Saturday, 1st of June 2024 saw a dark and sombre sky over Hatfield - entirely appropriate to the solemnity of the occasion as we gathered in a hollow square in front of the Troopie statue to commemorate our fallen comrades. The Troopie itself looked resplendent having been freshly waxed the weekend before by John Ashburner who had battled wet and muddy conditions to also cut the grass and clean up around the plinth and seats. Many thanks to John for his diligence.
Brian Lewis called 69 of us to order and proceedings got underway with a service and prayers from Ian Jameson.
RSM Ken Reed then laid a wreath on all our behalf while the men on parade stood to attention and held a salute while Rhys Fitter stirred our souls with the bagpipes in the background.
Thereafter Jono Lane (1 Commando) made a very eloquent tribute to our fallen - reminding us that the names of all 85 of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in action are inscribed on the rear of the Troopie plinth. Jono also reminded us of our proud record as the world's finest COIN fighting machine and of the fact that while we were ferocious in battle, we fought with honour, decency and compassion and that some of our number paid with their lives for observing these fine principles while in combat. Jono contrasted our conduct with the lack of regard for civilians that is currently playing out in the Ukrainian and Middle Eastern wars.
A representative of each Commando (see below) then called out randomly selected names from their sub-unit's Roll of Honour as we honoured all of our brothers who were either killed in action or died on active service. This triggered the opportunity for all those attending the service to call out names of significance to them. This was very moving as it triggered memories of comrades we last saw as fit, bold young warriors.
1 Commando: Alan Strachan / 2 Commando: Sandy Miller / 3 Commando: Charlie Norris / Support Commando: Simon Carpenter / Base Group: George Dempster / Puma 164: Mark Taunton
Simon Carpenter then delivered a tribute to the late Lord Richard Cecil (this will be published in a subsequent Sitrep).
Brian then closed the service and dismissed the parade.
The last few years we gathered to remember those who died during OP Uric, which was the
single biggest loss of life the RLI suffered. That was a tragic event, but I welcome the
opportunity to remember ALL of those RLI soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. I found
myself nominated to do this duty on the back of the Op Uric eulogy I gave, and although I’m
not vaguely qualified to do a eulogy to the dead of the Battalion, it is an incredible honour
to be entrusted with it.
During its short but glorious history, the Battalion lost 85 men killed in action, and they are remembered on this statue, “The Trooper”. We were a small unit but we saw far more action than any other Rhodesian Army unit during the bush war, and when you consider the extreme close quarters nature of our combat it is simply incredible that we didn’t suffer more casualties.
Amongst those who know, we had a reputation for being one of the most aggressive and
effective counter terrorism forces in modern military history. I don’t think anyone thought
of us as being “gentlemen soldiers”.
However, compared to current conflicts, I have come to realise that the way in which we
fought was most honourable. Even in that extreme close quarter fighting, where split
second reactions determine life and death, even though our foe sometimes hid amongst
civilians, we made every effort to avoid civilian deaths, and there were remarkably few
civilians killed during fire force operations. It would have been so much simpler and safer to
clear a kraal line by dropping a massive bomb first and then leave it to troops to sort the
dead civilians from the dead enemy. Instead, we took great personal risks to separate the
combatants from the civilians, and some of these young men, remembered on the Troopie,
would be alive today had we taken the easy route. However, wilful slaughter of civilians was
not our way, and we should always be very proud of that. The harmonious relations that
exist today between black and white Zimbabweans is partially a legacy of the honourable
way in which we fought, and in which these young men died. We could have had less regard
for civilians, we could have had more regard for our own safety, but we instinctively
retained our love of Africa and respect for its people. Our war can seem to us to have been
in vain, we may have lost it, but the way in which we fought it (and the sacrifices of these
men) has allowed a long-lasting legacy of good will.
One only wonders at the futility of today’s conflicts and the perpetuation of hatred that will fester and boil over for foreseeable generations to come.
It is interesting that the West once again faces the twin challenges of expansionist Russia
and China that these young men stood up to in our small enclave of Africa during the Cold
War, half a century ago.
