Fighting Men of Rhodesia ep1 | Rich Stannard 1st talk
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Welcome to a new series of interviews with the Fighting Men of Rhodesia as Hannes Wessels & I try to record the war stories of these outstanding warriors.
The Rhodesian war lasted 12 long years from 1968 through to 1980. During this period a relatively small, landlocked country was almost entirely surrounded by hostile neighbours and virtually the entire world sought the destruction of the government of the day. No matter your political proclivities, the fact that the country survived the onslaught as long as it did, was an astonishing display of resilience that is without historical precedent. Few question the fact that the army and air force of the time punched way above their weight and lay justifiable claim to being the best for their size in the world. What is also not in doubt is that these forces produced some of the finest fighting soldiers and airmen of the era and Lt. Richard Stannard who served in the SAS, Selous Scouts and the South African Recces, is one of those men.
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Even as a young lad, I very much admired Rhodesia and the Rhodesian Armed Forces. That Britain turned its back on Rhodesia will foever be a source of shame...and I speak as a Brit.
I feel the same.
Britain Australia. What's Burns my ass was the hypocrisy of it all. Aus as at that time were more racist than any other country.
Look at britain today,and australia is following suit,
A sad example of successive British governments been capable of throwing their own kind under the bus! there had to be a better solution than Robert Mugabe ! Completely agree with your sentiment.
It's sad. But we need to forgive. The British are a good, kind and hard-working people. So were the Rhodesians. So are Zimbabweans. We are all one family. Unfortunately Rhodesia would never have lasted. I am a Zimbabwean and I say we build a new nation for all people with love, kindness and compassion for all beings. A country of milk and honey with no racialism, no hunger and no more human rights abuses. Where no one is above anyone else and everyone is treated with kindness and respect.
As a Pole, brought up and raised in the UK, I have a huge admiration for Rhodesians and their military. So glad these memories are being recorded here on youtube! God Bless!
I wanted to serve in Rhodesia during the late 70s as an American teenager. The war ended and I was sad for the Rhodesian people. I felt more empathy for Rhodesia than I did for S. Vietnam.
Rhodesia was a beautiful country and more important than Vietnam to save.
Imagine if we had supported Rhodesian and South African apartheid instead of Israeli apartheid, of which the Israeli government is staunchly anti European and anti American supporting mass immigration and making America do its dirty work, also blowing up the USS Liberty RIP
Thankyou for sharing these tales. Some of us have fathers and uncles who fought for Rhodesia/South Africa. Living in America; people have a ugly view on Rhodies/Afrikaaners... I consider it my personal hobby to set them straight.
What a shame that western world turned their back on Rhodesia. Just imagine what it could have become.
Thankyou ALL for your service to Rhodesia, Africa and the whole damn western civilized world. God bless you. You won’t be forgotten.
And they are going to pull out on South Africa to
T S : “... I make it my personal HOBBY to set them straight”. Great HOBBY🤣👍‼️
Unfortunate. This type of abandonment or pretending that there is no brutality by the shadow governments, was repeated in Central America/Caribbean nations, and Asia and the near East.
@@annagriffin2865 And what do you intend your legacy to be?
As a youngster I had such an admiration for y’all, I was just a bit too young to make my way there from America to join you. I later served in the U.S. Military but have always felt I missed my true destiny. The conflict in Rhodesia ended as I was entering service.
Just bloody amazing sir, Rhodesians never die
Great idea its so important to record soldiers experiences in their own words, it isn't widely know these days of Rhodesian fighting men black and white who fought against the red menace. As an Australian we proud to call on your men as our mates and to have neighbouring countries against you, I take my hat off to you and God bless.
There wouldn't have been a red menace if Rhodesia had accepted black majority rule in the first place
I have atter of my grand
I have a letter of my grand fathers that dates back to 1896 to the blackuprising
@@ausbrum Tell the Hungarians (56), Czechs (68) or Poles (80) there was no red menace.
@@ausbrum There wouldn't have been a red menace had Britain took a stand against the commies in Africa. Black majority rule was forced upon the Rhodies without concern for consequences.
Proud to be Rhodesian
Rhodesia was a beautiful and successful country with decent hard working people that was utterly betrayed by the UK and the West.....
