Having access to a primary source in what would seem to be a seldom studied history is a huge boon to the historical record. You're doing something important and very magnanimous here, and we applaud you for it. Please consider setting up a patreon or something like it, or publishing a book.
@Timothy Somerville Language Timothy or can I call you Red Timmy the middle-class hero of nothing but the racism of low expectation as your tool to beat normal people in to submission . Is that ok with you Red Timmy? I may even write a song about your heroic exploits how you Sally forth from your secret safe space wearing your red cape and non-binary Yfronts over your tights. i shall have to leave it there for now Red Timmy but fear not i shan't forget that song i suggested, oh if only we were all as Marxist as you then maybe we could all be as perniciously racist FKN clown i see and understand your type
Thanks for all these really interesting stories. I was too young for call up but had one brother in the RLI, v.sadly KIA, another in Signals and my dad in the reserve police doing road blocks and convoys etc. Respect to you and all the ouens who fought in the war!
Bruce Locke. My respects to you and your family, and my sincere condolences on the loss of your brother - albeit a long time ago. He gave everything to keep our land free ...that will not be forgotten. Thank you.
Yolo...you are a very gracious and kind person. I am honored beyond words to be called a legend, but I fear I am just an old man who probably spends too much time longing for the land he loved so much. Keep well Sir, and I thank you humbly.
Amazing.. the story reminds me of the two towers, when our heros were chasing the orcs though the countryside. Martin, you have a gift for retelling memories.
Two of my uncles fought for both sides of the war, one a guerrilla the other a selous scout and later saved in the new army personally I don't judge them for they had their own reasons, unfortunately they died when I was very young and never got to hear both sides of the story, since much of the pre-1980 history and bush war has been distorted by the victors, I'm really interested in getting to know more from the white Rhodesian minority's perspective
I remember as a child my relatives coming home from Vietnam and discussing whether or not to go to Africa to help them fight. These are the guys they were talking about. Very cool.
Another great telling. I don't know whether you have notes off camera to prompt you, but the way you speak, seemingly off the top of your head with no ums and ahs is amazing.
@@dissdad8744 A) how do you determine who a mass murderer is in a war situation. B) seeing a good many of his fellow combatants were actually black. C) I'm an ex Rhodesian too, having completed my national service as part of the RRR. So courteous, well yes, 5 Romeo Romeo is a much loved fellow countryman.
@@warty3620 So, you are a subject to Cecil Rhodes and his criminal cartel or why do you refer to yourself as "Rhodesian"? Are you his property? A.) Rhodesians have routinely executed prisoners of war. The guy who runs this channel even admitted it, when he said that his commanding officer would act in "cold blood" and never took prisoners. So, when Zimbabwean Patriots were captured in the field by Rhodesian occupants / terrorists, the Rhodesian terrorists would not imprison the Zimbabweans, but usually torture (and "turn") or murder them in violation of all internationally accepted rules of warfare (Geneva Convention for example). Hence, you Rhodesians must be considered terrorists and war criminals rightfully. B.) Blacks were forcibly recruited or pressured to join the Rhodesian forces. Many Blacks were former supporters of the Zimbabwean patriotic movements, who were abducted or captured by Rhodesian terrorists and brutally tortured in order to pressure them into becoming traitors and joining Rhodesian terror operations against strongholds of the Zimbabwean patriots. These pseudo-missions have been widely documented by some of the Rhodesian terrorists who were involved in these atrocities. Are you trying to deny this? It's obvious that fighting for the preservation of a racist minority regime which stripped them of their basic civil and human rights was not in the best interest of these Black soldiers, hence you should be capable (if you have an average intellectual capacity) of concluding that they did not join the Rhodesian terrorists on their own or because of conviction. C.) So, you were a Rhodesian anti-Zimbabwean racist perpetrator yourself? Tell me more about it! How many "gooks" did you murder and torture or shove down the mining shafts of Rhodesia after summary executing them, you ruthless, immoral and devil-worshipping serial killer? People like you deserve what Eichmann got from the Israelis, since this is the only language unrepentant racist mass murderers will understand.