These young men answered the call to defend a civilised society against a massive
communist onslaught that threatened to remove our hard-earned freedoms. They stepped
into the breach whilst still in their teens. Their fathers and sometimes their grandfathers
pulled on the camouflage and did their bit too. This was our way, all in it together. We had
compulsory service, but there was plenty of opportunity to leave if we didn’t want to do it.
Those gathered here today and those remembered here today not only reported for duty aged 18, but also volunteered for the RLI, the most dangerous of assignments in the Rhodesian Army. How dangerous was it? Well, I sometimes flippantly explain that we used to jump out of an old WWII Dakota at 500 ft with high explosive ordinance in our webbing, attached beneath our reserve chutes at groin height. We went out so close together that we sometimes had to walk off the canopy of the man before us, and the drop zones were rough, hard ground. The only “risk assessment” comprised the PJI leaning out of the door and judging the strength of the wind from the angle of smoke from a smoke grenade dropped by one of the choppers. Sometimes red tracer arced towards us from the ground ..... and that was the least dangerous thing we did that day!
These young men were brave, they fought honourably, and they made the ultimate sacrifice. Each one of them is in someone’s heart, especially those of us who stood next to them in sweep lines.
As we stand here in these beautiful and serene surroundings on the banks of the River Lea, in the company of our revered Troopie statue, our comrades and families and, of course, our memories, it is worth reflecting on how we come to be here.
It is thanks to the generosity of Lord Robert Salisbury, the 7th Marquess of Salisbury, that our most cherished icons, the Troopie statue behind me and our Regimental Colours have a found a safe harbour here on Hatfield Estate.
We are deeply grateful to Lord Salisbury and his wife for their generosity – especially in times like these when artefacts and institutions like ours are misjudged and denigrated.
There are, of course strong, historical family ties between the Cecil family and the Rhodesia for which we fought and, in too many cases, died.
Our capital city was named after the third Marquess of Salisbury, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom no less than 3 times and the Great, great, grandfather of the current Lord Salisbury. Cecil Square also carried the family name. And it is entirely appropriate that the Troopie stands in these grounds, as it once stood in Cranborne Barracks, because Cranborne is another of the Cecil family's titles.
The Cecil family had extensive land holdings in Rhodesia and, unlike many, the fifth Marquess (grandfather of the current Lord Salisbury) was a leading British supporter of the UDI government under which most of us served.
But by far the most poignant tie to this place lies with the late Lord Richard Cecil, the current Lord Salisbury’s younger brother, who was killed in a contact while covering our war.
Lord Richard Valentine Gascoyne-Cecil was born on 26 January 1948. He was educated at Eton College and at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. After graduating from Sandhurst, he was commissioned in the Grenadier Guards. After three tours of duty in Northern Ireland, which earned him the honour of a mention in dispatches in 1973, he attained the rank of captain. He left the military for a political career but subsequently became a freelance journalist.
His military background and family connections led him to Rhodesia in the 1970s where he reported for several newspapers (including The Times and Time magazine). He also contributed reports to the British ITN TV news service working alongside documentary filmmaker Nick Downie. During this period, he spent time with the RLI and the RAR.
Lord Richard Cecil was nicknamed "Young Winston" by fellow journalists because, like that great man, he was drawn to the action, not averse to carrying a weapon and willing to get stuck in if needs be – his background as a warrior and officer was never far away.
Lord Richard Cecil was killed in a contact with Zanla guerillas during an RAR Fireforce callout on 20th April 1978. Many of you will have seen the documentary, Frontline Rhodesia, that he was working on at the time of his death.
Lord Richard Cecil was without doubt a remarkable man. Major André Dennison, whose ‘A’ Company (2RAR) Lord Richard was with when he was killed, wrote in his diary just days after Richard’s death:
“Rhodesia and A Company lost a very good friend in Richard Cecil, and his death was badly felt by all. He had been in five contacts with the Company and at all times had worked his way to the front, despite theoretically being meant to hang back” (to document on film, the action further forward).
In a similar vein was the comment made by Rhodesia’s Foreign Minister, P K van der Byl, who said upon being informed of his death:
"Lord Richard was the finest young man I ever knew and represented the best of everything that made the Englishman great, and built the British Empire."
