The Pathfinders: Jungle Battle in Sierra Leone | TEA & MEDALS
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ม.ค. 2025
- In 2000, during the British Intervention in the Sierra Leone Civil War, Steve Heaney was the Pathfinder Platoon Sergeant part of the Airbourne Task Force sent to evacuate entitled personnel from the war torn country and Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a murderous rebel organisation famed for their brutality and signature atrocity of amputating the limbs of men, women and children.
During this deployment the Pathfinders where tasked to stop the RUF advance towards the country’s airport and then to its capital Freetown. The Pathfinders positioned in the village of Lungi Lol were deliberately exposed by their commanders with the aim of enticing the RUF, believed to number 2000 fighters to attack their position. The aim being to inflict such a blow that they would think twice about continuing their assault on to the capital. Originally planned to last just 48 hours the mission turned into a 16 day siege.
In the early hours of 17 May 2000 the village was attacked by a significant rebel force, the Pathfinders engaged the rebels during a vicious close quarter battle; the first jungle fighting the British Army had conducted for over 40 years. With no reinforcements available to support them, the Pathfinders were forced to fight on alone.
Steve Heaney, former member of the 3rd Parachute Battalion before joining the famous X Platoon, was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for his courage and leadership under fire, becoming the first Non-Commissioned Officer since the units formation during WW2 to receive this decoration.
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I'm a Sierra Leonean living in Freetown, and I experienced the war as a child refugee. I'm happy to hear from such heroes that saved our land. I salute you whole ❤️
Bad times I'm sure.
I'm a Sierra Leonean currently living in Sierra Leone, thanks for your service and intervention, because of your sacrifice today we're enjoying
peace.
That is AWESOME to hear mate. Well done to you all for making that too. Absolutely superb. What a wonderful outcome. Peace is deceptively delicate and fragile and it takes very broad, collective planning, focus and work to maintain. That can only come from whole communities and a society that not only sets high standards for itself, but has the compassion and wisdom to invest in the future. There are a couple of great proverbs that speak wisdom about what you have all done. The first is ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’ and the second is that ‘a society grows to be great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit’, so yeah, where you’re at now is a testament to your collective aspiration and effort. Best wishes to you all from me over the ocean in Australia - straight up, hearing what you said has made my day. I’ll be thinking with gratitude of peace in Sierra Leone with a bit of a smile now. Cheers mate.
@@michaeltownsend429 Well said friend. =)
The thing you need to ask yourself what's New is who is in control of your natural resources as a Sierra Leonard you should know better
Whats new.... Please dont do the "thank you for your service" we are Btitish not American.
@@garryellison9438 haha yeah I've always found that sorta cringey eh? I mean even if people are truly sincere
One of the things i think that make up good regiments like the Paras or RM is the fact you have lads from every village ,town and city in the U.K mixed together and they bring their own knowledge,skills and toughness mixed with army taining to make them some of the best soldiers there is.
I am an ordinary English man that has always felt that our forces are under funded and under appreciated by our political leaders, if I could change that I would. I think you would find a great many that agree with me. I was 14 or 15 when the Falklands happen and remember how ordinary people were behind our service personnel and prepared to pull extra shifts or what needed to get gear sorted out and ready for use. When our guys were in desert storm started giving blood as did many others although I was unaware of that until years later. Keep up the good work and thank you for all you do. Regards Oj
Hey man great great story, i thank you very much for your service. Im half Italian and half Sierra Leonean myself. I heard alot of heroic stories from the British forces in the Sierra Leon operation. Thank you very much. ❤️🙏
Salute to my UK Cousins. I started in the 82nd and was a contractor, long before it was cool. You guys have always been our only/best friend. Idle threat at my age (27yrs Infantry, not entirely dead), I will come for the UK as well. Better late than never I guess, but I will always have Brits back!
From a Brit ,thank you Sir for your Service for Both our countries. We always will stand side by side with you .
