS Pan- 150 German soldiers, including it was given to the two German zer Corps. members of the SS, prisoner. officers they obviously did not “They rejected our surrender During the battle, Digby wore understand American slang and offer. What are your orders, his red beret instead of a helmet asked if “nuts” was an affir- Herr General?” he tells the gen- and waved his umbrella while mative or negative response to eral. walking about the defences de- their demand. “Flatten Arnhem,” General spite heavy mortar fire. PFC Ernest Premetz, a Ger- Bittrich says. When the Germans started man-speaking medic, told the Now while this makes a great using tanks to cross the bridge, NUTS: Brigadier General Anthony Clement McAuliffe (middle) German officers, “Du kannst scene for the movie, there is de- Digby led a bayonet charge LEGEND: Major Allison Digby poses with some of his officers at Bastogne. zum Teufel gehen.” (You can bate as to whether this incident against them wearing a bowler Tatham-Warter, British Para- go to hell.”). That they did un- really occurred as it was por- hat. He later disabled a German chute Regiment. pushing forward. It became Intercepted German communi- derstand and they stormed off trayed in the film. armoured car with his umbrel- clear that they would have to do cations indicating a substantial to take the reply back to their It is a fact that General Bit- la, incapacitating the driver by He managed to gather 150 something drastic if they were German offensive preparation commanding officer. trich did give the British an ulti- shoving the umbrella through escaped British soldiers and not going to lose the war. were not acted upon by the Al- Against all odds, despite be- matum to surrender at Arnhem. the car’s observational slit and led them towards the front line. The plan was Unternehmen lies. ing surrounded, outnumbered What makes the dialogue poking the driver in the eye. Once there he used a torch to Wacht am Rhein (Operation The Germans launched their and outgunned, the 101st held above seem authentic was that When the Regiment Padre flash a V for Victory sign. Watch on the Rhine). The Ger- attack on the morning of 16 De- Bastogne for a remarkable one the character in the film, Major was pinned down by enemy Members of XXX Corps then mans would launch an offen- cember 1944. The Allies were month. Harry Carlyle, was based on the fire, Digby walked over, opened ferried them across the river. sive through the densely forest- overconfident and preoccupied Then the weather cleared and real life Major Allison Digby the umbrella as if to give him Upon return to the United King- ed Ardennes region of Wallonia with their own offensive plans, the Allies were able to launch Tatham-Warter. cover from the fire, and calmly dom, Digby was awarded the in eastern Belgium, northeast so the Germans achieved total a counter-offensive. Bastogne Better known as Digby Ta- escorted the padre to safety. Distinguished Service Order. France, and Luxembourg. surprise. was relieved by General George tham-Warter, or simply Digby, Injured by shrapnel during the So considering the type of The offensive was intended The Americans retreated in S. Patton and the US 3rd Army. he was a legendary figure in the Battle of Arnhem, Digby was character that Digby Tatham- to stop Allied use of the Belgian disarray, causing a massive While officially known as the Parachute Regiment. captured. Because of his injury, Warter was, it would not have port of Antwerp and to split the bulge in their defenses. Ardennes Counteroffensive, it He always had an umbrella Digby was sent to St. Eliza- been unusual for him to give Allied lines, allowing the Ger- The US 101st Airborne, the was also known as the Battle of with him which he carried into beth’s Hospital but escaped out the type of answer depicted in mans to encircle and destroy “Screaming Eagles”, retreated the Bulge. battle. When asked why, he said of a window with his second in the film. four Allied armies and force the as far as the Belgian town of Patton rallied the Ameri- that he had trouble remember- command Captain Tony Frank. Western Allies to negotiate a Bastogne. It was here that the can troops, and, in a brilliant ing passwords and felt that any- Having made contact with Brigadier General Anthony peace treaty in the Axis powers’ commander of the 101st, Briga- counter thrust offensive, broke one who saw him with it would the Dutch Resistance, Digby Clement McAuliffe favour. dier General Anthony Clement through the German line and think that “only a bloody fool was given a bicycle and a fake During the winter of late Once that was accomplished, McAuliffe, decided to make a pushed the German military of an Englishman” would carry Dutch identity card that allowed 1944 things were not looking Hitler believed he could fully stand. back across the border. an umbrella into battle. him to pose as Peter Jensen, a too promising for the Germans. concentrate on the Soviets on While the Allies held over- The Germans never recov- During Operation Market deaf-mute son of a lawyer. Since the D-Day landings in the Eastern Front. The offen- whelming air superiority, the ered, and continued retreating Garden he was part of A Com- Digby used the bicycle to vis- June 1944 in Normandy, the sive was planned by the Ger- dense overcast weather meant back towards Berlin for the re- pany of the British Parachute it fellow soldiers in hiding. At Allies had advanced across the man forces with utmost secrecy, that they were effectively mainder of the war. Regiment. They were dropped one stage during his travels he Rhine River and into Germany. with minimal radio traffic and grounded. The 101st were sur- kilometres away from Arn- helped push a German staff car At the same time on the East- movements of troops and equip- rounded and outnumber by 5 to hem Bridge, their intended out of a ditch. ern Front, the Russians were ment under cover of darkness. 1.The Germans demanded that 14 15 “Remember lads, I’ll be right Is that a fact? behind you. About 100 miles Some facts about World War I. Short, sharp and to the point. behind you.” It was claimed that generals never went over the top with ater this year, at 11h00 A bit of Beethoven along the way. their troops. The fact was that on 11 November, it will Most readers will know that Then, in 1915, he applied to standing orders stated that Gen- be 100 years since the after the Japanese attack on join the Imperial Air Service. erals were not allowed to go L over the top as they were too Armistice was signed, bringing Pearl Harbour during World He became a legend and was World War I to and end. War II, America declared war both respected and feared by valuable to lose. Once again at the eleventh on Japan. Between 110,000 and the Allies. Still, this didn’t stop more hours on the eleventh day of 120,000 Japanese Americans In April 1918 he was shot than 200 generals being killed, the eleventh month, we will re- were incarcerated in internment down and he crash landed be- wounded or captured. Most member those that paid the ulti- camps. hind Allied lines where he was Generals visited the front lines mate sacrifice. The ironic thing is that the found dead at the controls. The every day. In battle, they were With this in mind, we will be US 442nd Infantry Regiment, British and Australians buried RED BARON: A replica of the Red Baron’s Fokker Dr-1 considerably closer to the ac- looking at a number of articles comprising most of Japanese him with full military honours. tion than their counterparts are on World War I this year. American volunteers, became You can read a comprehen- (with a strong emphasis on Fake news is nothing new today. To begin with, let’s look at a the most decorated unit in U.S. sive account of Manfred von the sex part). And just because When America entered World few facts about the Great War. military history. Richthofen in the November is- you’ve put them in a military War I in April 1917, the war Non sexist tanks What some readers may not sue of Military Despatches. uniform is not going to change had already been going on more The tank was a weapon that A good chance of surviving know was that this was not the this. than three years. changed the face of warfare. So you’re in the army now. first time it happened. Child Soldiers National servicemen in the In those three years while When the tank first made its ap- Hope your last will and testa- During World War I there During World War I many sol- old South African Defence America was not involved, Brit- pearance on the battlefield they ment is up to date. There’s a were more than 250,000 Ger- diers, on both sides, lied about Force (SADF) would often talk ish agents were planting stories came in two models - male and horde of nasty Huns sitting just mans living in the USA who their age in order to enlist. about the importance of the in US newspapers, stirring up female. across no-man’s land from you, were forced to register at a post Sidney Lewis was the young- three Ps - Post, Pass and P***y. anger against innocent German The male version of the tank just waiting to ventilate your office and then carry a registra- est British soldier. He was just The Allied powers during civilians living in the USA. was armed with cannons. The hide. Your chances of surviv- tion card with them at all times. 12 years old when he joined World War I knew that there And here you thought that female was armed only with al don’t look that good, right. Of these, over 2,000 Germans the British Army. Naturally the was no ways they were going fake news was all new and In- machine guns. Wrong! were arrested and put in intern- recruiting sergeant must have to stop their troops from getting ternet-generation based. Just By the end of the war tank It was rare for a British soldier ment camps. been myopic when Sidney frisky with the local females. look at the Bible (New Living technology had developed, es- to be in the firing line for long. Many of the interned were the claimed that he was 18 years Condoms were standard issue Translation). Ecclesiastes 1:9 - pecially in British tanks. It was Unless they were involved in a musicians from orchestras, and old. to all Allied troops in order to “History merely repeats itself. decided that tanks would be battle, a unit would only spend in one camp they were able to And Sidney was not the only keep them protected. It has all been done before. armed with both a cannon and about 10 days a month in the perform a piece of Beethoven. one to lie about his age. Thou- Did I say all? Well, with the Nothing under the sun is truly machine guns. This practice trenches. And of those, only sands of underage boys lied exception of the United States. new.” continues to this day, so there is about three days were spent The Red Signaller about their age to fight at the They were the only Allied pow- not longer a need for tanks to be right up on the front line. Manfred von Richthofen, bet- front. er during World War I that did Donkeys and Lions designated male or female. It was not uncommon for ter known as the Red Baron, Many of them were moti- not provide its soldiers with There is an old saying that the soldiers to be rotated out of was the top scoring fighter ace vated by patriotism, wanting to condoms. Not that it stopped British soldiers in World War I Big Bang the trench line for as long as a of World War I with 80 kills. fight for their country. For oth- the troops. were lions led by donkeys. One of the things that both month at a time. Yet he started off the war as a ers though, it was the only es- More than 204,000 Ameri- The brave soldiers (lions) sides learnt during World War The fact is that nine out of lancer in a cavalry unit. When cape from the poverty of their can troops were wounded dur- were led by incompetent gener- I was that launching infantry 10 British soldiers survived this unit was disbanded, he was daily lives. ing World War I. Yet more than als (donkeys) who lived miles attack across no-man’s land the trenches. Out of the ap- transferred to the Signal Corps. 400,00 US soldiers were infect- behind the front in luxury and was generally a waste of time, proximately six million British For over a year he spent his No doing the dirty ed by STDs (Sexually Trans- out of touch with reality. and a waste of lives. Not that it soldiers mobilised, just over days stringing telegraph wires Come on, let’s get real. Most mitted Diseases), with many of There is an old joke about a stopped the generals from plan- 700,000 were killed. Most of along the western front, even young men have one thing on them be rendered unfit for duty. British general addressing his ning the same type of attacks them during battles. earning himself an Iron Cross their minds - the opposite sex officers just before an attack. time after time. 16 17 An attack would normally be- gin with an artillery barrage on Quiz the opposing trenches. These would often last for two or three days. Modern Day Tanks Once the barrage had ended his month we’re looking at modern day tanks. We show you a tank, you tell us what it is. the troops would then ‘go over Left click on an image to enlarge it. Answers on page 55. the top’, climbing out of their T trenches and advancing across no-man’s land towards the en- emy. The problem was that the bar- rage let the enemy know that an attack was coming. They would sit in the relative safety of bun- Actual footage of the explosion at Hawthorn Rdige kers dug into the side of the BIG BANG: Redoubt during the Battle of the Somme. Click on the play but- trenches and wait for the barrage ton to view. to end. As soon as it had ended the troops would emerge from their build tunnels towards enemy ings across the trenches. On bunkers, take up their positions, trenches. Once under an enemy Christmas morning some of set up machine guns, and wait for trench, the tunnel could be filled them began emerging from the the enemy to advance. with explosives and detonated. trenches into no-man’s land. The advancing enemy were On the first day of the Battle Greetings and gifts were ex- normally mown down before of the Somme, the British deto- changed and the opportunity they even managed to get half- nated 19 mines under the Ger- was taken to bury the dead that way across no-man’s land. man positions. had fallen in no-man’s land. The Battle of the Somme start- The mine beneath Hawthorn In one sector they even ar- ed with an artillery bombardment Ridge Redoubt was detonated ranged a football match. The that lasted for a week. 1,738,000 at 07h20, ten minutes before truce lasted the entire day and shells were fired at the Germans. Zero Hour. The area beneath the in some sectors continued to In the brilliant television series Germans had been packed with New Year. Blackadder Goes Forth, which is 18,000 kg of Ammonal and the Naturally the top brass were set during World War I, Captain resulting explosion was heard in not impressed with this. Didn’t Edmund Blackadder (Rowan London, 225 km away. The ex- the soldiers realise that the en- Attkinson) is talking to Lieu- plosion was filmed by Geoffrey tire purpose of war was to kill tenant The Honourable George Malins. each other. Colthurst St. Barleigh (Hugh There are also reports of Laurie) and the dim witted Pri- Truce smaller truces in 1915 and even vate Baldrick (Tony Robinson). There was never any official 1916. In some trenches, the “Yes, but Jerry is safe under- truce during World War I. That soldiers adopted a “live and let ground in concrete bunkers,” he is not to say that they didn’t live” policy, trying not to open tells them. “We’ve shot off over happen. fire on the enemy so they would a million cannon shells and The most famous one was the not fire on them. what’s the result? One dachs- Christmas Truce of 1914 (See To counter this the command- hund with a slight limp” the article ‘Silent Night’ in the ers would rotate their soldiers Both sides came to the con- December 2017 issue of Mili- all over the front line to stop clusion that if going over the top tary Despatches). them from becoming to famil- didn’t work, why not go under? On Christmas Eve troops be- iar with the troops in the trench- Miners from both sides would gan shouting Christmas greet- es across from them. 18 19 Rank Structure - British Armed Forces Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at the rank structure of various armed forces. This month we look at the British Armed Forces. he British Armed forc- the title may be Trooper, Gun- Navy begins with the rank of es are divided into four ner, Signaller, Sapper, Guards- Able Rate. branches. man, Rifleman or even Kings- The rank structure of the T Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant Petty Officer The Royal Navy is the old- man depending on the Corps/ British Armed Forces falls into est of the four branches and is Regiment. Non-Commissioned Officers * PO often referred to as the ‘Senior All new soldiers in the Royal (NCOs), Warrant Officers, and (pronounced Pee Oh) Service’. The other branches Air Force begin with the rank Commissioned Officers. are the British Army, Royal Air of Aircraftman. New soldiers in Many armed forces around Force, and Royal Marines. the Royal Marines begin with the world base their rank struc- All new soldiers in the British the rank of Marine. ture on that of the British Armed Army start as Privates, although A new sailor in the Royal Forces.

