Another fascinating record of events from Nick. Thank you. @Tony yet another terrific episode. Might I say in the most positive way that your interviewing style continues to get even more refined. A huge and no doubt tricky task indeed. Much respect ✊🏾.
Very enlightening talk thank you Nick Fawcett and Fighting Men of Rhodesia. Privileged to have met Nick briefly on Charter Estate as he stepped down as Border Timbers Director just prior to farm invasions and very sorry to see him go. All downhill from there! Familiar with Honde, Pungwe and tea estate locations having worked along the edge of the Honde for WACO in the 90's.
Wow Nick what an excellent chat. Gee your talk really brought back memories of my time in the Honde. When we first arrived in the Honde and were based at the Ruda Keep the tarmac ended as you came into the Honde Valley and RAR were based down at the Pungwe Bridge Keep. Did a joint op with them when they took out Killer Mabuna ( Chimurenga name). As you say, the Honde was completely subverted and we only moved at night ,sometimes coming down from Stapleford Forest to get into the Honde covertly. We were part of the TF troops that moved the locals into the Ruda PV. That was a three day exercise just to move the locals to be registered. Hamish Peters did an amazing job and saved the Honde from becoming a "liberated zone" l know that General Walls, Brigadier Tom Davison and Minister Jack Homan thanked our company ( B Coy 8RR) for " saving" the Honde but it was really guys like you and Hamish that achieved that. Thanks so much for a great chat ,and Tony, thanks again for another great interview
Thanks very much Nick. My only complaint is there was no early warning of the desperate poignancy of the scene of your farewell parade! Outgoing CO, proud of his command, proud of his achievements during an illustrious military career. The army he had joined, effectively swallowed by rabble “enemy forces”, and the country for which he had fought, simply ceasing in all material respects to exist. All this, and the uncertainty of the future, to mull over in the pouring rain …. I confess, your simple retelling of the event bought some weird wet stuff in my own eyes! Bless you ishe.
Colonel Fawcett was an exceptional commander (G, A & Q) whose operational reputation truly preceded him; his BCR and OLM are a testament to this. Enormous respect and a crisp salute to you Sir. For interest, herewith Col Fawcett's OLM citation: Officer of the Legion of Merit (Military Division) (OLM) Major Nicholas Galloway Fawcett BCR Date of Award: 23 September 1977 Citation: "Maj Fawcett and his compaqny transferred en bloc from 1RAR to 2RAR shortly after the formation of the latter in 1975. Major Fawcett has been deeply involved on two occasions, and in seperate areas, in planning and executing major operations designed to assist the administration in controlling the population. On the first operation, in the north-eastern area, Major Fawcett and his company, with the aid of the civil authorities, a massive protected village complex and turned it into a functional and self-supporting area. In terrain and weather conditions completely adverse to operations, and under considerable harassment from terrorists and hostile Mozambicans, he again played a major part in protecting the population and restoring a large degree of stability and normality in the area. This enabled the economy of the area to become viable again. Also during this period, he frequently led his men on operations on the ground in action against the terrorists."
Another fascinating record of events from Nick. Thank you.
@Tony yet another terrific episode. Might I say in the most positive way that your interviewing style continues to get even more refined. A huge and no doubt tricky task indeed. Much respect ✊🏾.
Very enlightening talk thank you Nick Fawcett and Fighting Men of Rhodesia. Privileged to have met Nick briefly on Charter Estate as he stepped down as Border Timbers Director just prior to farm invasions and very sorry to see him go. All downhill from there! Familiar with Honde, Pungwe and tea estate locations having worked along the edge of the Honde for WACO in the 90's.
Thanks gentlemen! excellent conversation, very informative and interesting! Tony, great job!! always a master class 🙏
Nick is an incredible human with an amazing depth of character. We miss him very much in Mutare. One of a kind. Glad his rank has been corrected.
Wow Nick what an excellent chat. Gee your talk really brought back memories of my time in the Honde. When we first arrived in the Honde and were based at the Ruda Keep the tarmac ended as you came into the Honde Valley and RAR were based down at the Pungwe Bridge Keep. Did a joint op with them when they took out Killer Mabuna ( Chimurenga name). As you say, the Honde was completely subverted and we only moved at night ,sometimes coming down from Stapleford Forest to get into the Honde covertly. We were part of the TF troops that moved the locals into the Ruda PV. That was a three day exercise just to move the locals to be registered. Hamish Peters did an amazing job and saved the Honde from becoming a "liberated zone" l know that General Walls, Brigadier Tom Davison and Minister Jack Homan thanked our company ( B Coy 8RR) for " saving" the Honde but it was really guys like you and Hamish that achieved that. Thanks so much for a great chat ,and Tony, thanks again for another great interview
Thanks brother. Tony B
Thank you Gentlemen for tge great video.
Greatly appreciated 👍👍👍
Thanks very much Nick. My only complaint is there was no early warning of the desperate poignancy of the scene of your farewell parade! Outgoing CO, proud of his command, proud of his achievements during an illustrious military career. The army he had joined, effectively swallowed by rabble “enemy forces”, and the country for which he had fought, simply ceasing in all material respects to exist. All this, and the uncertainty of the future, to mull over in the pouring rain …. I confess, your simple retelling of the event bought some weird wet stuff in my own eyes! Bless you ishe.
Colonel Fawcett was an exceptional commander (G, A & Q) whose operational reputation truly preceded him; his BCR and OLM are a testament to this. Enormous respect and a crisp salute to you Sir.
For interest, herewith Col Fawcett's OLM citation:
Officer of the Legion of Merit (Military Division) (OLM)
Major Nicholas Galloway Fawcett BCR
Date of Award: 23 September 1977
Citation:
"Maj Fawcett and his compaqny transferred en bloc from 1RAR to 2RAR shortly after the formation of the latter in 1975. Major Fawcett has been deeply involved on two occasions, and in seperate areas, in planning and executing major operations designed to assist the administration in controlling the population.
On the first operation, in the north-eastern area, Major Fawcett and his company, with the aid of the civil authorities, a massive protected village complex and turned it into a functional and self-supporting area.
In terrain and weather conditions completely adverse to operations, and under considerable harassment from terrorists and hostile Mozambicans, he again played a major part in protecting the population and restoring a large degree of stability and normality in the area.
This enabled the economy of the area to become viable again. Also during this period, he frequently led his men on operations on the ground in action against the terrorists."
What a great talk, really enjoy listening to Nick, another amazing Rhodesian.
Brilliant interview Tony!
Thanks boet. Tony B
Thanks
Thank you so much James!
Thanks gents. Happy New Year! Keep ‘em coming 😄
Excellent thankyou
How ironic if I am correct, that Col Fawcett was to become the GM of Aberfoyle tea estate in the late '90s.
Hi did you know my dad Lt Col Peter Daines thx
I was there
I was their
Honde valley indigenous had been influenced as early as the late 60s by Rekai Tangwena and his left wing sympathiser Guy Clutten-Brock.
Thanks for the info Ken. You SB guys never forget 😂