@@maxmoore9955 You got it! I did serve privately along many British soldiers from Colombia, Iraq and Astan and elsewhere. Good soldiers and fun guys to be around! Take and thank you for the kind words!
Before it was cool lol,,, not sure what that means brother but I'm taking that as when you found Para military groups to serve in you didn't think it would be cool to sign up and do that for a career and get paid very well??? Come on now,,,,, just as badass and cool back in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's as it is today. Only difference between today and back then is the amount of people who are aware of PMC's but to say or suggest it wasn't cool back then is petty man seriously. Contracting isn't all its cracked up to be either, still way better doing it for a government with a flag on your shoulder then going in and having a slim chance of survival and or being charged and sentenced as a war criminal if ever caught. Ypu do you though, before it was cool lmfao,,, it's the biggest statement of hey look at me and what I did and wanting that validation and attention nothing more. Thanks for your government service I do appreciate that from one vet to another
@@marc2638 "Before it was cool" meaning before Iraq/Astan where any monkey could get a job in the circuit! I was never in it for the money. I believed in good vs evil and contributed as much out of uniform as I did in uniform. I loved the uniform far more, but could also get a lot more done with the freedom of action I had as a contractor, which was far from the type of contract normally perceived today. SALUTE BACK AT YOU! And thank you as well. Alot of humanity should be thanking you for getting between evil men and innocent people! Merry Christmas! Remember, Christmas is about a guy who gave his life for others. I have known a few of those types myself. Take care!
Cheers buddy
Love this program. Sounds a bit like my story as I became a US Army paratrooper in 1982.
This guy is someone I’d like to have a cold beer with!
Great video!
Thanks for your service, Rob.
@@reddiver7293 You’re welcome.
Room temperature beer if we're in the UK haha
So modest, a privilege to hear his account of the mission. The very definition of leadership personified.
I’d love to see a mini documentary of some of the people from the Pathfinders and Paras going back to Sierra Leone
We will see what we can do 😉
There's a good one called operation Barras and the so called West Side Boyz took a load of hostages anyway it didn't end well for them! 🇬🇧
@@BFBSCreative I think you should I think it's a tremendous story with a great and positive outcome.
Yet again we see examples of exemplary leadership displayed by a NCO under difficult and fluid condition. This man has earned his right to be called a true warrior. It never ceases to amaze me that we still have men and women in all three services capable of such bravery and leadership. I salute this warrior.
NCO's run the british army...... that's why they're trained to such high standards.
Warrior? You're talking shit, and professional soldiers never class themselves as that.
He's an inspiration, and shows the attitude of how to get a job done.
I don't know the guy, however I respect him, and respect doesn't come easy from me.
@@westers1514 US thing... They get all "Warrior ethos"... Big thing for them as a whole sense of purpose.
These are excellent, thank you. The genuine concern for the villagers says it all.
The Sergeant is very knowledgeable about the job requirements and is the kind of guy you will want to be with on ops, hot or cold!
Was in Junior Para, Depot Para and 3 Para with Steve, what you see is what you get, lovely compliments from the top brass... always new he'd do well.
What year did you join ?
1986
Steve Heaney and his guys did a great job. Also the commander General David Julian Richards, The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux who bravely ignored his orders and did the right thing and despite always being a bit of a rebel during his career still rose to be the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
But why did he allow the chopper to visit “empty handed” to a team originally tasked with a two day mission with two days of ammo + rations and having just finished a firefight? All it did was increase Steve’s mental burden at a time when he had every right to expect much more support from HQ. In fact the general’s pompous reasoning behind the task was exposed as it did not take into account the aftermath danger to the villagers who had helped the detail. So while the good general retires on his 100k+ pension with his REMF (US meaning) reputation intact the squaddies under his command have to face a much more demanding life (PTSD, inadequate pension or decompression care, cost-of-living pressures …..)once they finish - or are forced to finish their time. The lads took the Queen’s shilling yes however like all service frontline operational people they deserve so much more from HMG than they ever receive.