Yes. It was beautiful. There were lots of good people around and lots of white women ( no racialism intended ). But please forgive Britain and the West. Forgiveness heals you and is an attribute of strength. Rhodesia would have fallen anyway. I speak as a Zimbabwean who loves his country.
We must look at history going back to the Tractarian movement, some call it the NWO, others the Illuminati, others now call it the Deep State. You just have to look around you now with all hatred, nation against nation, people groups against each other, I could go-on-and-on. I’ll fast forward to Satanic attack on England where Satan tried to destroy England. (Guy Fawkes). God’s plan was unstoppable ! No rebel, army or ruler could stop the KJV. God’s words in English, from covering the earth. Then came the Jesuit attacks, they sent their missionaries all over the world, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, England and America including Rhodesia in 1890’s. You see the Jesuits didn’t mind various Catholic versions of the Bible- they themselves made the Rheims-Donau ! But they hated one Bible with a bloodthirsty passion : The. KING JAMES BIBLE ! They vowed to destroy it. This goes back three centuries. The Jesuits are not only just Priests, Missionaries or assassins, they are also teachers. Fast forward to such a time as this COVID-19 and we have a choice to trust in one Bible which comes from God through his people, or the other bible which comes from the Devil through ‘“scholars” This is not going to play out well I’m afraid, because we in Rhodesia had enemies with in our beautiful country working against the good of the people, and we have to question why communism was behind the destruction of Rhodesia and follow the money trails (dirty deals, FBI, and hundreds of organisations , bankers, bankruptcies). Most of us will be lucky to have work. This is Satanic. Fear is gripping the nation’s around the world. I do apologise if I have said to much here, I will remove it if goes against the grain.
With out a doubt and our eternal shame.
What about the short shorts,awful folk music and chemical warfare?
Pity about the black population though. Rhodesian Rail even had Whites Only carriages
Born in Bulawayo in 71, my dad was a sergeant major at Brady Barracks with the 6th RR, now staying in Henneman, just outside of Welkom in the Free State. If I recall correctly, Mr dad joined the Rhodesian Army in 69
My uncle, was the late Colonel Don H. Grainger from Rhodesian Corp of Signals and the author of the well known book "Don't Die in the Bundu" and still to this day the Rhodesian Military are admired not only by myself and many of my friends around the world.
I knew Inez.
Wonderful video. Was a pilot in the SAAF in the early 80’s. Made many trips to Rhodesia as a kid.
Heroes every one !
Great interview, mate. Very interesting stuff. Rhodesia was a great nation with great people filled with a spirit that is hard to find in the modern world.
Johno - looking well! Appreciate your efforts at capturing memories now that will soon be forever lost. With my old man coming from Livingstone and having fought in an unknown unit (pictures are lost to time and I was too young to understand, it was all a bit hush hush), it blows my mind that Rich Stannard was Selous, Recces and SAS. Thats like climbing the three highest mountains in the world unassisted, with a warthog on your back over your backpack for company. I haven't kapped a salute for years, but found myself doing one late last night to the computer, and I was absolutely dead dry sober. Respect!
I'm so glad I found this.
My father and 2 uncles fought in the war, with my youngest uncle being KIA returning to base by a landmine, Rhodesians are a special breed.
Hi John as a boy growing up in the 70s. A hero to most school boys was Schulie. It would be great if you could get Chris to share some stories with us.
Trevor Des Fountain was our OC in 74, probably one of the most memorable officers to serve under. Worthy of great respect.
Terry do you remember Colonel Darryl Van Zyl, met him at JOC Sinoia , with %th Bat
I was nothing left a child however i understood those men were courageous. Never forget
Great interview. Any chance of interviewing Chris Cocks of ‘Fireforce’ book fame?
Gentlemen, thank you very much for the brilliant videos - golden pages of African history!
Glad you like them!
Hi,i meet a guy called john in Tanzania,he had a small camp along the road to killimanjaro,in the evenings and after a few beers he told us many interesting stories abt the fighting,i heard one day he took hes bike to go see hes brother and never came back,amazing guy.
Salute from 2Cdo in Calgary!
