COLONEL JAMES JtllHNSTON eBE, TD. FORMER COMMAN~ING eFFICER, 21sT The Pedigree Dogs Of War Not far from Gloucester Road tube station, at number a decade, these and similar people have been involved in a 11 Courtfield Mews, SW5, is the organising office of an private army service, supplying bodyguards, troops and undercover mercenary recruiting organisation called KMS. invasion parties to despotic rulers and other wealthy in• To its doors have come all but one of the people pictured terests. Freelance writer Duncan Campbell has documented on our cover-most of them past or present associates of the operations of the mercenary marketplace which KMS the s elite Special Air Service. For more than represents-for 15 years, over four continents.

figures in KMS-are themselves former been identified as the key figures of SAS commanding officers, Brigadier W KMS. They are: M Wingate Gray and Colonel H J Brigadier Mike Wingate Gray, Johnson (no relation to Colonel Hugh A Colonel Jim Johnson, Johnstone, identified as 'Colonel B'). Major David J Walker, Mike Wingate Gray commanded the Major Andrew M Nightingale. official 22nd SAS regiment from 1964. Major Walker, to whom we spoke to 1967. Jim Johnson was the comman• last week, denied that he or the other der of the 2lst SAS regiment from 1960 three ex-SAS officers were directors, to 1962. shareholders, or employees of KMS. KMS stands for Keeni-Meeni Services But Time Out has obtained considerable we have been told. Keeni-Meeni is south evidence that all four are intimately Arabian slang, meaning 'under the connected with KMS. counter' or suchlike. The phrase has also Time Out has photographed Johnson, been used as a codeword for the SAS Wingate Gray and other identified and operations in south Arabia. At SAS HQ as-yet unidentified ex-SAS men visiting in Hereford, they have another name for the Courtfield Mews office. Johnson, undercover operations in the desert• Wingate Gray and Walker are each Col Henry James Johnson, OBE, TD, - 'bucket and spade jobs'. regular attenders, and park their cars in Insurance Broker turned private army KMS Ltd is registered in Jersey, the mews garage. Courtfield Mews resi• organiser. Col David Stirling founded the SAS where taxation is less burdensome, and dents have also-observed sporadic visits addressed to various individuals in the during World War 2 and continued liberal companies legislation does not by groups of up to half a dozen young KMS organisation. These include official his practice of setting up private require the public disclosure of the men (such as the two on our cover). letters to Andrew Nightingale concern• armies for another thirty years. His names of directors or other company These include ex-SAS troopers, and ing his government service, and other last venture was GB75, a strike break• officials. From two independent sources their apparent purpose is briefing or de• letters to Wingate Gray and Johnson at ing force planned in 1974. After the in official organisations closely monitor• briefing sessions before or after jobs. KMS's Courtfield Mews office. The collapse of GB75, he set up Truemid ing the mercenary trade, however, Time We have also received, delivered correspondence-which has now been (Movement for True Industrial Out has obtained lists of those who have anonymously, a bundle of letters returned to its authors-makes clear the Democracy), a direct attempt at political continuing semi-official contacts of the intervention in trades unions. KMS network. Major Andrew Nightingale originally Few people have heard of KMS Ltd. joined the Intelligence Corps as a sub• Fewer still know what the name means. altern, and was identified last year But to soldiers and officers in elite during an illicit arms deal trial as second British Army regiments-like the 22nd in command of the SAS Group Intelli• Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment, gence unit at the Duke of York based at Hereford-the company and Barracks, beside Sloane Square. Last the individuals involved are well known week, an associate of Nightingale's at as a recruiting office. To men about to the Duke of York's, Mr Dodkin, con• leave the army, or those still in who are firmed that he had worked there some enticed to leave by lucrative mercenary months before. The Ministry of De• 'contracts', KMS is wryly known as '24 fence say that he has left the Army SAS'. There are only three official SAS 'in the last three months'. They refuse regiments, the 21st and 23rd being to specify the exact date. volunteer regiments. '24' SAS is the The apparent involvement of serving highly organised network for the Brigadier Mike Wingate and recently serving officers of the SAS employment of former SAS members-a Gray, former SAS com• and the Special Branch in the mercen• network that many in the SAS itself mander and defence ary trade is an alarming feature of the fear is transforming the regiment into a attache, humps life• evidence gathered during our enquiry. training ground for other people's jackets and sea anchors The case of KMS appears to breach the private armies. from his car into KMS' rule that overt public servants should The commanders of 24 SAS-the key office. keep at least at arms length from those