This story makes me wonder - what were the differences between the imprints of the tracks of the Rhodesian Army and the enemy? When we were hunting SWAPO in Angola 1982 we were looking for the chevron print - distinctively SWAPO. I still have a pair of SWAPO boots hanging in my bar today - the chevron print is characteristic. Some guys (SADF) altered their boot prints to pure flat, to make it less distinguishable and also more comfortable (or so we thought!).
Our boots were what were called Mars pattern but we also wore army takkies that had a fine pattern. Also we could use anti tracking canvas type boot that had no pattern.
Thank you so much for sharing your valuable memories, they are a great treasure that are being, and will be appreciated for many years to come by so many. You sir, are a true gentleman. God bless you.
I served four years in the Rhodesian army and our biggest weakness was inter-unit comms. Communication within a unit, even up to company size, was good but if two companies moved into an area it was hairy. There was something amiss with co-ordination at Company Command level. Several bad accidents happened due to this.
The leader of the sweep line that almost went blue on blue with your stick ought to have been court -marshalled and stripped of rank. He was unfit to lead men into action. Thank goodness for professional trackers and their outstanding natural senses.
Such intemperate reaction is unwise. There are always two sides to a story, and in combat errors are made and risks have to be taken. If every commander who made a wrong call was sacked you would have precious few commanders left.
Five Romeo Romeo where were 5RR based? was it Kareba or Wankie? I was 3 Indep Coy up in Inyanga in 1979. Love hearing your Rhodie accent and your videos are excellent. Thank you.
Rod Sinclair. Hi Rod. Battalion HQ was in Salisbury. 5RR did operate in Wankie but I personally did not do any time there. However, I was at Kariba once, and we were based up at 2(?) Indep barracks there. Generally, we served throughout the Op Hurricane area. Inyanga? I think you would have found 4RR there. Many thanks for your question and keep your head down, ek se.
Please keep the videos coming. Maybe look for someone that can put up some maps on the background near your head to give better feeling of the movement and distance.
Hi Anthony. I've been turning the name over in my mind since you asked the question. It sounds familiar to me but I can't put a face to it. I have a vague recollection of a Dennis van der Schyff?...but that may be another man entirely. Sorry, Anthony...I can't recall. Keep well and thanks for asking.
@@fiveromeoromeo5225 Hi. This was a pete van der schyff. did some work down beira way back in the day. i think he was a forward monitoring unit. must be around 70 at this stage.
I’m reading about the British in the Falklands (2 para) atm, in a book I found in a second hand bookshop. It was a terrible mess: hardly any maps or coms. People wandering all over the place in the night. Terrible pressure from above, and at home to push up unprepared. And to top it off, the bbc world service basically announced to the enemy what we were doing! A lot of our lions killed by terrible leadership from donkeys away from the battlefield.
We have had a consulate in South Africa since 1799. I live on planet earth and seem to be more aware of how one moves countries than you are. So many fled to SA and then onto Australia and New Zealand or Canada. The US wouldn't be all that different.
@@cm2973 Compared to me - I didn't have any funds outside Rhodesia or a sponsor in the US and was refused a Green Card. I'm delighted to hear your whole family made it to the 'land of milk and honey'! I made it to the UK with my family, arrived with nothing and had a tough struggle for ten years before 'getting a foot on the bottom rung', as it were. No regrets.
@@smacksman1 That's right, I forgot about the funds limitations. Was it hard to go there given their role in the fall of Rhodesia? Obviously, one goes where they have to.
History from the lips , real open relived accounts .should make your hair stand up ! Great numbers in any conflict fall from friendly fire . Thank God your mates survived !
The Rhodesian Ostrich As a black teenager in the 1970s the TTLs majority (95%) supported the nationalist struggle. Atrocities from both sides happened as unfortunately all is fair in love and war. The freedom fighters were the mostly fully supported side. The RLI and their 'preveya' cohorts had none. Deaths against Rhodesia in that struggle were painful but accepted. I see most whites in Rhodesia were like ostriches with heads in the sand unwilling to see the truth. They paid a heavy price for falsely believing blacks could be happy with oppression. It has never happened any where in human history. The UK fellows especially Harold Mc Millan had already advised what wisdom was. However Rhodesians never die.
"Before we have an argument in front of the men..." speaks volumes to the professionalism of a Junior Non-Commissioned Officer.