Hi great to see you guys putting this together to have a permanent place where our great many bush war men, whether known or not, are given a place to put out a true and live account of their bush war and child experiences. Rich you forgot to mention that during our time in 129 we did the compass march in the Matopos hills and I think I remember you were our stick leader and getting us lost or something the old brain is slowing down! and look at where you ended up.
Words cannot describe best for you guys, and my brother was one of you. God bless.
I will be very attentive to this channel, greetings from Argentina.
Thanks 🙏🏼
Thank you Hannes and Rich
A correction to your dates on the war. 1965/6 was the biggining of the bush / boarder war and we lost guys in that time. I joined in 65 like many others and went through to 82. Are we to forget those who died before 68.
In late 80's I met a couple who had escaped to Arizona from the up rising. They had lost their farm, their country, everything. I imagine it must have been like Leiningen Versus the Ants
You mentioned David Scales, brought me back to our SAS selection course. In our course we had the late Andy Chait, Chris Myers, Mike Willis, Frank Vivers, Olefese, Manie du Plessie, just to mention a few were. 3 of us had to go through RLI training again to be posted into the Commandos. Many thanks, enjoyed the memories.
Frank Viviers ( Sgt) lives in NZ
Awesome, thanks for sharing.
Rhodesia is just fascinating.
It's like my countrys(NZ)murdered younger sibling.
Kinda pisses me off that this happened, despite being before my time.
Thank you so much for your service to the country I could only live in for a very short time but will never stop being my home I miss so much.
So true Gary, thanks!
Great listen chaps. Lots of my family served in the forces. Our roots also go back to the 1890's.
Strange but exciting times and MUCH laughter = Please record this history
Tell me more.i want to know everything about rhodesia.when i was a child,in the beginning of 80's,my father told me:These White soldiers are fighting for us.please Carry on talking about rhodesia.let us never forget! All the best from good old Germany 😁in every Broadcast rhodesia was mentiond.and i Loved These fighting soldiers.
Bless you for having done this.
Good call ... thoroughly enjoying the series and becoming drawn into Rhodesia's post UDI epic struggle.
Fantastic interview
Brilliantly done. This was very interesting and informative. I have always wondered about that time in my country's history.
Glad you enjoyed it
My Uncle served in the Selous Scouts his name is David Braham is he known to you guys he now lives back in England..
How interesting because my mothers father and uncles all served in the war, I do know my mothers neighbour was Des Sinclair
My granny was married firstly to a Watson Braham from Goole, Yorkshire. His dad was a mariner and there were several sons and daughters, brothers of Watson. Maybe a relative of yours?
@@jackiewilkinson3122 there are three Brothers David,Richard and Chris.Richard is my Dad all live back in England now we still live in SA.
My father fought in the war, my uncle was SAS. If you would like their names for interviewing, please let me know.
Been watching and listening to these on spotify. Not sure who uploaded them to Spotify. But there are only about 8 episodes there. Wish there was more.
Thanks for this great to see history being kept alive
Well done and thank you 🙏🏼 for sharing , bring back my own memories while assisting Rhodesia in their own war 👍💪
Keep going....loving it....spend my childhood in Selukwe.....my half sisters son Bruce Williamson served with the SAS. Stewart Cranswick too. Following.
Thank you 🙏🏼
Fantastic idea!!! Uncle Rich, absolute LEGEND \m/
Glad you liked it!
Thank you so much for this. So keen and will follow every episode.
Just found this channel. Really makes me miss home. I wonder when the last of us Rhodies will pass. Then what.....
Hannes, you should share your Buff experience in Kitiangare with Miragi. I'm sure a lot of folks will enjoy the story. Missing you my friend
Great men..
Great video thank you. I seem to remember there was serious silence after Jock Hutton gave us that bollocking on the bus that Richard mentions.
Glad you enjoyed it. Jock used to tell some great stories. We often used to go for luch with Tim Bax & Trevor dF when they were all working at COIN. Sometimes Jock would open up and tell us about his experiences.
Great channel! 👍
Thanks for the visit
Really enjoying your videos and finding out about your brave men of Rhodesia before Mugabe took over. Looking forward to the next instalment. Many thanks to you all from the UK.
Coming soon!
Great, I've stumbled on to a massive series 🤩
Hope you enjoy it!