TIME OUT 7 they are observing. Here, such arms length official observation has the appearance of a tight embrace. Night• ingale, at least, appears to have been in contact with KMS before he officially left the army. The Insurance Cover Jim Johnson is an extremely wealthy man-an insurance broker by profession, he is a Lloyd's 'Name'. The Names of Lloyds are a 14,000 strong corps who provide the basic capital to finance the enormous insurance market. The minimum entry stake to be a Name is now £75,000. A director of a city insurance firm Thomas Nelson (Insurance) Ltd, Johnson has freely used his company's name to provide 'cover' for the mercenary activities. When he started renting 11 Courtfield Mews in May 1975, he told the owners, Waldron Estates, that he wanted a flat. But he had then, and has now, a permanent home at 13 Sloane Avenue, one minute's walk from the SAS group HQ. Courtfield Mews, SWS, the 1976-1978 operations base of the ex-SAS mercenary network. Where next? Inset: Fiona Fraser KMS Ltd was originally registered in (left) and two ex-SAS troopers (right) arrive at No 11 (arrowed). Jersey as 'Executives International Ltd' during June 1977. Two months later, was accepted back at its start and estab• is used for body-guard work for people recruiter, John Banks, as the 'man you the name was changed to KMS. The lished the 'Special Air Service' as a free• like (Sheikh) Yamani. They have a always meet first' in the Special Branch shareholders of KMS are all apparently lance raiding force. Its activities, often permanent contract with Argentina. The if you are organising mercenary employed by Morgan Grenfell rash, spectacular, and even heroic, were government pass money to HRS.' activities. In a sworn statement present· (Jersey) Ltd, a finance house which also resented by those in equally dangerous The contract with Sheikh Zaki ed in court last year Banks described provides KMS's registered office address situations in the ordinary front line of Yamani-the powerful oil minister of how his three year contact with the at 12 Dumaresq Street, St Helier. The battle. Although a number of authors -is confirmed by items of use of such nominee shareholders is a have described the wartime SAS as KMS correspondence addressed to His standard technique for concealing the "cafe society gangsters' the myth of an Excellency, and seen by Time Out. identity of a company's true owners. elite corps was born. It thrives today The Argentinian 'contract' is one When Kensington and Chelsea as the SAS mystique is extended to the among many contacts with South Council and the owners investigated the problems of combatting terrorism. American governments and business• use of Courtfield Mews, Johnson wrote The disturbing successors to these men made by Walker. The Foreign from the city office of Thomas Nelson 'heroes' are a group of semi-employed Office have confirmed that Major (Insurance) Ltd claiming that it was ex-soldiers, vigorously trained in the tra• Walker was posted 'on temporary duty' used by the firm. The telephone line at dition of the Service to interrogate, to British embassies in Chile, Argentina, 11 Courtfield Mews-number 370 3942 sabotage, and silently kill. Such a pool Brazil and Colombia. is also, according to Post Office of military talent is fostered and milked Two months ago, an article on the records, registered in their name. So too by recruiters like Johnson, who are able front page of announced a are two saloon cars used for KMS oper• to offer lucrative pay packets--£300 a new company-Saladin Security Ltd• ations in London, a 3000 cc silver Ford week has recently been mentioned as a said to be specialising in 'kidnap and Granada GL often driven by Johnson, typical figure for work in Arabia. rans_o!11p~o~ection. From offices in the John Banks, notorious Angolan mer• and a 1600 cc blue Ford Capri GL The photographs on our cover familia~ terntory of Sloane Street, SWl, cenary recruiter. sometimes used by Nightingale. Accord• feature former SAS officers involved they will take over the overt bodyguard ---'------1 ing to the Vehicle Licence centre at with KMS. One is Major Russell West, services provided by KMS to middle then Detective Inspector Tucker had Swansea, both these vehicles are ex-SAS squadron commander and one Eastern rulers and businessmen. enabled him to get his Angola-bound registered for 'private' use by Thomas time managing director of Thor Security Security industry sources say that mercenaries through Heathrow airport Nelson (Insurance) Ltd, of Mariner Systems Ltd. Last July, the Sunday Detective Chief Inspector Ray Tucker without their passports. This statement House, Pepys Street, EC3. Times reported that Thor was offering of the Special Branch is involved with was never denied-nor has there been for sale, in confidential brochures sent the new Saladin business. any official investigation into Tucker's to overseas clients, secret details of Tucker refused to comment on these alleged role in allowing the mercen• The Cafe Society security equipment. 