Having access to a primary source in what would seem to be a seldom studied history is a huge boon to the historical record. You're doing something important and very magnanimous here, and we applaud you for it. Please consider setting up a patreon or something like it, or publishing a book.
Fragment Record I second all of this
@@danwelsby4885 Here Here.
Agreed
I totally agree!
I agree too!
It's truly like Christmas every time you upload, thank you for your service
Another great video, shame there are not more Rhodesian veterans telling their stories on TH-cam.
@Timothy Somerville bla bla bla your so morally Superior! no one cares.
@Timothy Somerville nobody gives af , why even watch the video just to comment , get a life bru
@Timothy Somerville Judging by your name and your attitude, you belong to the Communist labour party!
@Timothy Somerville did a hairy Marxist professor at your university tell you this?
@Timothy Somerville Language Timothy or can I call you Red Timmy the middle-class hero of nothing but the racism of low expectation as your tool to beat normal people in to submission . Is that ok with you Red Timmy? I may even write a song about your heroic exploits how you Sally forth from your secret safe space wearing your red cape and non-binary Yfronts over your tights. i shall have to leave it there for now Red Timmy but fear not i shan't forget that song i suggested, oh if only we were all as Marxist as you then maybe we could all be as perniciously racist FKN clown i see and understand your type
Thanks for all these really interesting stories. I was too young for call up but had one brother in the RLI, v.sadly KIA, another in Signals and my dad in the reserve police doing road blocks and convoys etc. Respect to you and all the ouens who fought in the war!
Bruce Locke. My respects to you and your family, and my sincere condolences on the loss of your brother - albeit a long time ago. He gave everything to keep our land free ...that will not be forgotten. Thank you.
Five Romeo Romeo
Lest we forget.
@@fiveromeoromeo5225 We will remember them
I thank you and yours for keeping me alive.
Proper map reading skills and sharp eyed trackers. Both a necessity. That was a close one!
You my good sir you are a legend, love your stories and thank you for serving a great county
Yolo...you are a very gracious and kind person. I am honored beyond words to be called a legend, but I fear I am just an old man who probably spends too much time longing for the land he loved so much. Keep well Sir, and I thank you humbly.
That was as they say, too close for comfort. Thank you for another remarkable story sir, a true professional soldier. Best wishes from the UK.
as you speak and share the details of this operation gone dangerously wrong... we see sincerity in your Expressions.
well done 5 RR..
God bless you and the RLI
Amazing.. the story reminds me of the two towers, when our heros were chasing the orcs though the countryside.
Martin, you have a gift for retelling memories.
currently wargaming modern africa and these videos have been a great find. thank you very much.
Two of my uncles fought for both sides of the war, one a guerrilla the other a selous scout and later saved in the new army personally I don't judge them for they had their own reasons, unfortunately they died when I was very young and never got to hear both sides of the story, since much of the pre-1980 history and bush war has been distorted by the victors, I'm really interested in getting to know more from the white Rhodesian minority's perspective
What trust required in that moment when
your tracker spoke!
I remember as a child my relatives coming home from Vietnam and discussing whether or not to go to Africa to help them fight. These are the guys they were talking about. Very cool.
Attention to details.... Thanks for this latest upload, I always enjoy hearing about your experiences.
I can't put into words how much I appreciate your making of these videos.
It would have been cool to have visited Rhodesia. I feel nostalgic of a country that fell before I was born.
Another great telling. I don't know whether you have notes off camera to prompt you, but the way you speak, seemingly off the top of your head with no ums and ahs is amazing.
Cunjani madala. Good to hear one of your stories again.
Why do you greet this Rhodesian mass murderer in such a courteous way? Racist mass murderers and war criminals do not deserve any courtesy!
@@dissdad8744 A) how do you determine who a mass murderer is in a war situation. B) seeing a good many of his fellow combatants were actually black. C) I'm an ex Rhodesian too, having completed my national service as part of the RRR. So courteous, well yes, 5 Romeo Romeo is a much loved fellow countryman.
@@warty3620 So, you are a subject to Cecil Rhodes and his criminal cartel or why do you refer to yourself as "Rhodesian"? Are you his property?