Glad to see and hear a 'chocolate' lad; went to Mount Pleasant myself..great school under Dip Cooper Well done on your service to the country and thank you
You did great work!
Thank you!
The book was a fantastic read.
Remember you well your smile gave me hope my friend
Just also to add that RG Mugabe and cohorts were not communists at all. They were greedy, corrupt capitalists at heart. Zimbabwe was never a communist state except just for expediency here and there. It was also just to hoodwink the population that eventually rose up against them in 2000. All they wanted was someone to support their cause of liberation which I feel even today Rhodesians do not understand because they never felt what it was like to be marginalised. Had they understood that this was not about communism but people's rights, they could have manourevred their way politically and still even be in politics today. It's a pity they never understood how it felt to see Whites ONLY in your own country. To me there was a lack of objectivity and sadly I hear it still 40 years on
I think you have a valid point
John, i dont thin anyoe would mind an interview lastign a few hours... these can never be captured again and podcasts have shown if the content is interersting people will listen, all the best
Thanks for that. Yes I agree that they could go longer..
@@fightingmenofrhodesia just think it would be fantastic to get a comprehensive video consolidating the combined knowledge and experiences of all you veterans (men & women) cheers. take care.
@@Mutapahawk yes we intend to consolidate the series into a full length movie in due course 👍
Thanks.
You're welcome
Rhodesians never die
This is great! Thank you! What about André Rabie?
Yes, and Kevin Thomas
Go Selous Scouts!!!!
Imagine the Russians managed to take the whole of Southern Africa what a mess thst would have been if not for the resistance of Rhodesia and South Africa the world owes these brave soldiers a huge thank you😢
All of the Rhodesian soldiers punched above their weight
Very nice .....part 2?
Coming soon
Hi John / Hannes, Pops doesn't know I'm doing this but, wondered if you would be interested in chatting to him. He was in Greys Scouts and passed selection in Selous Scouts, He had an interesting campaign, particularly where they were ambushed and his Lt froze up and he acted in his stead through a harrowing firefight. Only for his Lt to be awarded a medal. Nothing was ever said of this and was told by his late mother and trooper Ian Christian . Mike Watson served with him and would have insight too. Doesn't say much about his time, but from what I have heard from him, would be well worth it.
Many thanks,
Brendon Watkins
Yes sure, send me his contact details please!
Make Zimbabwe Rhodesia again.....
Rich, Doug Bateson here. Mate you lost the record for the most cuts in one year to me. Three lots of six in one week followed by five weeks straight of six a week. Stay safe.
🤣
@Roan Brightman Unfortunately the people aren't the problem, it is the politicians with self interests. To go from a strong Rhodesian $ and being a major exporter, to being an importing country where everyone basically became millionaires overnight and couldn't buy food due to shortages makes me wonder why Mugabe got an airport named after him??? I am an Australian aboriginal and we have seen in hindsight that throughout history that politicians have not served the democracy of the people once they are in power, which is more relevant today around the world.. Say whatever you need to so you can obtain power, line those pockets, and go and get a job with people/countries/corporations you have helped as a politician. Just look at any govt parliament or when politicians get questioned when they get caught out. Just wait til South Africa catches up with the rest of Africa with dictators and the corruption which plagues the continent. Maybe Grace Mugabe can come to Australia and run Aust post, or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or become a Sports minister or she could have the choice of premier of several states. She is morally qualified for these jobs and we have more choices for her.
I’d like to hear about the prospecting...
Corporal Koos Loots helped me win the Inyangombe footrace. My namesake, Noel Robey, bandy legs, raked the trees above us at 3am on some exercise or other in the valley.
Vaughn Stockil returned fire with a magazine of blanks, and then one round through the blank firing attachment. The round hit the trunk of the tree near Noel and he beat a hasty retreat.
Vaughn was given a stick to pretend was a rifle.
I slept right through the affair.
I was a big disappointment to Noel.
Subscribed
Thank you!
Maybe Selous Scouts had the most
Gruelling and Arduous selection.
God Knows!
I 'm reading Dingo Firestorm now, fantastic operation couldn't do that now without ending up in the ICC (well the Chinese, Russians and Americans probable could)
Best book about the war I've ever read. I served in the RaF
No they can’t fight an African war only Africans can
Once apon a time in Binga.........