'Most of this infor• and other allegations. 'You don't ask a aries (many of them wanted in court) mation is classified but can be available police officer that sort of question,' he to pass unhindered. Gangsters to Thor Security Systems for suitable said last week. But it is well known that For 15 years, Jim Johnson has been at government or civilian design contracts,' T~c~er is a sp~cialist on Arab aff~irs TheWarlords the centre of mercenary recruitment the firm's brochure stated. within the Special Branch, charged with operations. Ironically, but perhaps not the onerous task of investigating and r Th~ SAS Officer co~ps cont~ns three untypically, it is doubtful whether he monitoring the growing tide of inter- main castes of British society: the has ever heard a shot fired in anger. He Bodyguards necine Arab violence in London. He English aristocracy and its traditional joined the Welsh guards at the very end would also advise visiting Arabs on involvement with cavalry and guards of the Second World War, in time to be Anonymous security services. regiments; the professional home demobbed and join the SAS territorial Major David John Walker, an SAS Scotland Yard admitted last week counties upper middle class, strong in reserve then being formed. Johnson suc• reservist living in Twickenham, left the that Tucker was 'aware of KMS and 2lst SAS and typified by Jim Johnson; cessfully rose through the territorial army in October 1974 to join a new Saladin Security. But they added that and Scottish lairds like David Stirling, ranks to become in 1960, commander company, Control Risks Ltd. Walker Tucker's 'official duties do not involve with a strongly rooted tradition of of the 2lst SAS (volunteers), a reserve was a director from 1974 to July 1977, him with KMS Ltd or Saladin Security private clan armies. regiment based at the Duke of York's when KMS became established. Ltd'. The latter caste is well represented in barracks. The activities of Control Risks Ltd Secretaries at both companies, KMS. Jim Johnson's principal assistant The Service was itself the wartime were well known to ex-soldiers looking however, appeared to be very familiar in KMS, and a 'daily attender at Court• brainchild of a Scots laird named David for employment. According to recruit• with Tucker. field Mews, is the Hon Fiona Fraser, Stirling, who had been asked to leave er John Banks, Walker ran an organis• _ Detective Inspector Tucker was daughter of Lord Lovat. Lovat helped the before the War. He ation called HRS- 'it is semi-official and described by the Angolan mercenary establish the Commandos during the last

B TIME OUT 21-27JULY 1978 war, and his family are strongly con· Guernsey, the company's Sloane Street Security and Surveys, Head of State . Wealthy businessmen exiled by nected with the SAS. offices included an operations centre for Security, and '. The Gaddafi's coup wanted to hire a military The Honourable Fiona has been Stirling's military exploits. like KMS, special forces, the brochure claimed, force to restore the deposed and some· working with Johnson for 15 years. In Watchguard's Channel Islands regis• would train others to 'combat in· what corrupt monarchy. Stirling agreed, 1963, David Stirling recruited Johnson tration concealed the names of its direc• surgency and guerilla warfare'. and set about planning 'The Hilton to organise a mercenary force for tors. But it closely paralleled a British Watchguard's cover was effectively Assignment' from a specially rented flat Yemen. One retired ex-SAS officer registered company, Kulinda Security blown by the Sunday Times, which pub· in Montpelier Street, SW7, and another recently recalled Johnson and Fraser's Ltd. The original directors of Kulinda lished in 1970 a proposal from Stirling opposite Harrods. An SAS Major, absurdly melodramatic method of re· were Colonel John Woodhouse, a to King Feisal offering a 'Task Force' to John Brooke-Miller, had left the army cruiting: they had parked round the former commanding officer of the 22nd invade the Yemen and undermine its to help with the operation, and other corner from the target officer's house, SAS, Stirling, and Viscount Lumley government. The force was offered to ex-SAS officers joined Stirling's group. and then hailed him from their car as (now the Earl of Scarborough). carry out 'destruction on a massive scale They planned a sudden raid on the they drove slowly beside him as he left. Woodhouse and Lumley have both . using relatively sophisticated Tripoli prison, freeing 150 of Gaddafi's Fiona continued to run the London left, and the company was dissolved in sabotage techniques' on major Yemeni political prisoners, and sparking off an office of the Yemeni royalists during 1976. Other ex-SAS officers, including roads. Stirling boasted that he had uprising. the war. Fifteen years later, she is still Captain Johnny McKay-Lewis and 'access to the Special Air Service