Rhodesia has all my admiration, as a descendant of Portuguese from Africa I know what they suffered. The West should never have lost its positions in Africa, it was a suicidal mistake.
As an Zimbabwean born in '86 it's so difficult to imagine living comfortably as a second class citizen in the country of my own ancestors despite some of the good things that Europeans brought.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Chris. I got a lucky break compared to you (and our other class mates) ending up in the SA army instead. My heart still hurts for the tough experiences you all went through. Many didn’t make it through. MTSRIP
Chris, I can still see you in my minds eye keeping wicket in Colts at St Johns. Appreciated the frankness of both the interviews. Salute, and God bless.
My book, "A walk against the stream" has been put on a par with his book "Fireforce". Available on Amazon (the one with the soldier standing near Victoria Falls).
@@Ezra.emerson I have pulled out your bookand having a good re-read. Very much de ja vu all over again !. I flew Trojan,,Provost and Lynx on 4 Sqn from 75 to 77. My call sign changed gradually from K4 to D4 as time went by. I had great admiration for all the ground Troopies. I am sure we must have shared a few contacts. I fully understand the mental health issues many have endured since and I have ben lucky to have not suffered too much-( although my Wife and kids may have a differnt view!) Still flying though! It helps keep me sane here in Australia. I meet mostly with the Brown Jobs on ANZAC day and march proudly behind our Flag rembering all who served. Russell
@@russellbroadbent7995 Russell. We would have undoubtedly shared a few contacts. We would have seriously struggled with all the awesome air support from you guys. That's what made the difference in the end.
@@Ezra.emerson for my older brother and many many others yes. They really got the short end of the stick in many ways, hats off to them. Some did ended doing 18 to 24 months NS. I had my NS extended indefinitely. I didn't mind... i was so used to that way of life, i had by now forgotten about civvie days and my contract with ESC as an appy electrician at 16 which i returned to and qualified after the war. Unbeknownst to me moving to another country, i quickly learned we certainly were a different bunch with a don't take shit attitude. For me anyway.
Harold Wilson, Labour Party Prime Minister of UK at the time of Rhodesian UDI, very determined to impose sanctions as I remember (my family had voted Conservative & I remember having been taken to hear Sir Alec Douglas Hume the previous PM speak after he arrived in a helicopter - a great novelty at the time!).
Deepest respect. Thank you. Dodsington Farm. Eddie and Moira Mostert. Hartley/Gatooma/Chakari loop road. Where at all can I research any possible news regarding these wonderful people. Or their kin? Please, and thank you.
what an experience it was you must not for get transport and services mainly coloured soldiers we the ones that transported the food to the camps around the country.
Thank you. Could you explain more about the “post the interviewee’s name” part of the comment? Curious on how we can improve after all these years, and with the guest’s name in multiple locations, across the website, thumbnail etc. All the best.
@@MilitaryVeteransPodcast sure np... i was actually searching for something on Chris Cocks in YT, but found this vid via a google search.... the title of the video is just Rhodesia Fire Force - Rhodesian Army Veteran, and in description you just had Chris.... i would have put his name in title eg Rhodesia Fire Force - Rhodesian Army Veteran Chris Cocks speaks about...
I had never heard of what happened to the Belgians in the Congo towards the end of the interview. I would probably ask where he ended up because in the long run i don't think Zimbabwe worked out for him given the mismanagement and overt hatred apparent in the last few decades.
The US based Oligarchic criminals did for Rhodesia, etc. Now others see today the dangers of evil US / CH based Swiss oligarchic criminality (psychopathic).
Typical brit did you grow up with wild animals etc. No we grew up in city's. Ive had the same thing coming ftom south Africa. Joburg lil town called Benoni. Which would be a city here in England. I was born at the time of the boarder wars. I remember the names of the fallen every night. Lest we forget, i never will. Rest of the world has no idea of what went on at that time. They basically turned their backs on us. Hence the state of southern Africa today.
God bless Rhodesia and the men who fought till the end
Being a born Rhodesian and I was injured laying ap mines along the border I can appreciate his book thanks Michael Hineß
Well done Chris.... I was your DI in training troop!!!!
Enjoyed the chat ...
Rhodesia has all my admiration, as a descendant of Portuguese from Africa I know what they suffered. The West should never have lost its positions in Africa, it was a suicidal mistake.
Fernando. What happened to the Portuguese in Africa was a major tragedy
how about no
Many in Africa wish for the Portuguese to comeback.
@@polishherowitoldpilecki5521 doubt
As an Zimbabwean born in '86 it's so difficult to imagine living comfortably as a second class citizen in the country of my own ancestors despite some of the good things that Europeans brought.
Austin Fuzz Hussey was at Mirbat with B Sqn 22 SAS. He's got a memorial in Hereford
Fantastic interview. Great to put a face and voice to a man whose books I've read and re=read.
Great interview 👍.
As an U.S. Army veteran I appreciate getting a veteran's perspective on war and other parts of a conflict.
Stay awesome 🇺🇸
I am reading his book now and it's very gripping, can't put it down. This is a great interview!
His Books are a cracking read
Agree
Thanks Barry! Cheers Chris
Thanks for sharing your experiences Chris. I got a lucky break compared to you (and our other class mates) ending up in the SA army instead. My heart still hurts for the tough experiences you all went through. Many didn’t make it through. MTSRIP
It’s nice to hear someone tell it as it was! Thank you , I wish you well , keep safe.