Hi, empty large chopper back to a lone unit under attack that has had no re supply, what was the staff back at base thinking? At the very least they could have scrounged water, rations and munitions and volunteers from around the base, surely? There was so much that could have been done that some heads had to be cut loose! Shame on them! Thats not the Para way of looking after your mates! As an ex C Coy 3 Para from the sixties I am dumbfounded. Cheers mate. Harera
Absolutely amazing story. We are so lucky to have men like this amongst us 😉🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇮🇲
Bravo Steve and the Pathfinder Platoon, "Every Man an Emperor". Astonishing courage and focussed aggression. Well deserved gallantry awards for both Steve and the other guys in the platoon.
My heart goes out to these brave and selfless men, and the people they gallantly protected
Great story! Very inspirational! I hope and pray that village survived after the Pathfinders left. God bless you and the men that served with you!🇺🇸🙏❤
Heart warming. Big fan of this format and getting people to tell their story. Such an important cataloging of these historical events. Future generations can look towards these stories for inspiration away from their technology led lives.
all the lessons of fire control, fire discipline hasty defence ,and infantry minor tactics under the leadership of a seasoned senior NCO blessed with trained and determined comrades bore fruit. The countless hours the gallons of sweat, and the countless cuts and bruises, provided the polish displayed by X Pl. Good stuff fellas.
Great Bravery and great interviews to show how the British Army punches above its weight evidenced by professionalism and glory of its' NCOs, supported by the other noble Services (RN,RM,RAF). Long may that continue despite excessive Treasury cuts. The first responsibility of a sovereign nation is for defence.
Reminds me of my uncle who served in the Malay jungle and my Grandfather 'Harry' who served 1914-18 awarded Military Cross.
In the morning and at the going down of the sun,
We will remember them.
What an interesting, intelligent & articulate man. Brave, honest and superbly trained.
General Lord Richards is a man who deserves a great deal of respect. He risked his career to try to save Sierra Leone from the horrors that Sankoh and his Liberian mate Charles Taylor wanted to inflict on the country and its people. He greatly exceeded his orders and there's no way he didn't know that a mere brigadier making up British government policy on the fly risked being called back to London for court martial and cashiering. Many career minded people would have just carried out their orders. Richards did the right thing and saved an entire country in the process. Of course, his gamble paid off, and he ended up as Chief of the Defense Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces.
There are currently 6 vacancies in the Order of the Garter, Britain's highest order of chivalry. He totally deserves to be appointed to fill one of those vacancies.
One of the best interviews I’ve seen. Great job Steve, you come across really well and I can image it was a pleasure to serve with you.
Great Leadership and Courage in the face of the enemy. A shining example of our outstanding pathfinder troops. "Faugh a Ballagh" each and everyone the best of the best. 👍
These are the inspirational videos that I love seeing. Sharing information on what happened at the time from those who fight for us and others- we must praise and applaud them.❤
👏
For sure the story is gripping, but more than that the production/presentation of this video is FIRST CLASS. Thank you ladies and gentlemen......."there's nothing you can do about it, you can't get down in the mouth about it", awesome outlook/response to the situation.
Inspiring stuff, I do so enjoy that this program allows the services to have their own say about what happened. My own father was the RSM in the 15th Scottish and before that the Argyles. They have a way about them that is inspiring (that comes for some at a cost both physical and mental)
The joking at the end about "T&M On the road", I would absolutely watch that. I understand the safety concerns in some countries but I can imagine you walking along to positions and talking like you are now. Really love these podcasts.
We will see what we can do 😉
Just got to the bit where he says 'you took the Queen's shilling', and he doesn't blames Command for the lack of forethought to resupply. Superb. BZ.
“Lack of forethought” is far too polite - no re-supply ammo and rations was an act of professional cowardice and negligence by the CO and deserved a reduction in rank and a blot on his record. He was just lucky that Steve and his lads did not have to engage in a second firefight. What a b”&@@£d !
The strength of any professional army rests in the quality of it's NCO's, a resource which the British Army has in abundance.
Wow, wow, wow.
