Rhosarian 2019

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Rhosarian 1/19 PROMOTIONS RHODESIAN BOOKS - NON-FICTION October 2019 31 In September 1978 and February 1979 two Rhodesian Vickers Viscounts were brought down by Strela missile attacks from ZIPRA forces. Neither Viscount was Strela modified despite documentation being provided to aviation authorities that there was a potential vulnerability to the missiles. The Viscounts had left Kariba Airport heading for Salisbury. Both aircraft went down within minutes of take off. The Western world and the media left the downing of the aircraft and subsequent death of numerous passengers un-condemned. My journey to writing this book started after reading the book Viscount Down by Keith Nell. It left as many unanswered questions as it answered. In this book, I will present the evidence and you the reader are the jury. You the reader, make the final call. Was it Strela ground to air missile strikes or acts of sabotage? To understand the processes taken to come to an informed conclusion in any case of such magnitude, one would as a forensic auditor present possible scenarios. In the case of the Rhodesian Viscount tragedies there are two possibilities. These are described in Chapter 2 of my book. In any forensic investigation all possibilities, alternatives and factors need to be considered, including benefits and motives. The latter are discussed in the final Chapters. DECISION I have presented the evidence, the co-incidences and possible explanations. As I stated at the start of this narrative, you the reader are the jury and in many ways can be the judge. I have my own views on the matter. I doubt that anyone would have thought that a top secret Strela or Sam 7 missile technical manual would be available within the time frame of Rhodesian lives. The process to gather the information in this book has taken over five years. All that is disclosed here and the revelations fly in face of history and current thinking. ... Geoffrey Alp REVIEWER'S COMMENT This is not a simple book for the average reader as it contains technical descriptions and what may be advanced mathematics. The arguments are strongly unfavourable to the use of Strela in the Viscount attacks, and imply some very dubious motives to the British government. We (Dakotas on 3 Sqn) used 14,000 ft (4,200 m) and above, or 500 ft (150 m) and below as altitudes safe from Strela or small arms fire. These figures were based on limited knowledge and practical experience, and they certainly worked for us. Mike Russell Flt Lt (Retd), Rhodesian Air Force The book is available online through Amazon, both in paperback and in e-format which requires a Kindle type reader from Amazon.
The Rhosarian 1/19 32 This book is the personal story of Digby Pocock, a member of the BSAP who served in Special Branch (SB) through most of the bush war. He led a small detachment of pseudo terrorists to pick up information on terrorist infiltration into various kraals and protected villages in his area of responsibility. However, in telling the stories of his groups missions, successes and failures, he denigrates the actions of the Selous Scouts, the originators of “pseudo” tactics lin the Rhodesian bush war. He fails to mention the debt owed to the use of “pseudos” in the Palestine Police, in the anti terrorist campaign in Malaya in the 1950s and their use by the Kenya Police in the Anti-Mau Mau struggle of the 1050’s. This is an interesting book but, as one man’s story, tends to be a little egotistical. Although wounded and injured several times the author survived the war and went into a well-earned retirement. Technically most of the book’s photographs, coloured or black and white are poorly reproduced with many of the main subjects unrecognizable; The proof reading, too, was poor with many spelling and grammatical errors. However, generally the book gives a good idea of the problems faced by security forces in the tribal lands, and latterly, the problem of inadequate training in the territorial forces. It shows too the problems faced by married men fighting far from their homes and families, and equally it shows how the families coped in the absence of their menfolk. I was sorry that the story of the author’s early life, until he joined the police, was not slightly expanded to more clearly show the contrast between 1960 and 1980 in terms of normal family life in Rhodesia. Mike Russell Note: Promotion of this book was published in the Msasa Mail 2/19 PROMOTONS Tumultuous Years by Chas Lotter October 2019 The pieces which make up this monumental work on the Rhodesian journey from the Pioneer Column days to the present day are all falling into place. Even the prophetic poems, written in 1980, about the coming ruination of the country, the oppression of its people and the ultimate fall of Mugabe have been included. The search for original documents and photos to illustrate the original poems is almost over. Many of the poems have never been seen before. A good number of the photos and documents used in this book have never been published. Input and guidance from Dr JRT Wood, Dr Mike Hagemann, Dr Iona Gilburt, Professor Andrie Meyer and Professor Innocent Pikirayi is lifting the presentation of the work to a new level – especially in respect of the detailed chronology of Rhodesian events, which is included as an appendix. This chronology still requires further work to ensure that it is as accurate, as detailed and as complete as possible. That is the major work of the coming months and is on track. Publication has been set for the middle of 2020. Rhodesia, The End We were a strange, quarrelsome folk We were many. We were all the peoples Of this troubled land of many names, We believed in destiny, and when ignited, Even by leaders themselves misguided, We moved, we strove, we wrought. We drossed our metal in the fire of war. We moulded a nation Where tribes existed before. Note well. Our time has not ended, our future is not empty. It has merely changed its shape.
Page 1 and 2: The Rhosarian 1/19 The Rhosarian Ma
Page 3 and 4: The Rhosarian 1/19 2 NATIONAL Octob
Page 5 and 6: The Rhosarian 1/19 4 NATIONAL EDITO
Page 7 and 8: The Rhosarian 1/19 6 MARY'S MEANDER
Page 9 and 10: The Rhosarian 1/19 8 NEW MEMBERS We
Page 11 and 12: The Rhosarian 1/19 10 During the tr
Page 13 and 14: The Rhosarian 1/19 12 OPPORTUNITIES
Page 15 and 16: The Rhosarian 1/19 14 RIDGEBACK RHO
Page 17 and 18: The Rhosarian 1/19 16 men really di
Page 19 and 20: The Rhosarian 1/19 18 discovering o
Page 21 and 22: The Rhosarian 1/19 20 unwise decisi
Page 23 and 24: The Rhosarian 1/19 22 FISH EAGLE Oc
Page 25: The Rhosarian 1/19 24 OPERATION URI
Page 28 and 29: The Rhosarian 1/19 OPERATION URIC m
Page 30 and 31: The Rhosarian 1/19 A man named Char
Page 34 and 35: The Rhosarian 1/19 Thrown off Our L
Page 36 and 37: The Rhosarian 1/19 Land was not tru
Page 38 and 39: The Rhosarian 1/19 deliberately did
Page 40 and 41: The Rhosarian 1/19 IN CASE OF DEATH
Page 42 and 43: The Rhosarian 1/19 The FLAG THE FLA
Page 44 and 45: The Rhosarian 1/19 carrying his ind
Page 46 and 47: The Rhosarian 1/19 This would becom
Page 48 and 49: The Rhosarian 1/19 OPPORTUNITIES Oc
Page 50 and 51: The Rhosarian 1/19 HUMOUR October 2
Page 52: The Rhosarian 1/19 October 2019 Fla

Rhosarian 2019

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?