Chris, I can still see you in my minds eye keeping wicket in Colts at St Johns. Appreciated the frankness of both the interviews. Salute, and God bless.
Alan!!! brilliant to hear from you. What a blast from the past!. Cheers Chris
I actually played for the Rhodesian Colts on a tour in SA in the early 60's
Thanks Chris.Good interesting
story's, well done. 😊
Probably the best books on the Rhodesian War. We studied it to learn and we did. K
My book, "A walk against the stream" has been put on a par with his book "Fireforce". Available on Amazon (the one with the soldier standing near Victoria Falls).
Great Interview Chris, Keep well always.
Nice to hear you Chris . I was a kiwi import but a 4 son pilot and I know everything you said is tru e I bought your book years ago good luck
Hi Russell. Thanks for the comments and great to catch up. Cheers
Chris
@@Ezra.emerson I have pulled out your bookand having a good re-read. Very much de ja vu all over again !. I flew Trojan,,Provost and Lynx on 4 Sqn from 75 to 77. My call sign changed gradually from K4 to D4 as time went by. I had great admiration for all the ground Troopies. I am sure we must have shared a few contacts. I fully understand the mental health issues many have endured since and I have ben lucky to have not suffered too much-( although my Wife and kids may have a differnt view!) Still flying though! It helps keep me sane here in Australia. I meet mostly with the Brown Jobs on ANZAC day and march proudly behind our Flag rembering all who served.
Russell
@@russellbroadbent7995 Russell. We would have undoubtedly shared a few contacts. We would have seriously struggled with all the awesome air support from you guys. That's what made the difference in the end.
Just went down the whole Rhodesian bush war rabbit hole, all heroes in my book holding their own.
Where's a good place to start. I saw these guys in combat shorts and now I need to know more
What a wretched book that is.
@@danebrass1473 watch "Africa Addio" or you might also find under the name "Africa: Blood and Guts". Its a good documentary.
@@danebrass1473 Zimbabwe | goodbye Rhodesia is a good one there’s tons of news reels
Yeah, they were badass.
Territorial some of us were 6 in 2 out in 1979
In the latter years it was continuous call up for most
It was really tough for you guys. Cheers Chris
@@Ezra.emerson for my older brother and many many others yes. They really got the short end of the stick in many ways, hats off to them. Some did ended doing 18 to 24 months NS. I had my NS extended indefinitely. I didn't mind... i was so used to that way of life, i had by now forgotten about civvie days and my contract with ESC as an appy electrician at 16 which i returned to and qualified after the war. Unbeknownst to me moving to another country, i quickly learned we certainly were a different bunch with a don't take shit attitude. For me anyway.
"Lusaka Green Leader". one of the most famous external opps
Had Rhodesia never been developed by European people, as with the rest of Africa, Africa would have been today as it was a thousand years ago. YES!
Harold Wilson, Labour Party Prime Minister of UK at the time of Rhodesian UDI, very determined to impose sanctions as I remember (my family had voted Conservative & I remember having been taken to hear Sir Alec Douglas Hume the previous PM speak after he arrived in a helicopter - a great novelty at the time!).
Deepest respect. Thank you.
Dodsington Farm. Eddie and Moira Mostert. Hartley/Gatooma/Chakari loop road. Where at all can I research any possible news regarding these wonderful people. Or their kin?
Please, and thank you.
what an experience it was you must not for get transport and services mainly coloured soldiers we the ones that transported the food to the camps around the country.
That is my dad
witha white beard
It’s very scary to think a man’s country can be gone just like that a wake up call indeed
Awesome interview and series - just one remark - post the interviewee's name
Thank you. Could you explain more about the “post the interviewee’s name” part of the comment? Curious on how we can improve after all these years, and with the guest’s name in multiple locations, across the website, thumbnail etc. All the best.
@@MilitaryVeteransPodcast sure np... i was actually searching for something on Chris Cocks in YT, but found this vid via a google search.... the title of the video is just Rhodesia Fire Force - Rhodesian Army Veteran, and in description you just had Chris.... i would have put his name in title eg Rhodesia Fire Force - Rhodesian Army Veteran Chris Cocks speaks about...
@maddog.mcewan Thanks for the feedback…we’ll take a look. All the best.
Chris nice interview as a 2 Cdo member I am so sorry you had to go to 3 Cdo must have been terrifying! LoL
The USA should have stood up and helped, knowing what we went through with Britain America should have stood tall.
USA had no interest in that.
Live on intake 146
I had never heard of what happened to the Belgians in the Congo towards the end of the interview. I would probably ask where he ended up because in the long run i don't think Zimbabwe worked out for him given the mismanagement and overt hatred apparent in the last few decades.
The US based Oligarchic criminals did for Rhodesia, etc. Now others see today the dangers of evil US / CH based Swiss oligarchic criminality (psychopathic).
Mq
Trainings was mostly using the n- word in public.
Typical brit did you grow up with wild animals etc. No we grew up in city's. Ive had the same thing coming ftom south Africa. Joburg lil town called Benoni. Which would be a city here in England. I was born at the time of the boarder wars. I remember the names of the fallen every night. Lest we forget, i never will. Rest of the world has no idea of what went on at that time. They basically turned their backs on us. Hence the state of southern Africa today.