A true hero, and a humble guy. The book on this has been mentioned a few times in the comments "Operation Mayhem" is the best book I have read. Goes into the details around the whole operation and is a can't put down read.
I would love to see a revisit to Sierra Leone. This series is fantastic, can't wait for series 2.
I’ve been back since, stayed at the radisonblue mama yoko. The airports re-build, Tagram didn’t seem different. But it’s well worth a visit . The air con duty free is still in the air port. We visited the old sights. And chilled on lunkhead beach.
First class as always thank you I am so humbled by what you have all done for our country.
The "it is what it is" attitude is what stands people like that apart from the rest of us. They have a job to do, no point procrastinating over the situation. Amazing men, Im in awe. I read Operation Mayhem a few years ago.
Outstanding video. Documentary level quality of a story expertly retold by someone who was there.
I can’t believe I’ve only just found this channel.
Those Brit soldiers are tough. They were stationed close to where I was in the US Peace Corps in Belize (formerly British Honduras). They told me the minimum hitch was 9 years. Very professional fellows.
Respect from Suomi Finlandia 🇫🇮🏴🏴🏴
Great episode!!!!! You always do a grand job on these podcasts Darren :)
I've read the two books by Steve on the Pathfinders and they are excellent.
Read one Operation mayhem brilliant book.
An amazing story combined with a natural, self effacing story teller.
I was there prior to the Ocean turning up and watched the firefight for the airport. BZ to you and the guys. Shows the armed forces are worth every penny.
Incredible professionals. Very proud of them.
Pardon my French but I think it’s fair to say that these lads are ‘des conneries de chiens’.
Nothing but respect for this humble warrior and his men.
What a podcast! Just discovered this channel, and what a channel it is. It is great content from real lived experiences, just a very authentic feel to it exactly what I've been looking for on my long commutes to work.
Thanks guys I'll now work my way through your videos
Excellent interview / podcast Tea & Medals ,I thoroughly enjoyed this ,
by coincidence I am currently reading the Steve Heaney MC book “operation Mayhem “
for the second time , I read it a few years ago when first published,
My son bought me a new copy , at my request , for Father’s Day recently,
A great job & mission Steve Heaney MC & the Pathfinders.
Fascinating. The history of the Pathfinders as much as the action described.
Brilliant, love this - need these stories and recounts to be documented :-)
This is the THIRD account I have watched on this engagement and it is the one that rings the loudest bell of truth. The claustrophobia and the bravery
God be with our military men and women across the pond. LOVE from the USA.
A reason to be British and proud!Cheers boys!!😁👍👍👍👍✊✊✊
I was on a 5 man team on Airlift Rodeo, 1987. Para reg. had a 5 man team, doing different exercises, (although some were the same), in the competition. They were Pathfinders, good lads. All of us had our para wings.
Best Regiment in the British Army apart from you know who!!!! Well done brother. ABI
Everyone who has served thinks they’re regiments are best,mine is.🏴💂♀️
@@paulritchie5868 it's great that you think that. Your right. That's why the British Army is the best 👌
Catering Corp
As a professional logistician and Army officer, this horrifies me that the soldiers were left out on patrol without sufficient support. Brave lads that did an amazing job but as the saying goes 'Where there's medals, there's f*ck ups by command'.
I've heard holders of the Medal of Honor say, "It was either give me a medal or some me to Leavenworth for disobeying a direct order."
“Lions led by sheep” is a fitting quote for any military.
The higher up they are in the rank, the less they care about their men and the more they care about politics, self preservation and advancing their own careers.
Too right - how Steve kept his composure when he faced an empty chopper - a true professional. No one asked the good general why the chopper contained no re-supply ammo and rations - why not T&M?
Great interview, great interviewee. Very much enjoying the series.
Glad you enjoy it! Don't forget to check out the podcast version on your favourite podcast app for all the bonus material and extra episodes about the medals themselves.