Oh...my mom went to Umtali Girls High lol
They could make thousands of great action movies based on what these guys did instead of all those stupid superhero flicks. But, we all know what kind of people Holliwood is run by.
Good afternoon.....am looking for a video which the northern rhodesian brass band had played a song called POYAMBA
subbed!!
Thank you 🙏🏼
How can I get rid of the footnotes. I understand perfectly what is said and and obviously I can hear.
Not sure what you mean? Are your captions turned off?
I seem unable to find the Link for the Part 2 of this Interview here?
Can anyone please help?
We will be releasing part 2 in the near future :) Thanks for watching Willem 🙏🏼
@@fightingmenofrhodesia
Ace! Thank you for recoding and sharing these vital experiences.
I notice that in your preamble you only acknowledge soldiers and airmen. You have, amongst others, omitted the BSAP some of whom also fought in the bush war. Why is this?
Edit: Or, simply put, do they not qualify as “Fighting Men of Rhodesia,” according to you? Were their contributions and deaths not worth mentioning?
Did Rich say he was Intake 129?
Hi Johan, where can I get the book that I saw here - Fighting Men of Rhodesia
For those who wish to obtain Hannes Wessels' books please check out:
www.exmontibusmedia.co.za/
@@fightingmenofrhodesia Hi thanks for that. Is it called Handful of Hard Men? Reason being is that in the interview, I stopped the video and took the title down from there and it is seems different?
The book in the video is titled Rhodesian Men of War and on the website link that you sent there is one called A Handful of Hard Men. Are the same ?
@@fightingmenofrhodesia It seems they are different books and the website link does not carry Men of War. I see the last paragraph on the lefthand side of the title page says they are different.
@@RiskCapCom yes the book will be available in mid November (two weeks time) 🙂
I hate to douse Hannes Wessel's efforts in cold water, but an oral history interview needs to be just that, an interview. Don't recap the history of Rhodesia as we can get that from Wikipedia. Ask Rich about Rich; where he grew up, what his father did and how he came to be the man he became. Let him do the talking and if he talks for four hours, so much the better.
Yes we were still new at this then. I think we've improved since then. You have a valid point and Rich should have another talk, as long as he wants 🙂
@@fightingmenofrhodesia Thanks. If you're interested, my father has an interview on TH-cam about his WW2 experiences that is on TH-cam. The interviewer started by asking him about his childhood, where he grew up, schools, so that by the time he came to the good stuff, Pop was relaxed and had everything in context. Robert Livingston Pomeroy. I'm not trying to boast here, but an oral history of Rhodesian veterans is very important. Say hello to Rich from me.
@@Sergeant_Fury thanks! Do you have a link for interview?
@@fightingmenofrhodesia th-cam.com/video/h4rpzdCm-x0/w-d-xo.html
Why did the whites abandon Rhodesia/Zimbabwe? I find it strange that people who had a firm.conviction about the country would simply just go away into hiding. Obviously as an apartheid state Rhodesia was doomed. It was just a matter of time. But why not stay around and actively participate in politics? We could be voting for white presidential candidates. It seems Rhodesia was cool with blacks on the sidelines and marginalised. Where there black officers in Rhodesian army?
OK now you're misinformed. 75% of the Rhodesian army was black...
@@fightingmenofrhodesia Hi John. Thanks for educating me on that one. I know there were blacks in RAR and of course Selous scouts. What was the rough composition in all the units such as SAS, Air force, Special Branch? In that case where there black officers? I also have been getting the impression you were short of.men generally hence the effective use of the fireforce concept. Call up for blacks was only introduced very late in the war and met with demonstrations and resistance. Even threats that they would turn the guns on the white soldiers. So there was a general fear & mistrust about blacks to a certain extent..It's all in good spirit John. I like.many others follow your series with interest and this is a.contribution to history we were all a part of
@@uncleTee2023 Perhaps read some of the books about zim soldiers ,they fought tooth and nail for the country but perhaps just like South Africa outnumbered and they new there would never be an end
Many of us stayed and continue to contribute to the country only to then have our farm taken. The knock on effect of loss of commercial farms to the towns selling stuff has messed the economy. It’s a bit like food pyramid you get with animals, you need worms to feed the grass and birds to eat the worms etc. everyone lives together. Mess that up and it then goes all wrong.