Staff Sergeant Flight Sergeant Colour Sergeant Chief Petty Officer * Staff * Flight * Colour * Chief

Warrant Officers

British Army Royal Air Force Royal Marines Royal Navy Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO)

Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Warrant Officer 2nd class - WO2 2nd class - WO2 2nd class - WO2 * Sergeant Major * Sergeant Major * Warrant Lance Corporal Senior Lance Corporal * Corporal Aircraftman * Corporal

Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Warrant Officer Warrant Officer 1st class - WO1 * Warrant 1st class - WO1 1st class - WO1 Corporal Corporal Corporal Leading Hand * Sergeant Major * Sergeant Major * Warrant The senior warrant officer at a unit would often be the Regimental Sergeant Major or RSM. In the navy he/she would be referred to as the Master at Arms. In the Artillery Corps a lance corporal or corporal is known as Bombadier (* Bombs).

20 21 Commissioned Officers

Colonel Group Captain Colonel Captain

Officer Cadet Acting Pilot Officer Cadet Officer

An Officer Cadet is someone that is undergoing an officer’s course or has completed an officers course and is waiting to be commissioned as an officer. The rank holds no authority as such. Brigadier Air Commodore Brigadier Commodore

2nd Lieutenant Pilot Officer 2nd Lieutenant Midshipman Major General Air Vice Major General Rear Admiral * Lieutenant * Lieutenant * General Marshall * General * Admiral

Lieutenant Flying Officer 2nd Lieutenant Sub Lieutenant * Lieutenant Lt General Air Marshall Lt General Vice Admiral * General * General * Admiral

Captain Flight Lieutenant Captain Lieutenant General Air Chief General Admiral * General Marshall * General * Admiral

Major Squadron Leader Major Lt Commander * Commander Field Marshall Marshall of the Field Marshall Admiral of Royal Air Force the Fleet

Lt Colonel Wing Commander Lt Colonel Commander

22 23 ian life, Charles was transferred Dicky played the church organ them the names Holloway and to Bloemfontein on promotion, for 47 years. She sadly passed Howes will go down in South Charles Holloway. by the Post Office and when away, aged 89, in 2008. They African Signals history. prospects did not look good he were married for 66 years. Until Dr Brian Austin, Officer, gentleman, and legend resigned at the end of 1964 and last Friday when he passed on, Liverpool, UK A tribute to Charles Daniel Holloway by Lt. Col (Ret) Robbie Roberts. joined the S.A. Sugar Associa- Charles resided at Huis Luck- tion Export Division to develop off in Rosebank with his long Charles was a Fine Officer harles Daniel Holloway East Africa and Abyssinia un- the newly built Sugar Export standing comrade in arms, Syd and Gentleman. was born in Cape Town til they arrived in North Africa Terminal in Durban. He became Ireland. Peter Napier on 15 June 1918. where on 1 July 1941 he was the manager until he retired, af- Apologies to the family were C ter eighteen years, in June 1981, sent via me by the following of It was always so nice to see After leaving school he joined commissioned, he being trans- the Post Office and was sent to ferred to the 1st S.A. Brigade aged sixty-five. Charles and Charles’ military acqaintences: Charles and/or his friend Sidney be trained as a Post and Tele- and attached to the Duke of Ed- Dickie then ran a very successful Ireland at the various parades; graph Assistant. This included inburgh’s Own Rifles, a Cape extra Afrikaans coaching school • Dr Brian Austin, a member they always looked so smart being trained as a Telegraphist. Town based Regiment. from their home until 1999. of the Signals Association, and proud and happy to be part In 1937 at the age of nineteen Dickie enlisted in Womens’ In his military reserve force Liverpool, UK of these events. It was heart- he was called up to do his three Auxillary Army Services and life, Charles was appointed 2/ • Theuns Neethling, a member warming and uplifting. They year compulsory part-time Mili- was sent to Cairo where the two IC, RHQ Corps Signal Regi- of the Signals Association, were such unique characters, I tary Service. Being a Telegra- of them married on 31 October ment, a new Unit which was es- Grand Cayman Islands wish I had gotten to know them phist he joined 3 Brigade Signal 1942. Any chance of a honey- tablished at that time and which • H.P. Van Staden, a member sooner! Company and as he liked the moon then was soon thwarted was also the Senior Unit in the of the Signals Association Regine Lord, photographer army so much, he regarded it as when General Erwin Rommel’s Corps of Signals. This Regiment (Work related) a hobby. Afrika Korps joined in battle Charles Daniel Holloway was disbanded on 1 December • Frikkie Rabie, Ernie de Vries Thanks for soldiers who sets When war broke out Charles with the Allies at El Alamein. 1961 and Charles placed on the and Pierre Tromp all of a military culture example to be went off to do his duty and was Charles returned to South Af- Signal Company at Auckland Reserve of Officers with rank of Worcester proud of. posted to Abyssinia. It was also rica with the 1st Division when Park. Thereafter he moved to War Substantive Major. • Ian McKinney Maj Genl Johan Dippenaar, in 1937 that Charles met Inez they were withdrawn after the the Signal Training Centre at In 2000 Charles and Dickie • General John Del Monte Chairman of the Council for Dick (better known as Dickie) Second battle of El Alamein, Potchefstroom as Instructor and moved back to Cape Town to be (RFC meeting in Pretoria) Military Veterans who later became his wife. with him also having served in eventually in October 1944 as nearer to some of the family. • General Denis Jelliman (Pre- Organisation, After attending these courses the first battle when the- Ger Officer Commanding, School of They celebrated their 60th toria based) at The Military College in Pre- mans were stopped just short of Signals, Military College, Pre- (Diamond) wedding anniver- He has been an inspiration to toria, he became a Sergeant Cairo. toria. He held this position un- sary in October 2002 surround- I think it will be remiss of me me for all the years that I have Instructor at the end of 1939. Charles and Dickie moved til the end of hostilities and was ed by 42 family members and not to quote just a few senti- known him as the epitome of World War II had begun and he back to South Africa with the released from fulltime Military friends. This event brought the ments expressed to the family an officer and a gentleman, and and three other members of 3 1st S.A. Division and they had Service on 22 October 1945 and family together from all parts of via emails to me: I regard myself as privileged to Brigade Signal Company were three children. (Pam, John and transferred to the Reserve of Of- the world. Daughter Susan ar- be a friend of his. selected to do an Officers’ Train- Susan). ficers. rived from Sydney in Australia Thank you for letting us know. John Manning ing Course in Potchefstroom. Upon return to South Africa On 6 November 1954 he was and son John came from Am- Please add my condolences to On their return to the Unit they everybody was medically ex- appointed Officer Commanding sterdam. Two grandchildren ar- those of all your members in We, mere mortals, have lost found that all seven Officers of amined prior to being trained of 3 Brigade Signal Company, rived from Melbourne and Wel- any communication you have yet another Jimmy but God had 3 Brigade Signals’ Company for Armour for the 6th S.A. his wartime Unit with the rank lington in New Zealand whilst with Charles’s family. gained yet one more. had signed on for Active Ser- Division to go to Italy. He was of Major. other guests arrived from the He’s been a wonderful in- Robin Cross a Member of vice. The Unit was mobilised bordered ‘C’ on account of re- He was still active after this UK, Durban, Johannesburg and spiration to us all. Bert Howes the Signals Association and a on 27 May 1940 so Charles and lapsing malaria, which he had as either Chairman or Commit- other parts of the country. (a member of the 3rd Brigade former officer of SAS Unitie a Corporal decided they would contacted in Egypt. It meant that tee Member of the S.A. Corps Charles and Dickie visited signals Company who went on go with the Unit in their present he could not leave South Africa of Signals’ Association which Australia eight times and Eu- to become Director Signals) in Charles has finally been called ranks as there were no vacancies again. was started towards the end of rope 14 times to see the family. so many of his e-mails used to to Higher Service, or in SAAF for officers at the time. Charles By this time Charles was a the war and of which he was a He has 6 grandchildren and 4 mention Charles and his great language “Answered the Sunset later became a Platoon Sergeant. Captain and was appointed Ad- foundation member. great grandchildren, who keep contribution to keeping the Call”. They campaigned through judant, 4 Armoured Divisional In August 1958, in his civil- in touch regularly. SACS memory alive. Between I know how dear he was to 24 25 you Signals folks, and I am sure he will be missed and most defi- nitely never forgotten. Anyone who has had the privilege of meeting him, could only have walked away and said “I have met a true gentleman”. I am one of those. Bruce Risien