A.) Rhodesians have routinely executed prisoners of war. The guy who runs this channel even admitted it, when he said that his commanding officer would act in "cold blood" and never took prisoners. So, when Zimbabwean Patriots were captured in the field by Rhodesian occupants / terrorists, the Rhodesian terrorists would not imprison the Zimbabweans, but usually torture (and "turn") or murder them in violation of all internationally accepted rules of warfare (Geneva Convention for example). Hence, you Rhodesians must be considered terrorists and war criminals rightfully.
B.) Blacks were forcibly recruited or pressured to join the Rhodesian forces. Many Blacks were former supporters of the Zimbabwean patriotic movements, who were abducted or captured by Rhodesian terrorists and brutally tortured in order to pressure them into becoming traitors and joining Rhodesian terror operations against strongholds of the Zimbabwean patriots. These pseudo-missions have been widely documented by some of the Rhodesian terrorists who were involved in these atrocities. Are you trying to deny this?
It's obvious that fighting for the preservation of a racist minority regime which stripped them of their basic civil and human rights was not in the best interest of these Black soldiers, hence you should be capable (if you have an average intellectual capacity) of concluding that they did not join the Rhodesian terrorists on their own or because of conviction.
C.) So, you were a Rhodesian anti-Zimbabwean racist perpetrator yourself? Tell me more about it! How many "gooks" did you murder and torture or shove down the mining shafts of Rhodesia after summary executing them, you ruthless, immoral and devil-worshipping serial killer?
People like you deserve what Eichmann got from the Israelis, since this is the only language unrepentant racist mass murderers will understand.
@@dissdad8744 What a bucket of deranged, brain washed, marxist, racist bullshit.
fuck off with your madala comment ???
This story makes me wonder - what were the differences between the imprints of the tracks of the Rhodesian Army and the enemy? When we were hunting SWAPO in Angola 1982 we were looking for the chevron print - distinctively SWAPO. I still have a pair of SWAPO boots hanging in my bar today - the chevron print is characteristic. Some guys (SADF) altered their boot prints to pure flat, to make it less distinguishable and also more comfortable (or so we thought!).
Our boots were what were called Mars pattern but we also wore army takkies that had a fine pattern. Also we could use anti tracking canvas type boot that had no pattern.
Thank you so much for sharing your valuable memories, they are a great treasure that are being, and will be appreciated for many years to come by so many. You sir, are a true gentleman. God bless you.
I appreciate your making of these videos.
Absolutely love your stories!
9:38 made me chuckle lol thank you for your service sir
I served four years in the Rhodesian army and our biggest weakness was inter-unit comms. Communication within a unit, even up to company size, was good but if two companies moved into an area it was hairy. There was something amiss with co-ordination at Company Command level. Several bad accidents happened due to this.
Thank you for outstanding information!
What a story. Thank you
Congratulations on reaching 600 subscribers!
Great story 👍
Love the story! Hope your doing good!
The leader of the sweep line that almost went blue on blue with your stick ought to have been court -marshalled and stripped of rank. He was unfit to lead men into action. Thank goodness for professional trackers and their outstanding natural senses.
Such intemperate reaction is unwise. There are always two sides to a story, and in combat errors are made and risks have to be taken. If every commander who made a wrong call was sacked you would have precious few commanders left.
Man you're doing awsome keep it up. Im really glad i found your channel
another fantastic video, i can never watch just one.
I hope you continue making these stories on video. I wish to encourage my grandfather to do his military work.
Five Romeo Romeo where were 5RR based? was it Kareba or Wankie? I was 3 Indep Coy up in Inyanga in 1979. Love hearing your Rhodie accent and your videos are excellent. Thank you.
Rod Sinclair. Hi Rod. Battalion HQ was in Salisbury. 5RR did operate in Wankie but I personally did not do any time there. However, I was at Kariba once, and we were based up at 2(?) Indep barracks there. Generally, we served throughout the Op Hurricane area. Inyanga? I think you would have found 4RR there. Many thanks for your question and keep your head down, ek se.
Love these stories I wish the world view was in you alls favor thank you for what you've accomplished
to hear such stories of war, hunting men like animals... i hope america never has such a civil conflict.
Please keep the videos coming.