Regi• The Hilton Assignment never Johnson's right hand person. Captain the Lord Beresford joined ment of the British Army'. happened. Stirling and his colleagues Mike Wingate Gray also springs from Stirling as directors during the 1970s. Indeed he did. Stirling's 'Director of were just too much a part of the British the Scottish caste. After service in the Watchguard was ostensibly designed Operations', mentioned in the literature, establishment for international observers prestigious Black Watch regiment, he to supply private bodyguards to over· was a former SAS Commanding Officer, to accept-if anything went wrong-that was sent in the early '60s to a Ministry seas heads of state in Africa and the Colonel John Woodhouse. the operation was genuinely private. For of Defence job concerned with officer's Middle East. But, as with KMS, this was A few months after this expose, how· the first time, it seems, the British postings. His ambition was to command the 'cover' beneath which was hidden ever, Stirling was once -again organising Secret Service decided that Stirling's the BlackWatch; but the job was clearly more explicit military operations. invasion parties. The target now was the military escapades were outliving their nevergoing to be his. He was posted to Watchguard's brochure offered 'Military young Colonel Gaddafi, the new ruler of usefulness. Under heavy British and the 22nd SAS at Hereford as second-in· command, and commanding officer designate. Officers then with the SAS A more comprehensive reference to strong contingent of Scottish gentry among regard him as something of a usurper Military military trading is made in a letter to Jim its founding fathers. who selected the SAS as his second Johnson from another ex·SAS officer, Brian An invoice from a Hereford sports shop choice since the Black Watch was un• Dispatches Kilty. Kilty was recruited by KMSfrom the for 20 pairs of 'Punchball Mits,Small' may be available. SAS about two years ago, and left them to connected with the need to help keep their work for military manufacturers Saunders· 'teams' fighting fit. Other papers sent to Time Wingate Gray is now a director of Rowe early in 1978. His letter refers to an Out deal with official payments to Major

Solaris Marine Ltd, a Southampton - Saunders-Roe operation called 'Taxi·Rank' in Saudi Arabia. Andrew Nightingale, and the pension tax based shipyard largely owned by SRDL Developments Limited We were unfortunately unable to obtain returns of other ex-SASofficers. further details of the mysterious 'Taxi-Rank'. Lichtenstein nominees. Another letter delivered to Time Out was The letter from Brian Kilty mentions sent' to Wingate Gray by Steve Callan, a others in the wealthy and dangerous military sergeant in the SAS' Operations Research tapestry of the Middle East. NevilleThomas Section at their Hereford base. Callan's name TheMercenary wasan arms dealer livingin Beirut; on April 4, featured in the January 1977 honours list 1978, according to the Foreign Office, he and when he was awarded the REM.Callan'sletter Succession his wife were shot dead. Kitty's remark from a sergeant to a Brigadier and former Johnson's recruiting for the Yemen war about the 'Lads' in Beirut may refer to regiment commander-makes clear that did not escapeofficial attention. One of ex-SAS mercenaries known to be with the Wingate Grays's '24 SAS' is not an official the officers who left the SAS to fight in Christians in the protracted Lebanese con· force. Describing a radio transmitter alarm flict. system being built into a watch by a British Yemenhad been his adjutant in the 21st Douglas Bruce-Merrie, referred to in company, he writes 'obviously I can only pass SAS at Chelsea. The next adjutant, Kitty's letter, is a 'local Lt-Col' in the 1976 on information of a straight commercial 'U Army list, and is reportedly posted as an MoD :JJ Captain Arish Turle, has also now left nature as our interest in and intended use of m adviser to the Saudi Arabian national guard• this device are of a sensitive nature'. ln (/) the Army to work for Control Risks (/) Ltd, with another ex-SAS colleague, evidently a not over-arduous task. Kilty signs recommending the device, he adds 'I do not )> his letter 'Yours aye'-a quasi-masonicrecog• wish to cast doubt on the effectiveness of (/) (/) Captain Simon Adams-Dale. In July niticn sign of the SAS stemming from the your teams'. 0 n 1967, Captain Richard Pirie-described ); by SAS colleagues as 'as straight as a ::::! die' took over the adjutant's job. Within Letter from ex-SAS officer Brian Kilty 0z a few weeks, Pirie hit the headlines in a to his former KMS boss Jim Johnson: )I Sunday newspaper. His office at the 'I hope you and all at KMS are well'. Duke of York's barracks was he said An assortment of letters apparently originally 'used as a clearing ground for rnercen• sent to KMS was delivered recently for Time aries'. He passed 'names and military Out. They provide an intriguing insight into records to a man at a secret address.' military wheelingsand dealingsin Arabia. The letters include references to shipments 'The mercenaries usually heard some· of 'two cartons of rifle cleaning parts' to thing in a week or two,' he said. 