He was an amazing gentle- man and we’ll miss him at the various parades he attended so bravely. Reverend Tony Bethke

We now only have good memories of one of the most PASSING ON THE FLAME: Charles Holloway (left) passes the outstanding signallers the SACS Flame of the Signaller on to Howard Shagom, Secretary of the has ever had. I salute him and he Signals Association. In the centre is Syd Ireland, Charles’ life will always be in my memories long friend and comrade. for this remarkable man that at 99, could still be an example to of the German army in North and in the morning, all of us and teach us what the Africa.’ With that, Charles ex- We will remember them. good camaraderie of a soldier pressed the hope that the Sig- Bush War Books has probably one of the finest should be. He has left the Sig- nals’ Association in Cape Town And, with that, we will re- nals Association with a legacy would be the beginning, as an member Charles Daniel Hollo- collections of military titles available. Especially that will and must never be for- example, and not the end of their way! on the South African Border War. gotten. May he rest in peace. effort, for the rest of Signals in Brig General (Retired) South Africa to follow. He ex- Editor’s Note Denis Jelliman, pressed the hope for the Signals Lt Colonel (Ret) William Al- former Director Signals Association to keep the ‘Signals exander (Robbie) Roberts is the Reserve Forces Flame’ burning. Chairman of the Signals Asso- Click here to visit their website. On behalf of the Signals As- ciation. On Sunday, 1st May 2016 at sociation, of which I am the He did his basic training in a large Handing over of Tradi- Chairman, I pay tribute to a 1965 at 1 Signals Regiment. He tion ceremony that took place at great man, a great signaller and spent 40 years in the military, the Italian Club in Cape Town, a great veteran. May his soul progressing through the ranks Charles said that for seventy Rest in Peace with the knowl- from Corporal to Sergeant Ma- years he and his comrades in edge of our promise made on 1 jor before accepting a commis- arms had maintained the com- May 2016 that we will remem- sion. radeship built up during the 2nd ber them, the members of the He retired as a Lt Colonel as World War, by meeting regular- 3rd Brigade Signals Company. Officer Commanding 71 Sig- ly, sometimes more than once a And today we say: nals Unit. He was awarded the year. Southern Cross Medal, Military At that solemn ceremony They shall not grow old, as we Merit Medal, Pro Patria, John Charles, in his speech, quoted that are left grow old, Chard Medal for 12 years ser- Mr Winston Churchill when the Age shall not weary them, nor vice, John Chard Medal for 20 latter said ‘The Battle of Alam- the years condemn, years service and the Bar there- “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” ein was the beginning of the end At the going down of the sun, to for 30 years service. 26 Parabat Veteran’s Organisation Cheese and Wine

he Parabat Veteran’s Organisation held a Cheese & Wine evening at the MOTH Shellhole in TCenturion, Pretoria on Saturday 24 February. The event was an opportunity to meet and honour former Commanding Officers of 1 Parachute Battalion.

To view the caption for an image, left click on the image.

28 29 Head to Head Russian Spetsnaz Spetsnaz, the Russian Special Forces Group, believe that you should not only be Toughest Military Training able to dish out pain, you should be able to take it as well. ne of the things I en- their training, or with whatever This month we looking at They undergo ‘pain management’ drills joy when I get together unit, it was tougher than any- military training that goes be- that are extreme to say the very least. This Owith my mates, most of where else. yond just be tough and, in many includes swimming through pools lined whom did military service, is to Let’s be honest, military cases, borders on the insane. with barbed wire, getting tied to chairs listen to everyone boast about training can often be tough. Es- We’ll let you be the judges and beaten with baseball bats, and being how tough their training was. pecially if you’re training to get on which you think is the most dragged behind trucks. No matter where they did into some special unit. brutal. The purpose of these exercises is to train them to ignore injuries and continue with Taiwanese Marine Corps their mission. If you’re one of those that whine and complain when you have to walk bare- Philippines Special Operations Group foot along a gravel path, spare a thought Most of us know how difficult it can be for those that do their training in the Tai- to accomplish even the most simple tasks wanese Marine Corps. They have to walk when you’re drunk. Now imagine com- the Road to Heaven, or rather I should say pleting a range of military drills while crawl it. being absolutely smashed. Troops of the During their tenth and final week at Philippines Special Operations Group do Kaohsiung Military Base each recruit has just that. They get totally wasted and then to tackle the Road to Heaven. This is a 50 undergo a series of drills aimed at weed- metre path covered with sharp fist-sized ing out trainees who don’t have the right stones and coral. personality. Wearing nothing but a pair of shorts they Now before you start thinking “How have to crawl, belly down, along, the path cool is that and where do I enlist”, stop and without using their arms. And just to make it more fun the instructors stop them halfway and force think about it. How about doing a 29 kilo- them to do calisthenics. By the end their bodies are a bloody, torn mess. If they fail they are forced metre swim, shooting exercises, and a 10 to do it all over again. kilometre run would be when you’re plastered. How about doing it with a hangover? North Korea Storm Corps South Korean Special Forces According to the North Korean Army, Although the Cold War has been over every Storm Corpsman must be able to kill for more than 20 years, the South Korean 10 armed men with his bare hands. Army give the term a whole new meaning. To prepare for this they wake at 05h00 That’s because they often conduct training every morning, go to trees wrapped in in the snow. And we’re not talking about a heavy ropes, and punch it 5,000 times until snowball fight here. their hands are oozing blood and pus. These troops have to carry out exercises Then they punch jagged tins cans before in sub-zero temperatures wearing noth- punching a pile of salt. This last part must ing but a pair of pants. Try doing pole PT be really fun. when the temperature is −30 °C. What North Korea lacks in technologi- cal advancement they make up for in sheer insanity.

