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25 February 2009: Three Revolutionary United Front commanders were convicted of war crimes by the Special Court for #SierraLeone in Freetown #SierraLeoneCivilWar
"Short trial of captured Guerrilla": from 15 June 1970 @derspiegel Portuguese soldiers happily beheading a FRELIMO suspect with a machete, and then holding his head aloft by the ears
4 March 1980- "Let us join together": Robert Mugabe won the Southern #Rhodesia independence election with 63% of vote and became Prime Minister of #Zimbabwe
"Short trial of captured Guerrilla": from 15 June 1970 @derspiegel, Portuguese soldiers happily beheading a FRELIMO suspect with a machete, and then holding his head aloft by the ears
Thomas Sankara, President of the National Council of the Revolution CNR, in March 1986 at Bobo-Dioulasso, 350 km southwest of the capital of Ouagadougou #BurkinaFaso
3 March 1978: #Rhodesia Prime Minister Ian Smith signed a agreement with three internal Black leaders to tranfer power to a Black majority government #RhodesianBushWar
French troops trying to contained rioting in Casbah, the Moslem quarter in Algiers on 2 March 1962; 60 were killed in #Algeria, 32 in Algiers mostly Moslems by the OAS, one of the highest totals of the six year #AlgerianWar
"When the missionaries arrived, the Africans had the land, and the missionaries had the bible. They taught us to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the bible”: Jomo Kenyatta
And Seretse Khama, known for his economic policies that benefited #Botswana, edges out Juliius Nyerere of #Tanzania, undisputed leader of the liberation struggle in southern Africa, in our poll. Thanks to the 132 who participated!
1 March 1976-"We cannot limit ourselves to our own independence": From Brazzaville #Congo Republic, #Angola President Agostinho Neto suggests a wider conflict for southern Africa #AngolanCivilWar
"This is the day we've all been waiting for comrades. Action, comrades, action!": ZANLA guerrillas ford a river, stacked their weapons before going to a voting station to cast ballot on last day of three-day election in #Rhodesia 29 February 1980
At a midnight ceremony on 1 March 1994, the #SouthAfrica flag is lowered for last time at Walvis Bay as the coastal enclave and 12 islands were turned over to #Namibia
27 February 1961: President de Gaulle and #Tunisia President Bourguiba met at Rambouillet #France ; this was the prelude to the direct talks between the GPRA/FLN and French government at Evian in May to end the #AlgerianWar
25 February 2003: former #Zambia President Frederick Chiluba was arrested and charged with looting state treasury of over 40 million; most charges would be dropped and he was acquitted of the remainder in 2009
Supporters of former military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo at a rally in former #Biafra capital of Enugu on 23 February 1999; elections were being held for first time since August 1983 election of Shehu Shagari who was deposed in a coup four months later #Nigeria
Europeans walk by body of Moslem shot dead by OAS on Rue Michelet in central Algiers on 25 February 1962; The OAS killed 553 people in February #AlgerianWar
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.