'Most 'Project Services' an agency in Muscat, the of the recent volunteers have asked to capital of the strife-tom state of Oman. The fight for the Royalists in the Yemen.' shipping agency, Trandex, confirmed that the freight sent to Oman for KMSwas collected The Ministry of Defence denied that from Courtfleld Mews.A letter back to 'Dear the recruitment was official. But the Fiona' from Willy Wilson of 'Lawrence of description of a secret organisation Muscat' is written in the style of simple recruiting mercenaries for the Yemen as military operations code. ..,,.,. ·' - well as 'underdeveloped countries in the The letter, addressed to Fiona Fraser, says 'Many thanks your letter, also item No 15 by \\~~":s~~' Middle East and Africa' closely resem• hand of Ben Casey •.. We managed to get bles the now well known mercenary BenCasey plus the radios in with no problems forces which were organised by Jim at all, very smooth it was too'. A former Johnson and David Stirling. senior Arrnv officer to whom we showed the letters said; 'This is not an innocent letter• Pirie was ordered to write a report communicating like this is one of the first for his commanding officer, and no things you are taught.' Certainly, BenCasey is more was heard of the affair. In 1973, more likely to be a code name than a TV star Pirie was reported killed in a car acci• physician. dent during SAS 'escape and evasion' The letter continues, referring to 'items four and five', an adds: 'Yes, over the period exercisesin France. of three years the I0 sheets each of Coloured As the Yemen war tailed off, David Card will most certainly be used, but. if the Stirling set up a new organisation which SSF request some urgently I will send some soon became recognised as the most down'. 'Coloured Card' is clearly a code word prestigious private military organisation for military supplies; SSF stands for the Supplies for the troops: 'Punchball Mitts, Small', 'Rifle Cleaning Parts'; clandestine Sultan (of Oman)'s Special Forces, one of perhaps ever created-Watchguard severalgroups of ex-SASofficers surrounding letters from Oman- 'we will be ready to start on time 29 April'; and to the (International) Ltd. Registered in the Sultan and catered for by KMS. paymaster, Sheikh Yamani.

TIME OUT 9 American diplomatic pressure, the oper• and gun running'. ation was abandoned. An attempt to use THE COMFORT STORY OF French mercenaries instead was success• fully headed off. TheLegacy Last week, David Stirling told us 'I stopped all that sort of stuff five years OfTerror ago.' There is no reason to disbelieve But although Johnson and his colleagues this remark; indeed it seems that others may now have superseded Stirling as the have taken over his mantle as the main mercenary entrepreneur, the grandee of British private soldiery. history of Stirling's Watchguard Wallabeei There are, for instance, traces of Jim machine continues to haunt internation• the world's most popular Johnson's continuing involvement in ex• al soldiers of fortune. like the previous casuals for men and SAS recruitment in the Regimental Katanga mercenary 'commandos', the Magazine, Mars and Minerva. In the Watchguard operators and their opera· women issue of December 1972, a short note tions were to leave scars on intemation• Why are listed employment with private com• al affairs for at least a decade. WALLABEES so popular? panies available to soldiers leaving the Among Watchguard's employees SAS. Those desiring a transport job• were, at one time or another, John The answer is simple: comfort. with 'a gratifying SAS element'-were Banks, Sgt 'Darkie' Davidson, and Chris Dempster. Banks, now notorious as the Seefor yourself. Authentic asked to contact Major Stuart Perry, a director of Jarvale Ltd. Major Perry's Angola recruiter, was dishonourably dis• moccasin-construction in flexible then co-directors at Jarvale include charged from the Parachute Regiment, leatheror suedethat wraps right Colonel Jim Johnson, and the company and claims to have been hired by Stirling for the 'Hilton Assignment'. round and underthe foot. shares the same city office suite as his insurance broking firm. 'Darkie' Davidson is a 22nd SAS veteran Cushioned insoles. Built-in The Jarvale Ltd ad is oddly remi• of Malaya and Oman. Dempster is arch-support. Thick rubber or niscent of a similar advertisement placed another ex-SAS trooper, now, according to colleagues a member of its 'R' squad• crepesoles.Handstitched uppers. in the Regimental Orders of 2lst SAS by ex-trooper Philip Carte, for 'Middle ron. R Squadron is groups of volunteers Try on a pair and let your feet East long distance drivers'. According to attached to the regular SAS regiment. tell the difference. the June 1973 edition of Mars and Last November, Davidson was a key Minerva, many who read the order took figure in organising an assassination the ad as an 'intro to clandestine ops attempt against the President of the