Maybe look for someone that can put up some maps on the background near your head to give better feeling of the movement and distance.
Just remember freedom is not free
If one of your own callsigns accidentally engaged you, would you be able to tell by the sound of their weapons that they were a friendly callsign?
Good tracking and better intel will stop Blue on Blue!
Hello. did you ever come across an operator named Van der schyff? he would have been there at the same time as you.
Hi Anthony. I've been turning the name over in my mind since you asked the question. It sounds familiar to me but I can't put a face to it. I have a vague recollection of a Dennis van der Schyff?...but that may be another man entirely. Sorry, Anthony...I can't recall. Keep well and thanks for asking.
@@fiveromeoromeo5225 Hi. This was a pete van der schyff. did some work down beira way back in the day. i think he was a forward monitoring unit. must be around 70 at this stage.
I wouls love to experience the thrill and rush of hunting a atinking, agile, ugly 150 pound floppy
Could you not differentiate between the sound of an AK and a R1 during a contract?
Cant help but wonder who that tracker was.
To many guys relied on GPS in the early involvement in Afghanistan. Like they didn't take map reading in basic training or AIT?
I’m reading about the British in the Falklands (2 para) atm, in a book I found in a second hand bookshop. It was a terrible mess: hardly any maps or coms. People wandering all over the place in the night. Terrible pressure from above, and at home to push up unprepared. And to top it off, the bbc world service basically announced to the enemy what we were doing! A lot of our lions killed by terrible leadership from donkeys away from the battlefield.
@@tomwinterfishing9065 Lions led by lambs
Can you do a video about the end of Rhodesia and any knowledge about where most went and why? I find it odd that more of you didn't come to the US.
We have had a consulate in South Africa since 1799. I live on planet earth and seem to be more aware of how one moves countries than you are. So many fled to SA and then onto Australia and New Zealand or Canada. The US wouldn't be all that different.
It is very difficult to get a Green Card to work in the US.
@@smacksman1 Compared to? My whole family did it.
@@cm2973 Compared to me - I didn't have any funds outside Rhodesia or a sponsor in the US and was refused a Green Card. I'm delighted to hear your whole family made it to the 'land of milk and honey'! I made it to the UK with my family, arrived with nothing and had a tough struggle for ten years before 'getting a foot on the bottom rung', as it were. No regrets.
@@smacksman1 That's right, I forgot about the funds limitations. Was it hard to go there given their role in the fall of Rhodesia? Obviously, one goes where they have to.
5RR, where is your loc stat my man, luv to make comms.
I am kaapmuiden
Had far too many incidents of inaccurate map reading cause problems in viet nam.
History from the lips , real open relived accounts .should make your hair stand up ! Great numbers in any conflict fall from friendly fire . Thank God your mates survived !
Hi what wonderful country Rhodesia was it was a bread basket yes tell me you never came in contact with RDR soldiers coloured unit
Interesting,,,,,, when I try to post a like,, it won't let me. Hmmmmmmmmm
Hi sir, how do I get in touch with you? can I send you an email?
Zvinogara zviri nani kuva mupenyu pane kufa
It most certainly is ...........Pamberi ne hondo
Pasi ne Mugabe ne zvimba watangate zwake!!!
Pamberi ne Rhodisia!!!
metromoppet - indeed!
The Rhodesian Ostrich
As a black teenager in the 1970s the TTLs majority (95%) supported the nationalist struggle. Atrocities from both sides happened as unfortunately all is fair in love and war. The freedom fighters were the mostly fully supported side. The RLI and their 'preveya' cohorts had none. Deaths against Rhodesia in that struggle were painful but accepted. I see most whites in Rhodesia were like ostriches with heads in the sand unwilling to see the truth. They paid a heavy price for falsely believing blacks could be happy with oppression. It has never happened any where in human history. The UK fellows especially Harold Mc Millan had already advised what wisdom was. However Rhodesians never die.
5RR, where is your loc stat my man, luv to make comms.
Tony Smith. Howzit my mate. Sorry for the late reply man. I'm in SA...and you?
@@fiveromeoromeo5225 , I am also SA, Mpumulanga, have you got the right Tony Smith here. I was BSAP< GC and SB