If that was not the case many of us would be back a home.
Rodehsia never die
all in vain. in vanity. how bitterly sad.
Check out the video " The Economic Policies that ruined Zimbabwe " posted by Academic Agent.
Nice idea that these men and their deeds are remembered, but in the end the country that was Rodesia is gone. Very depressing, sorry.
@@AnnE-mn8ny People used to go to Rhodesia to see the Zimbabwe ruins, now they go to Zimbabwe to see the Rhodesia ruins.
Does Mr Stanard still live in Africa?
No he's in Canada..
That's unfortunate. The best men we ever had either died in battle or left for greener pastures. Indeed this is just the way it is. But as a young South African I feel shortchanged that we've lost so many potential mentors, and that the countries that they go to has no gratitude for the privilege they have received to have these men walk among them.
BEATIFICATION not 'beautification' ffs.
Lol! True
Sorry not from Patricia But Herbert her husband
RIch where are you help my friend
Hi Keith, he lives in Canada now. Hope you are well? I had a braai with Ingram & Angel Gabriel yesterday, your fellow 2 Commando brothers
I can understand the sentiment of Rhodesia. It had good ideals and there were more white women in this country back then. I, myself am a Zimbabwean but I was born long after Rhodesia. Unfortunately It's gone now. I know things were much better back then but sadly it's gone. There's nothing we can do about it. We need to stop blaming the British and the West for what happened. Rhodesia would have fallen anyway. I may be Zimbabwean but I am also extremely proud of my British roots. The British people are kind, hard working and good. The same as Zimbabweans or Rhodesians. Or anyone for that matter. We need to let go and forgive. Forgiveness heals you once you let go of the pain. It is also an attribute of real strength.
Rhodesia also had its own flaws such as an apartheid government and atrocities committed by both sides during the war. Can't we see that we need to be kind, compassionate, respectful and loving to all people and animals instead of all this pointless anger, violence and hatred.
Rhodesia may be gone but we can build a new nation in this country, one built on love, compassion, kindness, equality for all and everlasting peace. Where there is no racialism or hatred at all only a country overflowing with milk and honey. A nation where our women and children are loved, respected and protected, where all life is honoured and where there is no war. No one is above anyone else. We are all brothers and sisters. One family. Call me a traitor but that is what I believe in.
Thanks for your comments Roan and I mostly agree with them. Except South Africa had apartheid not Rhodesia. Ian Smith begged Vorster to abandon apartheid and told him that the world would remember it as evil. Anyone could vote in Rhodesia provided they were tax payers or had a school leavers certificate. There was no apartheid. I grew up there and went to a multiracial school (Peterhouse). It was a different time...
I’m American and I find the Rhodesian story interesting. You need to speak to my family and the rest of Mexico 🇲🇽 on how to overcome their loss of the Northern Mexican territories by United States 🇺🇸 over 170 years ago - to which they are still very bitter!!!
@Black Watch I'm not sure what you mean?
@Black Watch I'll look into that. Thanks for the question
@@fightingmenofrhodesia Not entirely true,the system was discriminatory against the blacks,it was less vicious than apartheid but discriminatory nevertheless,who were the majority and owners of the place in the first place,blacks didn’t have the vote except in 1978 when Ian Smith put his puppet Muzorewa as Prime Minister with co-ministers for each ministry,one white one black,the British left a trail of destruction and divisions from Ireland through Indian subcontinent to China.Here listen to the Commander of the Zanla Freedom Fighters saying clearly that he’s not fighting the white man but the brutal system.
th-cam.com/video/nJQHOHZVsdU/w-d-xo.html
As big as the rli was don't you have any stories of the black soldiers or was the your army only full of whites ???
In the next episode we will be covering the stories of some of the black heroes of the war and looking at the famous Selous Scouts regiment which was fully muliracial. Later, we will also be interviewing one of the Guerrilla leaders who fought against the Rhodesian Army for his perspective.
Could've been a white tribal sovereign nation on the continent of Africa(no minority rights on the continent for whites apparently) but Communism had quietly won the world after ww2 and has ruled this world ever since. We've fought under the UN flag in every conflict since the surrender of Germany in 1945.