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15 May 1979: the US Senate passed an non-binding amendment, 75-19, asking President Carter abide by 1978 law to lift sanctions within two-weeks of installation of #Zimbabwe- #Rhodesia Muzorewa government under certain conditions #RhodesiaBushWar
15 May 1978: #Zambia President Kennth Kaunda meeting with Prime Minister James Callaghan and Foreign Secretary David Owen in London https://youtu.be/4jZ_boaI6Vk via @YouTube
15 May 1976: Lt-General Olusegun Obasanjo Announces Execution of coup plotters including Lt Colonel Bukar Dimka #Nigeria https://youtu.be/zjEA83pgstg via @YouTube
15 May 1976: Lt Colonel Bukar Dimka and six coup plotters, @executedtoday by firing squad in Lagos #Nigeria http://www.executedtoday.com/2011/05/15/1976-lt-col-bukar-dimka-and-six-coup-confederates/
A pro-government soldier covers up the body of a dead RUF rebel fighter near Masiaka 60 km from Freetown #SIerraLeone on 15 May 2000 #SierraLeoneCivilWar
15 May 1979: Tanzanian Troops Destroy a Convoy of Retreating #Uganda Soldiers fleeing from Lira in final battle of #UgandaTanzaniaWar https://youtu.be/HPzXHpjoWT0 via @YouTube
The column of Amin army vehicles burn after being ambushed by Tanzanians north of Lira on 15 May 1979; over 70 #Uganda soldiers were killed to four Tanzanians in final battle of #UgandaTanzaniaWar
Tanzanian troops board the ferry to cross Lake Kyoga in central #Uganda to attack Amin soldiers at Lira by surprise from the south on 15 May 1979 #UgandaTanzaniaWar
14 May 2000- Operation PALLISER: British Chief of Defence General Sir Charles Guthrie arrived in Freetown #Sierraleone to meet with President Ahmed Kabbah; RUF released 157 of over 500 @UN soldiers held hostage #SierraLeoneCivilWar https://youtu.be/3Jule2cslXE via @YouTube
RCD MUTINY-war crimes in Kisangani: over 100 military and police were brought to the Tshopo bridge and summarily executed and thrown into river during suppression of the revolt in Kisangani on 14 May 2002 #SecondCongoWar
14 May 1958- The Fall of the fourth Republic: new Premier Pierre Pflimlin speaks to #France after national assembly vote - Vidéo http://Ina.fr http://www.ina.fr/video/CAF97516200/allocution-pflimlin-video.html via @Inafr_officiel
Witness to fire force contact northwest of Mt Darwin #Rhodesia on 14 May 1976, Alouette pilot Mike Borlace, during which RLI Captain Len Pitch was mortally wounded #RhodesianBushWar
"To you will fall the honour of extracting the most terrible vengance": RLI passing-out ceremony at Salisbury #Rhodesia on 14 May 1976 #RhodesiaBushWar
14 May 1958: 'Committee of Public Safety' Generals' Raoul Salan and Jacques Massu, 'Comite de Vigilance' leader Leon Delbecque at Gouvernement General in Algiers #AlgerianWar https://youtu.be/iBQgtDKZf00 via @YouTube
13 May 1976: The US issued a travel advisory for #Rhodesia, strongly advising Americans not to travel there; US movie star Jack Palance was filming 'Safari Express' at Victoria Falls #RhodesianBushWar
13 May 1978: Bishop Muzorewa, member of four-man executive council ruling #Rhodesia as part of internal settlement , speaking at a rally at Gatooma #RhodesianBushWar https://youtu.be/J93XYWg5OSI via @YouTube
"Will you go the end of the line to keep Algerie francaise?": on 13 May 1958, after a ceremony at the monument aux morts for the three French soldiers executed by the FLN, demonstrators storm and ransack the nearby Gouvernement-General in Algiers #AlgerianWar
#Angola army at Cuito Cuananvale on 13 May 1988 displays for press #SouthAfrica Olifant, a modified Centurion. tank captured in March fighting #SouthAfricanBorderWar
A ferry with refugees who arrived by train from camps to the south on 12 May 1997, cross the #Congo river by ferry to Kisangani, where they were flown back to Rwanda; at least 37,000 would be airlifted by the @UN by the end of May #FirstCongoWar
12 May 1991: A 1,000 strong Zulu impi swept into a squatter camp at Kagiso township west of Johannesburg #SouthAfrica, killing 27 people and burning down 82 homes
President Habib Bourguiba of #Tunisia at a ticker-tape parade up Broadway in NYC on 11 May 1961 during his week-long visit to the United States #AlgerianWar
11 May 1978- "You must do it at the moment it gets out of hand": RF Pik Botha defends the timing of the Cassinga #Angola incursion #SouthAfricanBorderWar https://youtu.be/b-fv7bdnHc8
11 May 1987: A TV set booby-trapped by CCB special forces to kill an ANC offical in Maputo #Mozambique instead exploded in Harare, #Zimbabwe killing a civilian and destroying the apartment
11 May 1994: RPA rebel leader Paul Kagame meeting with @UN Force Commander General Romeo Dallaire and U.N High Commissioner for Human Rights Jose
Ayala Lasso in Byumba, 40km north of Kigali #Rwanda #Kwibuka27 https://youtu.be/D9Ic2J19Sys via @YouTube
Sierra Leone soldiers and militia near Waterloo on outskirts of Freetown on 11 May 2000; the RUF advance on the capital had been halted but rebels still held over 500 @UN soldiers hostage #SierraLeoneCivilWar
SADF soldier Johan van der Mescht, captured by SWAPO at Elundu 6 km from #Angola in February 1978, was exchanged along with eight others on 11 May 1982 in Berlin for Soviet agent Aleksei Koslov #SouthAfricanBorderWar
11 May 1978- SHABA II: thousands of FNLC guerrillas crossed the border from #Angola and #Zambia into Zaire, now #Congo, in second invasion in 14 months #Shaba2
The anniversary of the passing of white-rule in #SouthAfrica into history is an oppurtunity to reflect on its leadership in Poll No 3. Who was the most effective white South African leader?