Falques is reputedly one of the most brutal torturers to serve in the French forces. Johnson's Denaro has recently been involved in several mercenary operations in the Indian Ocean. A Secret War few months ago he and 50 men invaded the In a series of Daily Telegraph articles in tiny Comoros Islands, near Madagascar, and February 1970, the Yemen mercenary 'force installed Denard as temporary 'President', The leader, Colonel James Johnson' described how Seychelles government fear they may be his he had recruited ex-SAS officers to fight next target, and have appealed for inter· against the republican regime in the Yemen. national help. Denard and his men also The conservative Islamic regime of the Imam appeared in Biafra, and again in Angola on a of Yemen had ended suddenly with his death lucrative CIA payroll, fighting for the FNLA. in 1962. Egypt poured in financial and Johnson and Smiley made frequent trips military support to a new republican regime, to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to see the Saudi eventually including tanks and thousands of princes and ministers who were financing the mercenaries. Smiley later described the men. A Conservative MP with close SAS links, Yemen war in his book 'Arabian Assignment'. Neil Maclean, made several trips to the Royal· The mercenaries did well financially and were ist forces which were holding the mountain• worth their pay, he wrote, 'but one fairly ous regions of Yemen. With the assistance of senior officer, in particular, was strictly on David Stirling and the 'cover' of his corn· the make'. Colonel Johnson never mercial television company, Television Inter• went near the battle area itself. His status national Enterprises Ltd, Johnson and others with the mercenaries sunk considerably lower recruited a force of French and British after three British and two French men were mercenaries. killed in the closing stages of the campaign in 4 CushionedArch-support Maclean soon visited the Yemen again 1967. All were married, with children, and with Colonel David Smiley, who had been in Johnson had to be forced to pay compensation. 24 countries overall charge of SAS operations in Oman But the Yemen war paid off handsomely Ladies': £19.99 during a guerilla struggle in the late 1950s, for Johnson: to the tune of an estimated round the world. which flared up again in 1965. Johnson, who £250,000. The Saudi defence minister, Prince Men's: £21.50 retired from his job as a Lloyd's broker and Sultan had partially financed it by sending his command of 21 SAS. ran the London gold bullion to Johnson in London. Former recruiting office, while Smiley eventually colleagues recall absurd moments when the became the field commander. A group of six London office became almost penniless, ex-SAS officers, some recruited direct from whilst a stock of Saudi gold bullion stood the serving regiment, flew initially to Yemen around waiting to be converted. via the British base in Aden. At one stage, an astonishing secret alliance Early in 1964, the Sunday Times publish· between Israel and Saudi Arabia was used to ed documents captured by the Egyptians solve the perennial problem of parachuting which revealed the use of Stirling's Sloane supplies to the entrenched Royalist forces. WallabeeS A quality Irishproduct. The supply planes took off from Israel Street offices for military organisation-and by Padmore & Barnes the involvement of a young RAF officer, (known by the code name 'Mango') and flew Flight Lieutenant Anthony Boyle. Boyle had, secretly across Saudi Arabia to the Yemen. Availablefrom it seemed, been seconded for the job by SIS, Johnson, in the Daily Telegrap'i 'exclusive', the secret service. It was entirely unclear was at pains to describe this route as a 'cover' whether he was intended to assist or to story given to the mercenaries in Yemen. provide an official eye to monitor Johnson's The secret Ycmen war and the Israeli airdrops were, however, frequent topics of activities. Up to 100 British and French mcrcei::•ries discussion amongst ex-SAS officers in /(,Shoe Slwps had been involved in the war. During it John• London. One group met regularly to dis• son became acquainted with well known cuss SAS policy at Thursday lunches at the 15 and 324 Oxford St., W1. 51 Brampton Rd., SW3. French mercenary recruiters, Bob Denard and Hyde Park Hotel, where former SAS CO Col 82 and 203 Regent St., W1. 149 Victoria St., SW1. Roger Falques, both of whom ran separate Brian Franks had a private suite. Members of 121/2 High Holborn. WC2. parts of the Ycmen operation. The French this group recall Johnson's boasts about Brent Cross Shopping Centre NW4. mercenaries, whose origins as an international the secret Israeli arrangements. force had been in Katanga and the Congo, The advantage to Israel was clear. When were for the most part brutal men, often from the Six Day War with Egypt eventually the OAS-the right wing French army group came, many of their troops and tanks were which had planned to assassinate De Gaulle. still pinned down in the Yemen.