Haven’t seen many comments about it but I’d like to point out the actions of the officer in this situation. He’s a through and through professional officer rather than one more focused on advancing his career judging by his actions in this interview
Excellent video! Just in case anyone was wondering there was no revenge attacks on the village.
Thank you.
Although rebels are quite capable of wiping out villages, they usually only do so with profit in mind, either hostages for ransom, supplies or money.
Thank you.
Thanks! I couldn't believe they left that detail out.
Thanks for the info.
Another great episode. I highly recommend his book
My heart sunk when he said the Chinook didn’t even drop off ammo. Disappointing to say the least. That takes some, to get focused and push through. British army gets shafted every time. Then when you leave the Army, they couldn’t give a shit about you. Took me years to get used to civi street. But at least I left with Brothers for life.
I have to agree with you! I serviced as a Lance Corporal US Marine in Vietnam. I then joined the US Army, became an officer and retired as a Major. I know that in the UK veterans are paid significantly less than us, and have far, far less benefits afterward than we do. In fact, the way that they are treated is a crime. . .
Ian wf: I was aghast when he said they didn't even bring more ammo, never mind reinforcements.
Our Servicemen and Women are treated appallingly by Politicians.
I'm glad it worked out for the villagers in the end. After all the risks they took supporting our troops they could have been massacred afterwards by the Rebels.
Cracking interview Steve 👏
Great channel to tell the real story of what our lads have to endure.
This man is still at the top of his game
Dang, no ammo resupply on that dawn Chinook flight thats harsh. But well done by the Pathfinders on deck.
Thank you for your service! A real british hero! 👏
What a waste of resources sending a completely empty Chinook to tell them they can't send troops and more so any ammo. Had to be a 'Rupert's' decision.
@@clanrobertson7200 Can you substantiate your 'god' exists?
Rupert's'
- you don't use 2 apostrophes to show possession
- as you used 'a' (a Rupert's'), you selected singular; one Rupert, so, it's Rupert's
- if it was a group reference, it would be the Ruperts' decision
@@michaelanderson7715 I used inverted commas. Talk about pedantic.
@@iceshakle Still wrong.
You need to get out more bozo.
I'm practicing my theory test here while watching / listening to this documentary and I've got to say this is really interesting documentary 10/10
Smashing interview, need more of these stories
The Pathfinders are the most underrated special force in the world
Very interesting. I was in Sierra Leone in 1997 with VMGR-252 USMC C-130 Squadron (Operation Noble Obelisk). We took American Citizens and Embassy/Consulate staff from an airport (cant remember where Freetown maybe?) to Dakar Senegal and some to a small airfield near the coast to fly by Helicopter out to the USS Kearsarge.... Also was in Central African Republic (Banguii) where we did the same thing. Also in 1997 (my last trip to Africa) we did a pretty big Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) in Congo (Operation Guardian Retrieval) as things went crazy and as Zaire was having a Revolution in Kinsasha and eventually became Dem. Rep. Of Congo....In my career I was in many countries in Africa... Africa is the most beautiful place Ive ever been. Its also the ugliest place Ive ever been. That said, I would love to go back. Nice to see this. Not too many people in America even know these things were going on. At that time Albania and Bosnia were in the news.
Bring him back..id like to see that..great speaker great interview
Another brilliant vid fellas!
I got Steves book for Christmas a few years back written by Damien Lewis, it was a fantastic read, I sat and read the book in ten hours.
"In tha jungle, in tha jungle,in tha jungle, rough"........looking forward to hopefully seeing some documentaries on this conflict, when the official secrets act starts unsealing more things about it...
Top top lad ! Really professional!
The belt fed rounds in the film are Blanks !! :)
I have a lot of respect for the British military,it's disciplined,well trained,ready to serve,never afraid to go anywhere,well equipped ,it's in the top 5 best militaries in the world.
I'm a Sierra Leonean, i witnessed the war throughout, it was horrific. It is difficult to even think about the atrocities. We thank God for those heroic British soldiers, we are also grateful to the Nigerian soldiers under ECOMOG, they also played their part. We Salute all the different forces forces under ECOMOG, UNAMSIL, The British Army, the civil defense forces etc.