Tobacco auction in Salisbury #Rhodesia, the largest Tobacco-selling center in the world, on 10 May 1965; with threat of a tobacco embargo, it was said UDI was held off till the tobacco crop was sold in October
The Rhodesian remembrance service included an understated talk that is far too topical in the world today. It was more “Now we” than “When we”. It touched on topics like PTSD, Combat Stress (delayed or otherwise) & the importance of talking & reaching out. There might be more awareness around these issues today compared to the Bush War era, but I get mail from people all over the world who struggle but are unlikely to reach out. If you are ex-services & reading this, please checkout the Rhodesian Ex Combatant interviews & the section on PTSD & let me know if you have anything to add that might be useful to others? Many people could use a hand in this regard, & veterans are the only people who might help.
This poem by Alf Hutchison brings home the sombre pride whenever it’s recited at these gatherings.
THEY WERE ONLY BOYS
They were only boys,
boys, straight from school, with neither skills nor trade,
One day on the playground, the next day on parade.
Gangly, snotty nosed, still wet behind the ears.
Most of them still in their middle teenage years.
“You’re in the army now” the first words they heard,
The playground bully he was there, as too was the nerd.
A motley band of misfits, snatched from mother’s care.
What lay in store for them, sleeping blissfully unaware.
Unaware that the sun would rise turning their lives to Hell,
Sergeant ‘Satan’ would stand silhouetted in the door and yell.
Yell obscenities that most tenderfoot boys had never known,
Panic would reign supreme as his military seeds were sown.
They were only boys, but their beloved country was at war,
Receiving their call up papers from the postman at their door.
They lined up for their uniforms, webbing, boots and cammo,
Soon would come their rifles, and their seven six two ammo.
Training was intensive, but they endured it with feigned smile,
For the flag, the ‘Green and White’, they would go the extra mile.
Trained to jump from moving trucks; to survive out in the field.
Crack Parabats and Special forces, tough discipline would yield.
Unmistakably the best fighting forces the world had ever seen.
They were only boys… Rhodesian boys… with the fighting gene,
Black and White, no colour bar, they were comrades side by side,
To keep the common enemy at bay; and do it all with pride.
They were only boys, yet they fought like men possessed,
The adrenalin rush on ‘contacts’ a drug to them obsessed.
They were cut down in their youth, scythed before mature,
Like green wheat in winter fields so poignantly premature.
Those of us who have survived, look back upon the war,
Photos of those lads we view with pride and with awe.
Robbed forever of their youth, some of their very lives,
They were only boys…but their stoic heroism survives.
They are etched forever in our hearts, minds and souls,
Their names forever engraved on our Rhodesian scrolls,
“Hamba kahle”, brave soldiers prematurely gone to rest,
“Sala kahle”, by your legacies Rhodesians are truly blessed.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
we shall always remember ‘Our Boys’
Salute.
by Alf Hutchison
July Braai
The service followed a festive weekend of camping & family fun. All age groups were catered for, & attractions included
Stalls
Book signings
Jumping Castles
Fancy Dress
Children’s Games Day
Disco
Braai Fires
Bar
The lunar eclipse was a bit of a disappointment as it obscured by clouds, but nobody seemed to mind. Beautiful sunshine & wide open green spaces kept the children happy, while pet dogs kept their humans busy with long walks and battles over biltong.
The ZPSF do an amazing job with limited resources, & under challenging conditions. They have different campaigns running to raise funds for this volunteer driven outreach program. Please visit their site & donate what you can if you support their aims & work.
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Point taken. Thank you, Ross, for your prompt response.
My daughter also raises Guinea Fowl on the ‘lifestyle’ block in Northlands, New Zealand – – and I will have her take a second look in case she would like to order a copy.
Thank you kindly.
My books are not too expensive and are based upon the editor recommended price in the European market, in addition to the International Marketplace. Your books are likely to be marketed from South Africa and therefore they’d have their own prices and be “cheaper” in your eyes. I’ve sold many books and nobody has ever complained about he prices. Thank you.
Great spotlight page(s) of all your Lulu books.
I liked your Chipinge and Guinea Fowl books – but found them too expensive!
See my discounted and free eBooks on my Spotlight page –
– http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Peysoftpublishing
Point taken. Thank you, Ross, for your prompt response.
My daughter also raises Guinea Fowl on the ‘lifestyle’ block in Northlands, New Zealand – – and I will have her take a second look in case she would like to order a copy.
Thank you kindly.
My books are not too expensive and are based upon the editor recommended price in the European market, in addition to the International Marketplace. Your books are likely to be marketed from South Africa and therefore they’d have their own prices and be “cheaper” in your eyes. I’ve sold many books and nobody has ever complained about he prices. Thank you.
Great spotlight page(s) of all your Lulu books.
I liked your Chipinge and Guinea Fowl books – but found them too expensive!
See my discounted and free eBooks on my Spotlight page –
– http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Peysoftpublishing
I’ve hard copies of all of my Rhodesian books, and you can also purchase them via these online links:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Lifeinthebush?cid=cms_email_author_spotlight_confirmation
http://www.pneumasprings.co.uk/The%20Flame%20Lily%20Weeps.htm
http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/animal+sciences/book/978-3-642-19296-8
Soft copies available (directly from the author): African Birds, Common Antelope in Africa, Ten African Creatures & In a Day (published by American Star Books)
Great range, love the childrens stuff especially. Thank you for sharing.