Hi, Mike – you have a namesake who lives about a mile from where I work!
Not sure whether there is possibly a connection.
Interesting to see the pictures of yourself and your dad. I presume he was in NZ with US forces to have me your mom?
People from many countries came to Southern Africa to fight with the Rhodesians and the South African forces. I wonder where they are today?
I doubt that many would have remained here after 1994.
The Rhodesians had a fearsome reputation. The British South Africa Police (which is no more, having been replaced by the Zimbabwean National Police) was referred to as “the regiment” and was recognised in Rhodesia as being the senior service.
The Rhodesian Army had a number of crack units, including the Rhodesian Light Infantry and the Selous Scouts.
The SA Army had the Reconnaisance Commandos, or Recces, the Parachute Brigade (nicknamed the Parabats, from 1 Parachute Battalion, where all volunteers were first posted), and other specialists.
And in both countries, part-time units had a vital role to play in defence.
The Zimbabwean army has been used chiefly for suppressing the people (thousands were massacred in Matabeleland by the North Korean-trained 5th Brigade), while the South African army is not a patch on what it used to be.
South African peacekeepers in the Congo (former Zaïre) have a negative reputation. (I don’t think I need to go into details.)
Regards,
Mike
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.
[Proverbs 14:27]
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