I turned up with BPT to take over from PF. Awesome blokes they gave us every minor detail of int we’d need to make sure we knew the standard we had to be at. We changed nothing in there routine (why change perfection) and cracked on. The RUF tried it on a few more times from positions in the jungle across the open ground but with the fire power established we’d destroy them every time. It was my first experience with PF and they’re second to know one I’ve working with in a very full career i the RM. I remember pushing out toward port loko and back towards Lungi town to find land points for raiders. But having a big old ship off the coast with months of supplies makes our life easy. These lads had nothing but ammo. I’ve always thought that the Paras and RM should use the amphibious advantage and there air head and work together. Every Op I’ve done with the parachute regiment has been massively successful. We always had the banter between us but the Paras are the best quick reaction troops in the world.
Stay tuned for more PF and RM content in the coming weeks! Glad you liked this one.
@@BFBSCreative I could tell you some horror stories about SL but it could be televised.
BPT must have been mega at Cam & Con because I was on an ORLT out there and i didn't see you!?
@@JammyDodger45 we flew into lungi two weeks before 42 and secured various vcps at lungi town petifu junction, and pushed up to Makeni with a mortar line. Once PF extracted the screen force pulled back to lungi loi. So unless you had mags binos you would have seen fuck all apart our boss. You know what you need to know it helps with your confusion. Ps we have mobile mortar lines on BV206’s and drove straight through lunghi loi.
@@thedoddfishtreemonkey.7760 I was the Bootneck Stripey on the HQ at the High Commission, I was there pre-PF and post the RIP by 42 but didn't see BPT at all. I did see 42 Recce so maybe you were split among the Company's?
What a lad. Well done fella.
Respect 🙏
The book was a cracking read too!
What ever it is that makes a leader, he has it in shed loads, I would have been proud to have served under him.
Read his books. Great read! Great job!
On the one hand clearly exemplary operation by the soldiers involved however it seems that the logistics support in terms of food, water and supply of ammuntion given their change of mission appears to have been inadequate, and extremely poor, I don't understand the point of sending the Chinook if it didn't bring any reinforcement, equipment or ammunition. An excellent Sergeant with superb leaderhip in command of excellent soldiers, I can't help but contrast the moral courage shown by them with the troops in Rawanda. A very well deserved MC. Would be great to see a trip on the road!
Standard for British military unlike our American counterparts.
Is that Dave Blakeley at 35:15?
Does not returning fire until fired on include letting the bad guys get into a superior position before they start shooting?
The mortar team that came into the village after the battle were stood too at the end of the airfield desperate to go in when the fight was happening as we had been briefed that we were part of the qrf . We just couldn't get lifted out there.
Wow, That's some Story, Loved the end where Sgt Heaney was talking about 7yo Kids building Beds, It's nigh on impossible to get my Kids to Make their Beds without Arguments, Nevermind Build a Bed.
These guys are immense.
One word 🏴💙Legend Respect brother GTC 👹💥💥💥Utrinque ParaTaz
I was 5 AB Bde, and signed off directly after Kosovo, therefore didn't go to SL. Having seen this, quite glad I didn't.
If Steve is reading this, he will know me from my cadre as " hardcore Reg".
Brave men very professional top skilled soldiers 🇬🇧🇬🇧🫡🫡 you
Great guy, great soldier. 🇬🇧
This should be a film!!!
2:44, I am surprised to see that finger on the trigger or the chap in the background pointing his rifle at the camera.., hmm.
Wow, great channel...
Im EX'PARA and the PARAS r the best in the world!! AB ALL THE WAY BROTHER!!
Absolute total respect!!!
The actions of a dedicated few can impact a nation. If only politicians knew that. Do the moral right, not the political wrong. Airborne!
RE: US. The Airborne Ranger may be no stranger to Danger.. Yet even the Airborne Ranger Jumps behind the Army Pathfinder