30 31 People’s Liberation Army of China Belarus Red Berets Want to build trust and team work with Want to join Belarus’ Red Berets? Then your fellow troops? Then the PLA has just be prepared to run the obstacle course. the thing for you. Groups of several sol- And, yes, I know we’ve all run obstacle diers stand in a circle around a pit. They courses before, but not like this. then take a hefty chunk of explosives, Picture all the usual walls, beams, tires, someone lights the fuse, and they proceed rope swings and obstacles found on a usual to pass the explosive around. course. Now set most of them on fire. Add Some of you have probably played the a lot of smoke and gunfire and you’re good game ‘Hot Potato’ at some stage, but this is to go. Oh, and just for good measure, the not the way to do it. After counting down, instructors will be trying to knock you off the last soldier to get the explosive throws every obstacle. it into the pit and everyone dives away be- fore it explodes. Hope they can all count well. US Marine Corps Sniper Indonesian Army Being a sniper requires a steady hand, On the surface it all sounds pretty stan- great reflexes and a lot of patience. Appar- dard. Recruits run around an obstacle ently it also requires a deadened sense of course and crawl through mud while in- smell. That’s because US Marine snipers structors fire weapons. There is, however, must prepare themselves and their cam- a small catch. ouflaged suits, known as ghillie suits, by The instructors fire their assault rifles at soaking in a giant pond of stagnant water the ground, centimetres away from the re- and rotting vegetation repeatedly. cruits head. And they use live ammunition. Once you’re nice and wet, you then get Okay, so it gets the recruits used to having to roll around in the dirt, over and over live rounds fired near them. But the slight- again. All of this is necessary to ‘season’ est slip up by an instructor can turn things the ghillie suit and also acts as great psy- deadly. chological training for the sniper. Russian Special Forces US Navy Seals There’s an old military saying, “Train By all accounts, getting into the US Navy hard, fight easy.” Yet the Russian Special Seals is not that easy. The selection process Forces take this to the extreme. Recruits, pushes recruits to their limits, seeing just wearing body armour, are intentionally how much strength and endurance they ac- shot in the chest by their instructor. tually have. One especially demanding part The drill is meant to prepare recruits for of selection is drown-proofing in a pool. potentially being shot, and teach them how This involves having your hands and feet to react. tied while performing various tasks in the And here I thought that the whole pur- water. pose of training is not to get shot. As Gen- The drill teaches breathing control as eral George S. Patton once said, “The well as forcing potential Seals to learn to purpose is not to die for you country, but control fear and panic. And just to throw to make the other poor bastard die for his in a little extra, instructors will also attack country.” trainees in the water. 32 33 army. She requested that she combat less than a month after and later attended the meetings Famous Figures in Military History join the infantry and was as- recovering from her wound. of the Congress of Industrial signed to the Red Army’s 25th The government then decided Organizations and made ap- Lyudmila Pavlichenko & Simo Häyhä Rifle Division. to send Lyudmila on a publicity pearances and speeches in New She had the option of becom- tour of Canada and the United York City and Chicago. Although they fought on opposing sides, they never faced each other in battle. Yet they ing a nurse, but she refused. “I States. She became the first So- In Chicago, she stood before were considered to be two of the most deadly snipers in World War II. joined the army when women viet citizen to be received by a large crowds, chiding the men were not yet accepted.” US President when Franklin to support the second front. ot everyone is cut out exactly when to take that shot. Empire (now Ukraine) on 12 She then became one of 2,000 Delano Roosevelt welcomed “Gentlemen,” she said, “I am to be a sniper. There are Once that is accomplished July 1916. female snipers in the Red Army. her to the White House. 25 years old and I have killed Ncertain skills and char- you have to exfiltrate from your When she was 14 her fam- Only about 500 of them would Eleanor Roosevelt invited her 309 fascist invaders by now. acteristics that go hand in hand position, often while being ily moved to Kiev where she survive the war. to tour America and relate her Don’t you think, gentlemen, with the job. hunted by the enemy. worked at the Kiev Arsenal fac- In August 1941, using a To- experiences. that you have been hiding be- First and foremost, you have The Japanese made effective tory as a grinder. She also joined karev SVT-40 semi-automatic She appeared before the In- hind my back for too long?” to be a good shot. But there is use of snipers during World War a OSOAVIAKhIM (Union of rifle with 3.5X telescopic sight, ternational Student Assembly Her words settled on the far more to it that just that. II. Yet the most prolific arena Societies of Assistance to De- she made her first two kills as a being held in Washington, D.C., crowd, then caused a surging You need nerves of steel and for snipers during that war was fence and Aviation-Chemical sniper near Belyayevka. roar of support. the patience of Job. Often you on the Eastern Front. Especially Construction of the USSR) She spent the next two and a The United States gave her will get to look into the eyes of at places such as Stalingrad. shooting club where she soon half months fighting ner Odessa a Colt semi-automatic pistol. the person that you are going to This month we feature two proved herself as an amateur where she recorded 187 kills. In Canada she was presented kill. people that were probably the sharpshooter. When she reached 100 con- with a sighted Winchester rifle You will need to select the most deadly snipers of World In 1932, at the age of 16, she firmed kills in August 1941 she now on display at the Central best sniping platform. One that War II. Between them they married Alexei Pavlichenko and was promoted to Senior Ser- Armed Forces Museum in Mos- will offer you good cover while killed more than 800 of the en- gave birth to a son Rostislav, geant. cow. While visiting in Canada still giving you a good view of emy. but they soon divorced. On 15 October 1941 the along with fellow sniper Vladi- your target. She became a student at Kiev Romanians gained control of mir Pchelintsev and Moscow Then you have to infiltrate to Lady Death University and in 1937 com- Odessa and her unit was with- fuel commissioner Nikolai the sniping platform Lyudmila Pavlichenko was pleted a master’s degree in his- drawn to Sevastopol on the Kravchenko they were greet- that you have cho- a sniper in the Red Army. She tory. Crimean Peninsula. It was ed by thousands of people sen. Often you is regarded as on of the top In June 1941 the Germans in- here that she would at Toronto’s Union Sta- have to remain in military snipers of all time, vaded the Soviet Union. Lyud- spend the next eight tion. position for a long and the most successful fe- mila, 24 years old at the time, months fighting. From there they went time, sometimes male sniper in history. was doing her forth year at Kiev She was promoted to the United Kingdom even days, before She was born Lyudmi- University. to lieutenant in May and on 21 November you can take the la Mikhailovna Belova She was one of the first to 1942, as well as being 1942 she visited Cov- shot. And you in Bila Tserkva report to the Odessa recruiting cited by the Southern entry. She accepted a have to know in the Russian office and volunteer to join the Army Council for donation from Coven- 257 German soldiers. try workers for £4,516 It was common which was used to buy practice to lay down three X-ray units for mortar fire or an- ar the Red Army. tillery barrage in an She also visited area where a sniper Coventry Cathedral was suspected to be ruins, then the Alfred hiding. In June 1942, Herbert works and Pavlichenko was Standard Car Fac- wounded by mortar tory from where most fire. Because of her funds had been raised. growing status, she On returning to Rus- was withdrawn from sia she was promoted 34 35 to the rank of major. She never soldier, thus creating a hero of er kills and an equal number of returned to combat and became mythical proportions. He was kills by machine/submachine an instructor, training Soviet feared by the Russian, who gun from the beginning of the snipers until the end of the war. gave him the nickname Belaya war until 7 March 1940, one In 1943, she was awarded the Smert (White Death). day after Häyhä was seriously Gold Star of the Hero of the Unlike most snipers, he pre- wounded. Soviet Union, and was com- ferred iron sights over telescop- The Russians made every ef- memorated on a Soviet postage ic sights. He did not have pri- fort possible to kill Häyhä. They stamp. or training with scoped rifles, used counter-snipers and artil- Her total confirmed kills dur- and therefore preferred not to lery barrages in their efforts. ing World War II was 309, and switch to the Soviet scoped rifle On 6 March 1940 Häyhä was this included 36 enemy snipers. (m/91-30 PE or PEM). hit his lower left jaw by an ex- She was given the nickname, He said that iron sights en- plosive shell fired by a Red ‘Lady Death’. abled a sniper to present a Army soldier. Fellow soldiers After the war, she finished smaller target as a sniper must that found him said that half his her education at Kiev Univer- raise his head a few centimeters face was missing and that they WHITE DEATH: A photograph sity and began a career as a his- of Häyhä taken in the 1940s af- higher when using a telescopic did not expect him to survive. torian. From 1945 to 1953, she ter he was wounded in 1940. sight. He was taken to hospital were was a research assistant of the He also said that sunlight can he remained unconscious until Chief HQ of the Soviet Navy. sniper in the 6th Company of reflect off telescopic sights and 13 March, the day peace was She was later active in the So- JR 34. He took part in the Bat- that they can cloud up in cold declared. viet Committee of the Veterans tle of Kollaa, which was fought weather. Shortly after the war, Häyhä of War. in temperatures that ranged be- He would frequently pack was promoted from alikersantti Lyudmila Pavlichenko died LADY DEATH: Lyudmila Pavlichenko, regarded as the most tween −20 °C and −40 °C. dense mounds of snow in front (Corporal) to vänrikki (Second on 10 October 1974 at age 58, successful female sniper in military history. Soviet troops were not issued of his position to conceal him- lieutenant) by Finnish Field and was buried in the Novode- the Winter War, the highest re- In late 1939 the Soviet Union with white camouflage suits for self, provide padding for his Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Man- vichye Cemetery in Moscow. corded number of sniper kills demanded that Finland cede most of the war, making them rifle and reduce the character- nerheim. In 1976 a second Soviet com- in any major war. He used a substantial border territories in highly visible and easy targets istic puff of snow stirred up Although it took a long time, memorative stamp featuring Finnish-produced M/28-30 rifle exchange for land elsewhere, for Finnish snipers in winter by the muzzle blast. He was Häyhä recovered from his hor- her portrait was issued. (a variant of the Mosin–Nagant claiming security reasons, pri- conditions. also known to keep snow in his rific wounds. He became a suc- Her lists of awards included: rifle) and the Suomi KP/-31 marily the protection of Lenin- Häyhä soon proved himself mouth while sniping, to prevent cessful moose hunter and dog • Hero of the Soviet Union submachine gun. grad, 32 km from the Finnish to be an excellent sniper. He be- his steamy breaths from giving breeder. • Order of Lenin (twice) Simo Häyhä was born in the border. came one of the leading themes away his position in the cold air. Simo Häyhä died in a war vet- • Medal for Battle Merit municipality of Rautjärvi in Finland refused and on 30 No- of Finnish propaganda. The In his diary, military chaplain erans’ nursing home in Hamina • Medal “For the Defence of the Grand Duchy of Finland. vember 1939, just three months Finnish newspapers frequently Antti Rantamaa reported that in 2002 at the age of 96, and Odessa” He came from a Lutheran heri- after the outbreak of World War featured the invisible Finnish Häyhä had 259 confirmed snip- was buried in Ruokolahti. • Medal “For the Defence of tage family and was the second II, Russia invaded Finland. Sevastopol” youngest of eight children. The Soviets possessed more Shackleton 1722- Fuel Call • Medal “For the Victory over He was a farmer and hunter than twice as many soldiers as Germany in the Great Patri- and had earned a reputation as a Finland, thirty times as many Pelican 22 has a long and il- Unfortunately running of the Pottie to run those magnificent otic War 1941–1945” good shot. He took part in many aircraft, and a hundred times lustrious history, recorded in engines on the monthly basis, Rolls-Royce