10 TIME OUT 21-27JULY 1978 West African state of Togo. He was to cover up KMS's other activities. observed recruiting several times in the A reference in the article to a small Hereford area. This (ultimately un• arms training centre in Jersey used by successful) venture also included an the company even triggered off a associate of John Banks, David Channel Islands search for the site of Tompkins, in its organisation. Dempster the secret shooting range. Such a range was among the youthful shambles of a would•. be illegal, according to local mercenary army that John Banks dis• authorities. patched to Angola. Last Wednesday, David Walker When John Banks set up his Security agreed to see two Time Out reporters to Advisory Services (SAS!) recruiting talk about military activities and body• organisation above a laundrette in guard work. During a 25-minute state• Camberley, he issued a brochure which ment in which he ignored any questions was probably a better description of put to him, he presented a story Watchguard than of his own organis• designed to account for most of the ation. In a recently published account information likely to be known to Time of his mercenary career, 'The Wages of Out. He claimed that he, Johnson, War', Banks mentions how he and his Wingate Gray and Nightingale were all colleagues referred to Watchguard as 'employed, in different roles' by Thos 'Plan-A-War'. Nelson (Insurance) Ltd, and that none Banks is still in the mercenary had any relationship with KMS except business; neighbours in Camberley to sell it insurance. The Courtfield Mews report a constant stream of 'military address had, he said, been intended as a types' visitinghis flat opposite the Sand• Officials and 'provisionals'; 'pied-a-terre' for west of London hurst Royal Military Academy. the Duke of York's barracks, directors because it was close to The mercenaries roll up to the near Sloane Square, SWI, Gloucester Road underground station. world's uglier conflicts like flies to is now the home of the official SAS Regimental HQ_Inset: David Stirling's Mayfair But it had become used as an office for a corpse. They are active now in offices, one time headquarters of the Watchguard private military organisation. The the company, and had handled some of Zaire and Angola, East Africa, initials of his address, curiously, abbreviate to '22 SAS'. the insurance work for KMS. Lebanon. Oman, Rhodesia, Sahara, Unfortunately this cover story direct· and a host of other places. Among their In different parts of his lengthy state• mercenary force. Stirling did not reply, ly clashes with the cover story planted number are many 'gentleman adven• ment, Banks talks about his three year but managed to delay the article for a in the Mail. This identified the Kensing• turers of the John Buchan type, but the long contact with Ray Tucker of the week. In the intervening few days, ton office as the Jersey firm's 'interview rest arc generally right wing thugs. The Special Branch. He refers to his Johnson created his own version for the centre' and remarked on the Lloyd's ruthless machismo of the mercenary acquaintanceship with David Walker. Daily Telegraph, carefully providing a underwriter's 'leading role' in the creed does not easily lend itself to ideas And he explains how he 'worked in cover story for each of the points in the company. of democracy, socialism or racial close ·harmony with Major Andrew unprinted article. Walker acknowledged that he and the equality. Nightingale', of SAS Group Intelli• A week later, the Sunday Times-• other ex-SAS officers had 'several gence. SAS Group Intelligence, he having lost their scoop and under severe business interests, separately and jointly', I.at claimed, 'employs, controls and runs pressure-could not use the story. and that Saladin Security was initially intelligence gathering and activities in Two weeks ago, Time Out's final set up by them from Courtfield Mews. alien paramilitary organisations in the enquiries to various government depart• He then accused Time Out of 'pro• UK. It runs assassination teams, snatch ments about the activities of KMS moting spurious ideologies'. This too is teams, infiltration teams and was run by inevitably alerted the group to an im• an intriguing echo of their response to Dare Newell, retired SAS officer.' pending article. Last Tuesday, the Daily Sunday Times articles on Yemen, which Banks is most likely confusing Mail published a 'Worldwide Exclusive' falsely accused the paper of being the official SAS activities with those of on 'The Bodyguards'. This piece claim• tool of Egyptian intelligence agents. their paramilitary associates. But he ed that ex-SAS 'hired armed bodyguards' had, according