This description is echoed by many who knew him. A friend and fellow Rhodesian officer who worked with Lord Richard in the war’s forward areas during the weeks before his death, used these words:
“Richard seemed in many ways the quintessential British officer, the personification of how we imagined that person to be, holding many of those qualities that the Rhodesian officers themselves were supposed to have, but which many did not. He was at once humble and retiring, while at the same time exuding a quiet confidence in his ability to do what was set before him. While he deferred to the experience of Rhodesian officers junior to the rank that he himself had held while serving in the British Army, we all sensed his calm and very professional determination to get things done. We sensed his strength of character. He was gentlemanly, refined and resolute.”
May he Rest in Peace.
After many photos had been taken in front of the Troopie the ouens dispersed to our crash RV at the Comet Hotel. Here, jackets and ties were discarded, the beer taps were thoroughly tested, tongues and memories loosened, and the banter, reminiscing, and RLI humour began. Lunch was served during which Don Price led the ouens and their crows in a rousing rendition of the RLI Lament.
As one would expect, the festivities carried on until well into the evening - true to the RLI tradition that if one is going to have a hangover then it needs to be properly constructed!
All in all a splendid turnout and well worth the effort of getting to Hatfield. Our thanks go to the RLI RA UK Branch Committee for organising what we hope will be an annual event - and especially to George Dempster and Mark Taunton
who are
prime movers in making things happen.
Sean Kelly ex 2 Cdo, was the main organiser of a get together that took place recently in Harare to celebrate the RLI 136 reunion dinner where Rick Passaportis gave an excellent speech.
A list of the names of those that attended is shown below. Click here to view an image of the guys.
Rick Passaportis , Johan Kruger, Sean Kelly, Richard Tunmer, Roy Meiring, Lyle Green, Andy Wilkinson , Jeff Kockett , Rod Hagger, Simon Johnson, Hannes Wessels, Vyv Henning, Leon Kok , Dave Rhodes, Fred Stockhil, Colin Ross, Ian Ross , Colin Cant, Stu Taylor
The UK / Europe branch AGM was held on Saturday 3 Feb 2024 at the Market Porter, next to the Borough Market, London, (short walk from London Bridge). The upper floor dining area was secured as a private hire.
British South Africa Police Regimental Association UK Branch: Great Southern Gathering
Inaugural Southern Region Social Gathering& Finger Lunch Venue: Oakfield Social Club, 53 Belgrave Street, Reading. Berkshire. RG1 1PZ. Date and Time: 16th March 2024 12 noon
Travel:
Buses and Trains to Reading
National Express runs a very inexpensive coach service from various towns in the south of
England to Reading. https://www.nationalexpress.com/en
Reading, which is on the main Great Western route from London to Wales as well as offering direct services from Cornwall, Devon, Oxfordshire Herefordshire and the south coast https://www.thetrainline.com/
Reading is also served by the Elizabeth Line of the London Underground Network.
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/elizabeth-line/
This Oakford Social Club is situated 100 meters from Reading Station, there is ample parking at the station and other local car parks. The club is within easy walking distance of the central shopping area of Reading and the local bus station.
Attendance: As the Association is providing sponsorship towards the cost of
food Booking Essential either via the website
https://bsapuk.org/events/
or directly with the regional rep on
south@bsapuk.org
News:
To assist in encouraging the attendance at future events, of both current and new participants,
convenors will arrange photographs and a short report, highlighting the event and names of
those who took part. If members attending have any suitable contributions, these can be sent
after the event via email jpeg attachments to hon.sec@bsapuk.org for possible publication on
the website and in the Outpost.
25 delegates and 2 dogs attended our birthday celebration on Saturday the 3rd Feb. old friendships were rekindled, a few cold ones shared, and a clock raffled. Well done to Alan Strachan and all that attended.
First photo left to right: Dave and Mel Scales, Gletwynne and Tom Douglas, Carol and Allan Strachan, Jimmy Beggs.
Second photo has John O’Kelly past RSM of RIR standing between Mel and Tom.
Congratulations to those members including the last serving RSM Ken Reed for attending and marching to the service and wreath laying at the Bedford War Memorial then marched to the Town Hall to be reviewed by the Mayor, deputy Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire and the Sheriff. Customary eyes right at the Boer War memorial en route.
Remembrance Sunday - Bedford - 2022
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