Griffon engines sports shooting competitions in as many tanks. However, the many books, films and video, all has become a problem, due to the especially for our out of town The White Death the Viipuri Province and it was Red Army had been crippled by of which are available at the Air lack of fuel. visitors, on that occasion. All he Simo “Simuna” Häyhä was a said that his home was filled Joseph Stalin’s Great Purge of Force Museum at AFB Ysterp- This message comes with a asked for was the fuel. Finnish sniper during the 1939- with trophies for marksman- 1936–1938. With over 36,000 laat. She is run on the last Satur- plea for a sponsorship, dona- Your kind consideration to this 40 Winter War between Finland ship. of its officers executed or im- day of each month by the friends tion, gift of 200 lt AVGAS 120 request will be highly appreci- and Russia. In 1925, at the age of 20, he prisoned, the Red Army had of the Museum under the watch- (or cash equivalent) for the May ated. Please contact me for fur- Nicknamed ‘White Death’ he joined the Finnish voluntary many inexperienced senior and ful eyes of WO 1 (Oom) Pot- 26th 2018 run for the SAAFA ther details. Alan Nelson PhD, is reported by western sources militia Suojeluskunta (White mid-level officers. tie Potgieter, and affectionately Congress and the 12 Squadron M.AeSSA. E-mail to have killed 505 men during Guard). Häyhä was deployed as a known as “Potties Shack”. re-union. We have asked Oom [email protected] 36 37 bacteria. The Russian troops in Forged in Battle the field had no such luxuries. Divide & Conquer Finnish Army - 1939 The Finns employed a tactic known as motti. Roughly this Each month “Forged in Battle” looks at weapons, equipment or units that have been translates as “an abundance of tried and tested on the battlefield. This month we look at the Finnish Army in 1939. firewood”. During the Winter War the Finns would try and break the Russians into smaller e all know the sce- to mince his words, summed it of bread per day for the troops. groups known as motti. Once nario. The play- up when he said, “But on these While they knew the value of cut off from the main body, Wground bully wants most favourable terms, we a hot meal, the Finnish troops these groups could be dealt with something that does not belong could only win through huge worked hard to deny the same individually by Finnish sol- to him and just goes ahead and difficulties and incredibly great opportunity to their Soviet op- diers. The tactic was summed takes it from the smaller kids. losses. In fact, this victory was position. The far bulkier Rus- A DAY AT THE SPA: A group of Finnish soldiers pose for a photo up as follows: “Finnish tactics This was the case with Russia a moral defeat.” sian field kitchens were often before going into the sauna. aim to penetrate the front of the in 1939. Yet how exactly did the Finns the targets for an attack. Denied enemy, to separate the enemy’s They wanted to claim terri- managed to hold the far supe- hot food, it hurt the Soviet mo- Molotov, who the Finns blamed read the article on page 34 of strong points from each other, tory that belonged to Finland. rior Russians off for so long? rale. for starting the war. At the start this month’s edition of Military to cut off these strong points When the Finns refused, Rus- How were they able to inflict of the war the Soviets dropped Despatches. completely from all arteries of sia invaded in November 1939. such serious casualties on the This drink’s on me incendiary bombs on the Finn- supply, and to encircle them.” This campaign became known Russians? These are some of Severely lacking tanks and ish capital, Helsinki. Spa treatment Another tactic used was to as ‘The Winter War’. The Rus- the tactics employed by an anti-tank weapons, the Finns When Finnish media reported The Finns had another secret allow the encircled Russians sians had an overwhelming ad- army that was forged in battle. used Molotov cocktails to neu- these attacks, Molotov denied weapon that the Soviets did not an opportunity to escape. They vantage in both men and fire- tralise Soviet tanks. In fact it them. He said that the Soviet have – saunas. While the idea would normally abandon their power. The Finns had 340,000 Food for thought was the Finns that coined the Union was merely delivering may seem crazy, the Finns ac- heavy equipment and flee soldiers while the Russians It was Napoleon, or Fred- term ‘Molotov Cocktail’. It was food aid to starving Finns. The tually had saunas in front line through the woods, where they had 760,000. The Russians had erick the Great, that said an a simple, yet ingenious weapon. Finns, who knew this was a lie, positions. Saunas are in inte- could be easily picked off. more than 3,800 aircraft, the army marches on its stomach. A bottle was filled with flamma- began referring to incendiary gral part of Finnish culture and Finns had 114. The Finns had This was something the Finns ble liquid, such as petrol, and a bombs as ‘Molotov breadbas- 99% of Finns visit a sauna at Mind Games 32 tanks, most of which were believed in. They ate well, rag was used for a fuse. The rag kets’. When the Finns began least once a week. While Finn- The Finns were also expert obsolete. The Russians, howev- and make sure that the Soviets was soaked in flammable liquid using their bottle bombs against ish troops were prepared to at using psychological warfare. er, had more than 6,500 tanks. didn’t. The Finns had a secret and tied around the neck of the the Russian, they named them defend their homeland to the They kept the Soviet troops off With odds like that the Rus- weapon in this department, the sealed bottle. The rag was lit ‘Molotov cocktails’, saying death, they weren’t going to do balance, denying them rest and sians expected that the war Lotta Svärd. This was an or- and the bottle thrown at a target they were serving up a drink to it without saunas. keeping them in a constant state wouldn’t last more than a couple ganisation of patriotic Finnish such as a tank. The bottle would go along with the Soviet bread- Every two to three days, if of fear. Besides the use of im- of weeks. Instead it went on for women that managed catering break on impact and the flam- baskets. combat conditions permitted provised explosives, snipers three months, with the Russians efforts for the troops. Volun- mable liquid would be ignited. it, every Finnish soldier was scattered throughout the woods, taking horrific casualties. In the teers staffed small, mobile field Burning liquid would often en- The White Death scheduled for a turn at one of and the motti tactics, the Finns end Finland agreed to sign over kitchens, often pulled on sleds, ter the tank through ventilation The Finns had something the the front line saunas. While ev- used other methods to keep the 11% of its land to Russia in the to provide hot meals to their hatches. This would force the Russians did not have – The ery village would have a num- Soviets off balance. Most of the peace treaty that ended the war. troops. Almost every unit had crew to evacuate the vehicle White Death. Simo “Simuna” ber of saunas, the Finns also territory abandoned by Finnish Yet Finland retained its sover- its own field kitchen staffed by and they were gunned down. Häyhä was a Finnish sniper had mobile saunas. Besides troops was rigged with mines eignty and demonstrated that it cooks that followed the troops While this type of device had who was reported to have killed being a morale boost, it also and booby traps, slowing down was not easy target. If anyone everywhere. These cooks car- been used before, it was during 505 Russian soldiers. The Rus- reminded them exactly what it any Soviet advance. They also wanted to take over their coun- ried their own firearms when the Winter War that it became sian were terrified of him and was they were fighting for. The destroyed any abandoned vil- try it would involve a long and they were in combat zones. The known as the Molotov cocktail. gave him the nickname, Be- saunas also had another major lages and buildings, denying costly war. Lotta Svärd also had baking It was name after the Russian laya Smert (White Death). For benefit. They were useful for the Soviets a place to rest. Nikita Khrushchev, never one units that produced 200,000 kg foreign minister Vyacheslav more information on Häyhä preventing frostbite and killing The Finns would often take 38 39 the bodies of Soviet troops and prop them up as a warning to Battlefield their comrades. They would often launch night attacks, re- sulting in a lack of sleep for the Operation Nimrod Russians and further demoraliz- On 30 April 1989 six armed men stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, taking 26 ing them. Because of the risk of people hostage. A small group of elite soldiers were put on standby. Six days later this snipers, the Soviet troops were unable to light fires at night to group launched an assault as the entire world watched. keep warm. This increased the risk of frostbite. he Iranian Embassy was reported, seven DPG officers visers, including representa- situated on Princes Gate, were on the scene. They sur- tives from the police and the Reindeer & Sleds TSouth Kensington, Lon- rounded the building but had armed forces. The meeting was While the Soviets had mas- don. On Wednesday 30 April to retreat when a gunman ap- chaired by William Whitelaw, sive superiority in armour and 1980 at 11h30 the building was peared at a window and threat- the Home Secretary, as Marga- vehicles, they could only oper- DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW: The Finns made good use stormed by six heavily armed ened to open fire. ret Thatcher, the Prime Minis- ate on Finland’s few roads. The of reindeer and sleds which were perfect for the harsh winter men. Deputy Assistant Commis- ter, was unavailable. Finns, on the other hand, made conditions. The men were members of sioner John Dellow arrived half The gunmen released their use of sleds and reindeer. They would remove layers to prevent While the war was a military the Democratic Revolutionary an hour later and took com- first hostage, embassy press had the advantage of being able sweating while cross coun- victory for the Russians, it was Front for the Liberation of Ara- mand of the situation. officer Frieda Mozaffarian, at to traverse practically any ter- try skiing. Finally, they would a morale loss bistan (DRFLA), Iranian Arabs Dellow coordinated the po- 16h30. She had been unwell rain, as well as being stealthy. wear lightweight snow capes protesting for the establishment lice response, which included since the start of the siege and The sleds were used to transport over everything, providing ex- Finland of an autonomous Arab state in the deployment of D11, the the other hostages convinced supplies and to carry wounded. cellent camouflage in the snow. • 25,904 dead or missing. the southern region of the Ira- Metropolitan Police’s marks- Oan that she was pregnant and They were also often used a In contrast the Soviets wore • 43,557 wounded. nian province of Khūzestān. men and officers with specialist needed medical treatment. machine gun platforms. khaki uniforms and their vehi- • 800–1,100 captured. Police Constable (PC) Trevor surveillance equipment. Margaret Thatcher, kept cles were all army green. This • 20–30 tanks destroyed. Lock of the Metropolitan Po- Police negotiators made con- apprised of the situation by Winter Games made them stand out in the • 62 aircraft destroyed. lice’s Diplomatic Protection tact with Oan Ali Mohammed, Whitelaw, determined that Brit- Unlike the Russian troops, snow, something the Finnish • 70,000 total casualties. Group (DPG) was on duty at the the leader of the group. Contact ish law would be applied to the the Finns knew the terrain. Af- snipers relished. time. He was quickly overpow- was made via a field telephone embassy, despite the Vienna ter all, they were fighting on Soviet Union ered, but he managed to press passed through one of the em- Convention, under which the home ground. This was a major Sisu • 126,875–167,976 dead or the panic button on his radio. bassy windows. embassy is considered Iranian advantage to them. The Finns Perhaps the main advan- missing. Lock was armed with a con- Oan demanded the release soil. saw the harsh winter conditions tage held by the Finns was that • 188,671–207,538 wounded. cealed Smith & Wesson .38 cal- of 91 Arabs held in prisons in as an ally rather than as a det- they had sisu. It’s a word that • 5,572 captured. ibre revolver. Although he was Khūzestān, and threatened to Day 2 - 1 May 1980 riment. Most of the Finns were can’t really be translated into • 1,200–3,543 tanks de- searched, the weapon was not blow up the embassy and the While the COBRA meetings also able to ski, and their skis English. The closest transla- stroyed. discovered. hostages if this were not done continued through the night, were far better than those used tion would be perseverance or • 261–515 aircraft destroyed. A total of 26 people, mostly by noon on 1 May. two teams were dispatched by the Soviets. In fact when the determination, not giving up • 321,000–381,000 total ca- embassy staff, but also a num- A large number of journal- from the Special Air Service Finns captured Soviet skis they where other people would. And sualties. ber of visitors, were taken