to other sources, from a Jersey based company with a correctly identified the SAS Group KMS have several clandestine radio Kensington 'interview centre' were The Pack Moves On Intelligence Unit as a lynchpin in the equipped operations cars, including supplied on a secret Foreign Office con• Within a week of this article's publi• links between the official SAS and para• this 3000 cc silver Ford Granada. tract to protect British Ambassadors cation, KMS will have left Courtfield military groups. There is little doubt The cars are used for such jobs as and other diplomatic staff abroad. Mews for good. Johnson has been served that the Duke of York's barracks• bodyguarding Sultan Qaboos of Prominent in the article was a some• with notice to quit by the owners, where retired Major Clarence 'Dare: Oman, on his recent informal visit what overstated apparent reference to because of their improper use of the Newell has notes on every ex-SAS man's to Britainlast March. Jim Johnson: 'A Lloyds underwriter• Mews for the mercenary business. army record-must be an Aladdin's cave whose distinguished military record According to David Walker, the staff of useful information for anyone inter• The KMSoperation in Kensington is enables him to have continuing links will move back to Thomas Nelson ested in recruiting mercenaries. closely connected with the 'Special with the SAS-(is) playing a leading role (Insurance), or to Saladin Security. Forces' ex-SAS mercenaries who have Banks is admittedly a self-confessed in the company.' Their cover may be a little better then, greatly assisted Sultan Quaboos · of liar, killer and cheat. But much of his The story was dismissed the next day but their work is unlikely to change. Oman in repressing the generally statement is corroborated by other by the Foreign Office as largely untrue. The Special Air Service Regiment has Marxistliberation movement in Oman's sources-not least the remarkable way No armed bodyguards are ever hired grown enormously in military prestige southern province of Dhofar. But KMS that three of five key alleged KMS from private companies to protect and reputation over the last 20 years. -as '24 SAS'-are known to handle associates feature prominently in Banks' Diplomatic Service staff-they are em• Now its specialised, commercially valu• recruitment for much other work in eight year tale of mercenary work. ployed directly by either the British or able and entirely deadly skills are Kuwait, Bahrein, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the host governments .. There were no becoming an unsavoury international and South America states such as such 'secret' contracts,' said the FO• commodity, a process clearly fostered Argentina. The Telegraph only a 'normally budgeted' arrangement by a sizeable minority of former senior Line for a specialist British company to send officers. Not least, they are offering the Banks visiting teams to a small handful of secrets and skills of the latest British The The true story of the secret war in embassies to train locally based staff in military training to the highest bidder. Connection Yemen was nearly told by the Sunday security practices. Many officials view the process with Times Insight team in 1970. But a The collection of unrelated facts, alarm, but it continues to thrive among Banks' shabby disreputability is a far determined and unfortunately successful half truths and untruths in last week's the nebulous crowd of secret agents, ex• cry from the elegant mercenary attempt was made to prevent the story Daily Mail article paralleled the articles SAS officers, and mercenary thugs who organisersin the Kensington Mews. But appearing. Last week identical tactics planted in the Telegraph in 1970. But have.cropped up in this account. astonishing evidence of the close were attempted against Time Out. This the bottom quickly fell out of the story The SAS have a swashbuckling motto links between the ex-SAS corps and the time the manouevre has backfired. this time-and the Foreign Office are surrounding the winged dagger on their grubbier Banks group is contained in a A few days before the Yemen story justifiably annoyed at the deliberate crest: 'Who Dares, Wins'. In Yemen, the statement sworn to a London solicitor was to be published, David Stirling was leaking of details of confidential mercenaries employed by KMS' Jim last year, later presented in an alleged asked to reply to allegations that he and arrangements concerning the security of Johnson coined an apt replacement: IRA arms. procurement trial. associates had organised the Royalist British staff abroad, in a clumsy attempt 'Who Pays, Wins'.

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