hos- ists and television crews were (SAS) near Hereford. would use them as firewood. it was this sisu that helped them tage. This included PC Lock. on the scene quickly and they The teams were from B to hold off the Soviets for three It was common for the Rus- Also among the hostages were were moved into a holding area Squadron, with specialists from Dressed for Success months during the Winter War. sians to report their losses as two BBC journalists. Simeon to the west of the front of the other squadrons. They were un- With temperatures often go- far less than they actually were. “Sim” Harris and Chris Cramer embassy. der the command of Lieutenant ing below −30 °C it was vi- Final Tally The first figures given are what were at the embassy attempting The British government’s Colonel Michael Rose, the offi- tal that troops dressed for the The Winter War did not go the Russians reported, the sec- to obtain visas to visit Iran. emergency committee CO- cer commanding 22 SAS Regi- weather. Finnish troops dressed well for the Russians. What ond are what the Finns estimat- BRA (Cabinet Office Briefing ment. in layers, wearing their own they bargained on taking no ed. Day 1 - 30 April 1980 Rooms) was assembled. CO- They set up at a holding area thermal underwear and jerseys longer than two weeks, ended Almost immediately after BRA is made up of ministers, in Regent’s Park Barracks. At under their uniforms. They up taking three months. the first reports of gunfire were civil servants and expert ad- 03h30 one of the SAS teams 40 00 moved into the building next 4 3 door to the embassy. They were 2 SAS CRW Kit briefed on Colonel Rose’s “im- 20 mediate action” plan, to be 1. Nomex III Assault Suit. implemented should the SAS 2. AC200 Kevlar Assault be required to storm the build- Helmet. ing before a more sophisticated 3. AC900 Kevlar Assault plan could be formed. Helmet. Early on the morning of 1 4. Avon SF10 Respirator. May, the gunmen ordered one 6 5 5. Nomex Hood. of the hostages to telephone the 18 6. Nomex Gloves. BBC’s new’s desk. 7. Assault Vest. Oan took the receiver and 8. PE Assault Belt. spoke directly to a BBC journal- 7 9. GQ Abseil Harness. ist, identifying who they were 1 10. Adidas GSG9 Assault and stating the non-Iranian hos- Boots. tages would not be harmed. 13 11. MBITR Radio. Not long after that the police 12. Earpiece/Throat Mike. cut the phone lines to the em- GO: Having abseiled down from the roof, an SAS team enters 11 13. Calumite Light Sticks. bassy, leaving the field tele- the embassy. 14. Aircrew Knife. phone as the only means of 15. Leatherman Tool. communication. passage out of the UK once the ed access to the telex system, 16. Cable Ties. BBC journalist Chris Cramer statement had been broadcast. which had been cut along with 17. Claymore Clacker. became ill and his colleague, At about 20h00, Oan became the phone lines. 18. Rope Bag (Leg). Sim Harris, was taken to the agitated by noises coming from The police refused an Oan 8 9 19. 11 mm Abseil Rope. field telephone and told to ne- the Ethiopian Embassy next threatened to kill Abdul Fazi 20. Petzl Descender. gotiate for a doctor. The police door. PC Lock was asked to Ezzati, the cultural attaché. 21. Stun Grenade. refused. identify the sounds. He claimed Oan then demanded to speak to 22. CS Gas Grenade. Most of the morning was tak- that it was probably mice in the somebody from the BBC who 23. H&K MP5K. en up with negotiations before walls. knew Sim Harris. 15 24. H&K MP5A5. Cramer was released at 11H15. 17 The sounds were actually The police agreed and pro- 16 25. H&K MP5SD6. He was rushed to hospital in an technicians drilling holes in the duced Tony Crabb, managing 26. Remington 870. ambulance, accompanied by wall to implant listening devic- director of BBC Television 14 27. Browning L9A1. police officers sent to question es. COBRA decided to crate a News and Harris’s boss. him. 10 distraction and instructed Brit- Oan repeated his earlier de- 12 Nomex is a registered trade- As the noon deadline ap- ish Gas to commence drilling mands for safe passage out of mark for flame-resistant me- proached the police negotiated in an adjacent road, under the the UK, to be negotiated by ta-aramid material developed for a new deadline of 14h00. guise of repairing a gas leak. three ambassadors from Arab 19 in the early 1960s by DuPont. They were convinced the gun- The drilling further agitated countries to Crabb from the They also wear Nomex un- men did not have the capability the gunmen, and instead British first-floor window, and instruct- derwear, which the SAS nick- to carry out their threat of blow- Airports Authority, owner of ed that they should be broad- 23 name ‘Vindaloo’, a hot Indian ing the building up. London Heathrow Airport, was cast along with a statement of 24 curry dish. The police allowed the 14h00 told to instruct approaching air- the hostage-takers’ aims by the The Remington 870 shot- deadline to pass. Later that after- craft to fly over the embassy at BBC. gun is loaded with breaching noon Oan altered his demands, 26 low altitude. The British Foreign and Com- rounds, used to blow a door now requesting that the British monwealth Office informally 25 22 off its hinges. media broadcast a statement of Day 3 - 2 May 1980 approached the embassies of The H&K submachine their grievances and for ambas- At 09h30 Oan appeared at a Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Leba- 27 guns will normally have a sadors of three Arab countries first-floor window and demand- non, Syria and Qatar to ask if 21 torch and laser sight attached. to negotiate the group’s safe 42 43 their ambassadors would be bulletin, in exchange for the re- tor Gullan, commander of the of the entry rooms turned out to willing to talk to the hostage- lease of two hostages. team that would undertake any have been barricaded shut, and takers. The Jordanian ambas- The hostages decided raid, spent the day refining their a soldier had to leave through sador immediately refused and amongst themselves that the plans for an assault. the window and re-enter across the other five said they would two to be released would be the balcony to get around the consult their governments. Hiyech Kanji and Ali-Guil Day 6 - 5 May 1980 blockage. Stun grenades ignit- While the BBC did broad- Ghanzafar; the former as she PC Lock was woken by Oan ed fires, which quickly spread. cast the statement that evening, was pregnant and the latter for at dawn. Oan was convinced The staff sergeant, still hung Oan was not happy with it. He no other reason than his loud that there was an intruder in the up in his rope, was severely claimed that it was truncated snoring, which kept the other building and sent Lock to in- burnt. A second wave of ab- and incorrect. hostages awake at night and ir- vestigate. No-one was found. seilers cut him free and he fell Meanwhile SAS plans to en- ritated the terrorists. Later that morning Oan told to the balcony floor below. He ter the embassy by battering Later in the evening, at ap- Lock to examine a bulge in the stood up and followed the rest the front door and ground-floor proximately 23h00, an SAS wall separating the Iranian em- GOING IN: Two members of the SAS team prepare to enter the of his team into the building. windows were quickly scrapped team reconnoitred the roof of bassy from the Ethiopian em- building via a balcony. The aggressive plan paid when it was discovered that the the embassy. They discovered a bassy next door. off. Taken by surprise the gun- embassy’s front door was rein- skylight, and succeeded in un- The bulge was actually and by 17h00 the SAS were in a authorising Rose to order an as- men were only able to kill one forced by a steel security door, locking it for potential use as an caused by the removal of bricks position to carry out the assault sault at his discretion. of their hostages before being and that the windows on the access point, should they later to allow and assault team to at ten minute’s notice. The police negotiators began gunned down, most in a hail of ground floor and first floor were be required to storm the build- break through the wall, and to The police had recruited an stalling Oan, offering conces- bullets from several SAS troops fitted with armoured glass. ing. They also attached ropes to implant listening devices. imam from a local mosque at sions in order to distract him at once. the chimneys to allow soldiers Lock told Oan that he didn’t 18h20 and asked him to talk to and prevent him from killing Two of the gunmen were tak- Day 4 - 3 May 1980 to abseil down the building and think that the police were about the gunmen. further hostages. At the same en alive, but as they were passed Oan, angered by the BBC’s gain access through the win- to storm the building, but Oan While the imam was talking time the SAS made their final hastily from man to man down incorrect reporting of his de- dows if necessary. was not convinced. to Oan via the field telephone, preparations. the stairs, the SAS realised that mands the previous evening, At 13h00 Oan told the police another three shots rang out. one of them was clutching a contacted the police negotiators Day 5 - 4 May 1980 that he would kill a hostage if he Oan announce that another hos- The Assault grenade. He was flung to the shortly after 06h00 and accused Throughout the day the For- was unable to speak to an Arab tage has been killed and that the Two SAS teams, Red Team ground and shot dead before he the authorities of deceiving him. eign Office were in talks with ambassador within 45 minutes. rest would die in 30 minutes and Blue Tea, were ordered to could pull the pin. He demanded to speak with an diplomats from Arabian coun- At 13h40, PC Lock informed unless his demands were met. begin their simultaneous as- The success was aided by PC Arab ambassador, but the nego- tries in an effort to get them to the negotiators that the gunmen Police believed that two hos- saults at 19h23. Lock. Realising that the assault tiator on duty claimed that talks talk to the hostage-takers. The had taken the embassy chief tages had been killed, although While snipers provided cover, had begun, Lock knocked the were still being arranged by the talks ended in a stalemate. press officer, Abbas Lavasani, only Lavasani had been shot. 32 men stormed the embassy. terrorist leader to the ground Foreign Office. Karkouti, the journalist, be- downstairs and were preparing Lavasani’s body was dumped Each assault team had a set area and grappled with him. Despite Oan saw through the delay- came increasingly ill through- to execute him. out of the front door and was re- to cover. They were not to stray suffering from the effects of ing tactic and threatened that a out the day and by the evening Exactly 45 minutes after covered by the police. beyond these, to avoid friendly CS gas, Lock kept the terrorist hostage would be killed unless was feverish. This led to specu- Oan’s demand to speak to an Sir David McNee, Commis- fire incidents. from firing his gun, then rolled Tony Crabb was brought back lation that the police had spiked ambassador, three shots were sioner of the Metropolitan Po- At the ‘Go’ signal men burst clear at a shout from the SAS, to the embassy. the food that had been sent into heard from inside the embassy. lice, contacted the Home Secre- in through the French windows who shot the terrorist before he Crabb did not arrive at the the embassy. Home Secretary Willie tary to request approval to hand at the rear of the building while could fire. embassy until 15h30, nearly While the police had consid- Whitelaw rushed through and control of the operation over to others came in through a sky- PC Lock was later awarded ten hours after Oan demanded ered this option, it was not done was briefed on the SAS plan by the British Army, under the pro- light on the roof while abseil the George Medal, the United his presence. Oan then relayed on the advice of a doctor who de la Billière, who told him to visions of Military Aid to the teams reached the floors in be- Kingdom’s second-highest civil another statement to Crabb via dismissed it as “impracticable”. expect that up to 40 percent of Civil Power. tween. honour, as well as the Freedom Mustapha Karkouti, a journalist The SAS officers involved in the hostages would be killed in This request was relayed by Not everything went off of the City of London. also being held hostage in the the operation, including Briga- an assault. Whitelaw to Margaret Thatcher smoothly. The staff sergeant Most of the raid, which lasted embassy. dier Peter de la Billière, Direc- De la Billière was instructed would immediately agreed. leading the abseiling team be- for 17 minutes, was watched The police guaranteed that tor Special Forces; Lieutenant to prepare to assault the build- At 19h07, John Dellow signed came entangled in his rope. live on television. It made the the statement would be broad- Colonel Mike Rose, Command- ing at short notice. He passed over control of the operation to Some of the hostages were not SAS a household name. cast on the BBC’s next news er of 22 SAS; and Major Hec- this on to Mike Rose at 15h50 Lieutenant Colonel Mike Ros, where the SAS expected. One 44 45 Gaming As if Chernobyl wasn’t enough of a prob- lem, when Matt O’ Brien arrives in the area you somehow know that things are going to go from bad to worse.

his month we’re look- the city of Pripyat into this area variations, each one having a ing at not one, but rather (it is actually to the north-west unique impact upon those who Tthree games. All of them of the power station), although cross its path. They can be po- in the ‘Stalker’ series. the city itself is directly mod- tentially deadly to the player Stalker is not a new game by eled on its real-life counterpart, and other NPCs, delivering any means. In fact the original albeit smaller in size. electric shocks, or pulling them game, Stalker, Shadow of Cher- The game begins with a into the air and crushing them. nobyl, was released way back wounded, unconscious stalker You will need certain items in 2007. (you play this person). You are to survive the Zone. First of It’s also not the type of game brought to Sidorovich, a shady all is weapons. You can buy we normally review in this black-market trader operating weapons from traders (if you Along the way you will meet around the city of Pripyat in lok, the protagonist of the origi- magazine. It’s an FPS (First inside the Zone. have the money) or loot them many different characters. Ukraine. The area is divided nal game (Shadow of Cher- person shooter) and RPG (Role You are suffering from amne- from corpses. Weapons range Some will help you, other will into three parts known as Za- nobyl) and learns of the secrets Playing Game). But damn, it’s sia. You have a tattoo on your from knives, hand guns, shot- offer you jobs which you can ton, Yanov, and the city of Pri- behind the Zone, including how fun to play. arm that says “stalker” and an guns, submachine guns, assault choose to complete for rewards. pyat itself. anomalies change position dur- There’s a special available entry in your PDA (Personal rifles, and machine guns. You Shadow of Chenobyl is a de- Each of these is a large play- ing and after each emission - where you can get all three Digital Assistant) to-do list that will also need to carry enough cent game with lots of twists able area. The majority of Call explaining why the helicopters games - Stalker, Shadow of says “Kill Strelok”. Sidorovich ammunition for your weapons. and turns before you get to the of Pripyat’s gameplay focuses crashed in the first place. Chernobyl; Stalker, Clear Sky; dubs you ‘Marked One’. You can also get add-ons such end. on a combination of both post- and Stalker, Call of Pripyat - for With no other leads to his as silencers and optical sights Stalker, Clear Sky has every- apocalyptic horror, as well as a bargain on Steam. past or the cause of his amne- for many weapons. thing in it that the original game tactical role-playing action, You can also download mods sia, the Marked One follows You will need protective gear did. It was released in 2008 mostly revolving around the that bring the graphics and the information from contact to which can range from a simple This time you play the role Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant game play more up to date. contact, tracing Strelok’s past leather jacket to military qual- of Scar, a stalker. Something Exclusion Zone. Let’s start off by looking at movements and learning more ity armour and scientific radi- strange is going on in the Zone. You play Major Alexander the first game in the Series, about his supposed assassina- tion suits. It seems to be changing and you Degtyarev, an experienced Shadow of Chernobyl. tion target; the more he learns Oh yes, that something else are tasked by scientists to dis- stalker and SBU agent. The game takes place in an about him, the more he recov- you need to be aware of - ra- cover what is happening, and “Operation Fairway,” a large area called “The Zone”, which ers scattered memories. dition. Some areas are highly why. scale helicopter recon mission is based on the real-life Cher- The Zone is not a safe place. radioactive and you will need A new feature of the game intended to scout the area by air nobyl Exclusion Zone and There are other factions of anti-radiation drugs, or vodka, are mechanics. They are similar in preparation for a full-scale partly on the settings of the stalkers, bandits, and the army to combat this. to traders, except that they can military assault on the Cher- source novel and film. It en- to deal with. Then there are the You will also need medical both repair and upgrade equip- nobyl Nuclear Power Plant. De- compasses roughly 30 square mutants. supplies such as bandages and ment such as weapons and ar- spite thorough preparations, the kilometers and features a slice As a result of the second first aid kits, as well as food. mour. mission goes horribly wrong, Publisher - THQ of Chernobyl extending south Chernobyl disaster, The Zone is You can only carry a certain Stalker, Call of Pripyat, is the and all five helicopters crash. from Chernobyl Nuclear Power littered with small areas of al- weight, so it won’t help to over- final game of the series. It was You are sent to investigate what Genre - FPS/RPG Plant; geographical changes for tered physics, known as anoma- load yourself with weapons and released in 2008. when wrong. Score - 8/10 artistic license include moving lies. There are several different equipment. The game takes place in and You eventually meets Stre- Price - R300 (on Steam)

46 47 Movie Review Book Review My Father’s War Pathfinder Company his locally produced film Dawid is heartbroken and I watched this film with a is one of the best I’ve prays to God to somehow show mate of mine, himself a veteran The Philistines seen in a long while. It is his son what it had really been of the Border War. T olonel Jan Breytenbach Australasia, Rhodesia and a movie that every military vet- like. It is a prayer that does not “I wish my ex-wife and chil- writes in the foreword: elsewhere, from such Special eran needs to watch. Especially go unanswered. dren could see this movie,” he C “On Ascension Day, 1978, a Forces units as the SAS, Selous those that were involved in the Dap has a troubling dream in said. composite South African para- Scouts and the RLI. “This is Border War. which he is a combat soldier in If you haven’t seen My Fa- chute battalion jumped onto the their book, a collection of sto- In fact whether you’re a for- the Border War. In the dream ther’s War, then go out and rent tactical HQ of SWAPO’s PLAN ries about the founding and de- mer soldier, a wife, or child (in everyone calls him Dap. The it. Or even better, buy a copy of army, based at Cassinga, 250 ployment of a unit of ‘Foreign South Africa or anywhere in the dream seems so realistic and the movie. kilometres north of the Ango- Legionnaires’, from different world), this is a must-see film. the following morning he can- lan border to destroy the facil- parts of the world who became Written and directed by Craig not get it out of his mind. Cast ity, their logistics, and to wipe welded together into a remark- Gardner and produced by Pe- Then he has another dream. Stian Bam - David Smit out a strong concentration of able combat unit, unsurpassed ter Lamberti, the bilingual film This time he meets his father Edwin van der Walt - Dap Smit SWAPO guerrillas. by any other South African De- (Afrikaans/English) focuses who, in the dream, is the same Erica Wessels - Karina Smit The airborne assault, part of fence Force unit in their posi- on the broken relationship be- age as him. They are both to- Richard Lukunku - Joao Operation Reindeer, was an tive and aggressive approach to tween a father and a rebellious gether in the same unit. He ex- Duane Behrens - Kobus unqualified success; the whole battle. For me it was an honour teenage son. periences events in great detail David Dukas - Bill base was destroyed. 608 PLAN to have faced incoming lead to- finder Company, 44 Parachute Set in 2003, 19 year old Dap during the dream. Vian Singleton - Young Dap fighters were killed, with many gether with them.” Brigade. He returned to Eng- Smit is at constant loggerheads Dap realises that in his dream Francois Jacobs - Warrick more wounded which pushed Graham Gillmore enjoys land still on crutches after being with his father Dawid, a veteran he is a member of the elite Spe- Damon Berry - Carrots the final SWAPO death toll to country life in the natural wounded in Angola and joined of the Border War. They two of cial Forces unit, 5 Reconnais- Neels Clasen - Wynand well over a thousand. We lost beauty of East Anglia and the the Territorial Army. After a them cannot see eye to eye on sance Regiment and that they David Rees - Colonel Swartz only four paratroopers killed in Fens but was born a Londoner career in VIP security Graham anything. Caught between them are somewhere in Angola. Alan Glauber - Army chaplain action plus a dozen or so wound- in 1952. An innate fascination is now a leading member of is Karina, Dawid’s wife and He begins doing research on Nathaniel Ramabulana - Chunky ed. According to airborne ex- with history and all things mili- the Victorian Military Society Dap’s mother. the Internet and finds that all perts in Britain and Australia, tary inevitably led him to join- for whom he runs The Diehard Dawid has no idea of how to the facts he has dreamt about Click on the poster to watch this was the most audacious ing the Grenadier Guards, and Company, an internationally communicate with his son. Dap seem to check out. the movie trailer. parachute assault since the Sec- for six months the Guards De- renowned re-enactment group. on the other hand seems to hate As he has more dreams he ond World War; the mounting pot drilled into him soldiering He advises and writes articles his father. He feels that he was begins to understand his father airfield was well over 1,000 skills of the highest standard. on the British Army on Home not there while he was grow- more The dreams give him in- nautical miles away. I was the Graham left the British Army Service and on campaign dur- ing up, and that his father aban- sight and compassion, and he is commander of that airborne as- in 1977 to join the Rhodesian ing Queen Victoria’s reign. doned both him and his mother finally able to let go of his life- sault, which although success- Light Infantry in their war to because he preferred being on long feelings of abandonment ful above all expectations, also prevent communist guerril- Softcover: 160 pages with the border. and anger. highlighted many shortcom- las overthrowing the country. 200 colour and B/W photos & He also believes that he is an Finally father and son are rec- ings, some of which nearly led After two years as the signals maps. only child because his father onciled. He accompanies his fa- to a disastrous outcome.” rep to Support Commando, didn’t want any more children ther to a reunion of some of the 44 Parachute Brigade was 1RLI, Graham was promoted Available from Bush War after him. men that were in his unit. formed later that year, with the to Signals Troop Sergeant, but Book. Eventually Dap tells his fa- There Dap learns why he need for a specialist Pathfinder with the fall of Rhodesia to the R250.00 ther that he hates him and says was named Dap. He also learns Company patently clear. Into Marxists in 1980, he moved to that he wished that he had died the reason why he was an only the ranks came professional South Africa to continue the an- in the war. child. veterans from the UK, USA, ti-terrorist fight with the Path- 48 49 ulligan is my name. But enough of that. Let me don’t you go home and feed and On the lighter side Seamus Patrick Mul- tell you about some of my more clothe your wife and children?” Mligan. Now as you interesting experiences. “Hang on, Sister,’ splut- may have guessed, I’m Irish. I Take last Thursday night for tered Donelly. “How can you own and manage a small pub in instance. It was a very quiet condemn alcohol out of hand? Limerick. It’s called Mulligan’s night, as most Thursdays are, Surely it’s wrong to form such Irish Pub. and there were only two cus- a rash judgement when you’ve Now some of you may have tomers in the pub. never tasted the stuff?” watched that television series “Hello there,” one of them “Very well,’ said Sister Ma- called Cheers. It was the pub said. rie. I’ll taste it just to prove my “where everyone knows your “Hello yourself,” the other point. Obviously I can’t go into name.” Well Mulligan’s is simi- replied. the pub, so why don’t you bring lar to that except that it’s not the “Where you from?” the first me some gin. Oh, and just to place “where everyone knows one asked. camouflage my intent, maybe your name” it’s more like the “From Ireland,” the other told you should bring it in a cup not place where “everyone wants him. a glass!” to punch you in the head.” “Go on. Get away with you. “OK,” said Donelly and into Limerick is the type of city I’m also from Ireland. Where the bar he breezed. where organised crime means about in Ireland are you from?” “I’ll have a large gin,” he said Happy Days remembering to fill the getaway “Limerick.” to me. “And can you put it in a car with petrol. But it’s my town “I don’t believe it. I’m from cup?” The trials and tribulations of an Irish publican. and I love it. Limerick myself. Where did “Bloody hell,” I said, “that I must confess that I was rath- you go to school?” nun’s not outside again is she?” er taken aback when I was asked “Sexton school.” About six months ago a man to write a story for this book. “No ways! I was also at Sex- walked into my pub and or- BY SEAMUS MULLIGAN After all, I am not a writer. It ton. Where about did you live?” dered three pints of Guinness. was some famous author that “In Connolly Street.” He asked for all three glasses at once said, “I’m a writer with a “I grew up in Connolly Street. the same time. drinking problem.” Well I’m a What star sign are you then?” “Why not have them one by drinker with a writing problem. “I’m a Leo.” one,” I said. “That way they’ll When I asked what I should “Well smack me in the mouth still be nice and cold.” write about it was suggested and call me Harry. I’m also a He explained to me that he that I write about some of the Leo.” was one of three brothers. One interesting people that I’ve With that the phone rang. It of them lived in New York, an- met in my pub. Fair enough, I was my wife. other in South Africa, and him thought. Fair enough. “How’s it going down there in Limerick. He said that every Being a publican (that’s the love,” she asked. Friday night they would all go term for someone who runs “It’s pretty quiet,” I told her. to a pub and order three pints a pub) is not just a job. It is a “Just the Murphy twins getting of Guinness. That way it was calling. I will serve anyone no drunk again.” almost as if they were together matter what their nationality or Just the other day Liam Do- and sharing a few drinks. religion. As long as they have nelly was heading into my pub This carried on every Friday the money to pay, I’ll see that for a quick drink. On the step night for about six months. Then their glasses are kept full. And, outside he was accosted by a one Friday night he walked in just by the way, I make the best nun, Sister Marie, who said: and only ordered two pints of Irish coffee in Ireland. Only “Surely a fine man like your- Guinness. Irish coffee provides in a sin- self is not going into this den of As he sat there drinking his gle glass all four essential food iniquity? Surely you’re not go- first pint I realised that one of groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, ing to waste your hard-earned his brothers must have died. I and fat. cash on the devil’s brew. Why told him how sorry I was and 50 51 “That’s grand,” O’Doherty a mile before collapsing in the Sarkozy sighs. “I must tell you, such a thick, rough Irish accent grabbed it.” said to the judge. “Does that street. Paddy, that I have 6 ,000 tanks that no-one could understand a Paddy paused for a sip of his mean I can keep the money “Okay then,” he shouted at and 5,000 armoured per- single word he said. He decided Guinness before continuing. then?” the retreating fire engine. “You sonnel carriers. Also, I to move to London and enrol in “So I says to Mikey, come on One night it was quiet and can keep your bloody ice cream have increased my army to a college where he took elocu- me aul’ son we’re going fish- O’Doherty and I were sitting then.” 150,000 since we last spoke.” tion lessons. ing. So we go to the bridge and talking. Some of my regular custom- “Saints preserve us!” says Three years later he was Mike grabs me by the ankles “Do you know what the first ers can become a bit of a hand- Paddy. “I’ll have to get back to speaking with a perfect BBC and holds me over the side.” thing my dad said to me when I ful. Take the time when Ireland you.” English accent. It was time, “So did you catch a fish,” I went to prison?” he asked. became part of the European Paddy rings again the next O’Dwyer decided, to return to asked. “No,” I replied. Union. Some of my regulars day. “Mr. Sarkozy, the war is Ireland. “No,” Paddy replied in dis- “Hello son. Fancy seeing you were not very happy about it. still on! We have managed to The first thing he did when he gust. “I got hit by a bloody here.” One afternoon, after quite a get ourselves airborne! We have landed was to go and celebrate train.” Poor O’Doherty is always few bevvies (drinks) they de- modified Jackie McLaugh- with a drink or two. Not all my regular custom- getting himself into trouble. cided to do something about it. lin’s ultra-light with a couple “They won’t even know that ers are hooligans though. David Last week he left the pub at Paddy O’Leary phoned the of shotguns in the cockpit, and I’m Irish,” he smiled to himself Flynn is a local politician. One closing time and I must admit French president, Nicolas Sar- four boys from the Shamrock as he walked into the first estab- of the things I really like about that he was bolloxed (drunk). kozy. Bar have joined us as well!” lishment he came across. Flynn is that I can always tell Outside he was stopped by “Hallo, Mr. Sarkozy! This is Sarkozy was silent for a min- “I say old chap,” he said to when he is lying - his lips move. a banner (policewoman - the Paddy down at Mulligan’s Pub ute and then cleared his throat. the man behind the counter. He told me an interesting Irish for police woman is Ban in County Limerick, Ireland. I “I must tell you, Paddy, that “Could I have a large gin and story the other day. It appears Garda). am ringing to inform you that I have 100 bombers and 200 tonic and one of your finest Ha- that the presidents of America, asked which of the brothers had “Well you look like you’ve we are officially declaring war fighter planes. My military vana cigars.” France and Ireland were trav- passed away. had a bit to drink,” she said. on you! We voted to reject the bases are surrounded by laser- “You must be from County elling on a plane. They were “No, no, it’s nothing like “I’m placing you under arrest. Lisbon treaty!” guided, surface-to-air missile Clare,” the man said. flying around the world while that,” he laughed. “It’s just that Anything you say will be taken “Well, Paddy,” Sarkozy re- sites. And since we last spoke, “Good lord,” O’Dwyer said, holding a high-powered confer- I’ve given up drinking.” down.” plied, “This is indeed important I have increased my army to clearly stunned. “How did you ence on how to solve the prob- Some of my regular custom- “Your knickers (panties),” he news! How big is your army?” 200,000!” know that?” lems of the world. ers are a little bit thick. Take said. “Right now,” says Paddy, “Mary and Joseph!” says “Well you see,” the man told At one stage French president Ryan O’Doherty for example. Naturally he spent yet anoth- after a moment’s calculation, Paddy, “I will have to ring you him. “This is the post office.” Nicolas Sarkozy stuck his arm He asked me if I wouldn’t mind er night in the police cells. “there’s meself, me cousin back.” Michael Maher and Paddy out of the window of the jet and installing a large mirror in the One of my regular custom- Sean, me next door neighbour Sure enough, Paddy calls Molony came into the pub yes- said: pub. When I asked him why he ers is the local priest, Father Seamus, and the entire darts again the next day. “Top o’ the terday and poor Paddy looked “We are over Paris, France.” said to me: O’Grady. He was telling me team from the pub. That makes mornin’, Mr. Sarkozy! I am sor- in a terrible state. He was cov- “How do you know,” the oth- “Well the doctor has told me that one of his parishioners, eleven!” ry to inform you that we have ered in bandages and bruises. er two asked him. that I need to watch my drink- Mary Mulligan, came to see Sarkozy paused. “I must tell had to call off the war.” “What happened to you then “I just hit my hand on the Ei- ing.” him the previous night, sobbing you Paddy that I have 100,000 “Really? I am sorry to hear Paddy,” I asked. ffel Tower.” At times I feel rather sorry her eyes out. men in my army waiting to that,” says Sarkozy with a hint “Well it was like this you A short while later US presi- for O’Doherty. He’s not had “Father, my husband just move on my command.” of sarcasm in his voice. “Why see,” Paddy explained. “Yester- dent Barack Obama stuck his the easiest of times. He spent died,” she sobbed. “Okay then” says Paddy. “I’ll the sudden change of heart?” day just after lunch Mike and arm out of the window, pulled three years in prison, but it was “Did he have any last words,” have to ring you back.” “Well,” says Paddy, “we had meself left the pub and bumped it in and said: his own stupidity that put him Father O’Grady asked her. The next day, Paddy calls a long chat over a few pints of into two young boys. They “We are over New York City, there. “Yes,” she said. “His last again. “Mr. Sarkozy, the war is Guinness and packets of crisps, were carrying this huge fish and United States of America. I just He was arrested and charged words were ‘Mary, put that gun still on. We have managed to get and we decided there is no way I asked them where they had hit my hand on the Empire State with robbery. According to the down right now’.” us some armoured vehicles!” we can feed 200,000 prisoners caught it. Building.” garda (police) he had robbed One night Father O’Grady “And what armour would that of war.” “The boy tells me that they Not long after that Irish presi- a bank of 5,000 Euros. When was in the pub and a fire engine be Paddy?” Sarkozy asks. Some of the people do try had gone to the bridge and his dent Mary McAleese stuck her he went to court there was in- came past, bells ringing. He “Well, we have two com- and better themselves. Take brother had held him by the an- arm out of the window and sufficient evidence and he was jumped up and chased the fire bined harvesters a bulldozer, the case of Peter O’Dwyer. He kles over the side of the bridge. quickly pulled it back. found not guilty. engine down the road for about and Murphy’s farm tractor.” was from County Clare and had When the fish came past he had “We are over Limerick, Re- 52 53 Brennan with a look of despair on his face. Quiz Answers “Why don’t you go home dad. You’ve had more than enough You know you’re So how did you do with this months quiz? Here are the answers. to drink.” Irish when... Well that’s enough Blarney 1. BMD-3 (Boyevaya Mashi- 10. M1 Abrams - United States for me for one story. It’s almost • You swear very well. na Desanta) - Soviet Union (1980) time for me to open the pub • At least one of your cous- (1990) 11. Ramses II (T-54E) - Egypt again. Already I can see a few ins holds political office. 2. Challenger 2 - United King- (2005) of the regulars outside looking • You think you sing very dom (1998) 12. Type-96 MBT - China at their watches. Heaven help well. 3. CIO Ariete - Italy (1995) 1997 me if I’m one minute late when • You have no idea how to 4. Chonma-ho (Pegasus) - 13. Denel Olifant (Elephant) - it comes to opening time. make a long story short. North Korea (1981) South Africa (1978) public of Ireland,” she said. I can see O’Doherty and he’s • There isn’t a huge differ- 5. T-90 - Russia (1995) 14. Leopard 2 - Germany “How do you know that,” already drunk, even before the ence between losing your 6. Type 10 MBT - Japan (1979) Obama and Sarkozy asked. pub is open. Paddy O’Leary temper and killing some- (2012) 15. ROTEM K2 (Black Pan- “My wrist watch is missing.” and his mates are plotting who one. 7. Merkava (Chariot) - Israel ther) - South Korea (2013) There are some of my regular to declare war on next. Brennan • Much of your food was (1979) customers that I would like to is out there arguing with him- boiled. 8. TAMSE TAM (Tanque Ar- ban from the pub. It’s just that self. As Sigmund Freud said: • You spent a good portion gentino Mediano) - Argen- I need the money. Brian Bren- “This is one race of people for of your childhood kneel- tina (1983) nan is one of them I would love whom psychoanalysis is of no ing. 9. T-99 Armata (Universal to ban. He’s a nice enough fel- use whatsoever.” • You are strangely poetic Combat Platform - UCP) - la until he’s had a few drinks. Happy St. Paddy’s Day to all after a few beers. Russia (2013) Then he becomes very aggro. of you and remember what the • You are therefor poetic a A couple of nights ago he was great Brendan Boyle once said: lot. in the pub and he starts picking “If you are lucky enough to • You will be punched for Useful links on a young lad sitting next to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.” no good reason - a lot. him. Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- And, in closing, may I leave • Some punches directed at “Hey you,” he shouted, stick- line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. you with an old Irish blessing. you are legacies from past ing his finger in the young Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for “May the roads you walk be generations. man’s face. “I think you’re one veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The straight, with never an uphill. • Someone in your family of the most ugliest things I’ve second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click May the sun shine upon your is incredibly cheap. It is ever laid eyes on.” on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. face and a gentle breeze blow more than likely you. The young man said nothing. on your back. May the tea al- • You may not know the Just sat there and continued to ways be hot and the Guinness words, but that doesn’t sip on her beer. cold. And may you be in heaven stop you from singing. “And what’s more,” shouted for at least ten minutes before • You can’t wait for the oth- Brennan, “I think you’re an the devil finds out that you’re er guy to stop talking so eejit. A big thick eejit.” dead.” n you can start talking. Still the young man didn’t re- • “Irish Stew” is the euphe- spond and this really got Bren- mism for “boiled leftover nan worked up. from the fridge”. “And let me tell you a little • These wasn’t a huge dif- secret my friend,” Brennan ference between your last smirked. “I’ve slept with your party and your last wake. mother. That’s right, I’ve had sex with your mother. And more than once!” The young man turned to 54 55 E-mail [email protected]

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