A Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia

by Hannes Wessels

Overview

A biography of a Special Forces soldier who battled the forces of Mugabe and Nkomo, earning a reputation as a military maestro.
 
During the West’s great transition into the post-colonial age, the country of Rhodesia refused to succumb quietly, and throughout the 1970s, fought back almost alone against Communist-supported elements that it did not believe would deliver proper governance. During this long war, many heroes emerged, but none more skillful and courageous than Capt. Darrell Watt of the Rhodesian SAS, who placed himself at the tip of the spear in the deadly battle to resist the forces of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo.
 
It is difficult to find another soldier’s story to equal Watt’s in terms of time spent on the field of battle and challenges faced. Even by the lofty standards of the SAS and Special Forces, one has to look far to find anyone who can match his record of resilience and valor in the face of such daunting odds and with resources so paltry. A bush-lore genius, blessed with uncanny instincts and an unbridled determination, he had no peers as a combat-tracker—and there was plenty of competition. The Rhodesian theater was a fluid and volatile one, in which he performed in almost every imaginable fighting role: as an airborne shock-trooper leading camp attacks, long range reconnaissance operator, covert urban operator, sniper, saboteur, seek-and-strike expert, and, in the final stages, as a key figure in mobilizing an allied army in neighboring Mozambique. After twelve years in the cauldron of war, his cause slipped from beneath him, however, and Rhodesia gave way to Zimbabwe.
 
When the guns went quiet, Watt had won all his battles but lost the war. In this fascinating biography we learn that in his later years, he turned to saving wildlife on a continent where animals are in continued danger, devoting himself to both the fauna and African people he has cared so deeply about.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612003467
Publisher:	Casemate Publishers (Ignition)
Publication date:	10/19/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	277
Sales rank:	599,211
File size:	17 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Hannes Wessels is part-owner of a lodge and game ranch in Zambia on the Zambezi and remains keenly interested in all matters relating to African wildlife and conservation. He has published Strange Tales from the African Bush, a collection of anecdotes from his hunting days. He is also a syndicated writer for Outdoor Life.Jack Chekijian has narrated and produced over five hundred hours of audio in his first five years as a full-time narrator of audiobooks. He was designated an Audible Approved Producer in January 2013, and he enjoys narrating nonfiction as well as exploring new approaches with the classics.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Author’s Note
A Brief History of Rhodesia

CHAPTER 1
Rebellion • Darrell Watt • The wind of change 19

CHAPTER 2
Formation of the SAS • Harold Wilson and the Soviets • The first farm attack • Recruit Watt •Robinson on SAS selection

CHAPTER 3
First blood • The two-toed tribe • Watt’s first action • Operation Cauldron • Hadebe • Into Mozambique •Into Zambia • Smith settles • Mbuya Nehanda

CHAPTER 4
The end of the beginning • Hawkesworth • Macombe • Andy Chait • Rhodesians on top • Coup in Portugal •Détente • Herbert Chitepo

CHAPTER 5
The Victoria Falls débâcle • Exodus from the SAS • Machipanda • Life on the ‘front’ • A ‘Kiwi’ entry •The ‘Winged Stagger’

CHAPTER 6
Mozambique declares war • Enter Henry Kissinger •Water warriors

CHAPTER 7
Rude awakenings • Renamo is born • The south-east heats up • Shooting the messenger • Operation Mardon • Carter wins, Rhodesia loses • Frustration •Mine everything • Walking on water

CHAPTER 8
Going for broke • Do or die • The attack • Watt shot

CHAPTER 9
The madness continues • Watt to Botswana • Domestic problems • Camp on the Zambezi • Internal settlement • Renamo rises • Murder most foul • Back to Tembué • The stay-behind party

CHAPTER 10
Monkey business • ‘Tiny’ Rowland • Viscount Hunyani • The deafening silence

CHAPTER 11
Chris Dixon • Para attack • Ambush

CHAPTER 12
Privateers • Richard Stannard • Innocents die • Lights out

CHAPTER 13
Another Viscount downed • Watt finds the killers • Stannard back to Chimoio • Recce on a ZIPRA camp • Bishop Muzorewa wins power

CHAPTER 14
Combat tracking at speed • More farmers murdered • The ‘Iron Lady’ folds • Scheepers back in the fray

CHAPTER 15
Chopper down • Yankee Section • Operation Bumper • Monte Xiluvo • The Russians are coming

CHAPTER 16
A leader dies • Life with Luke • A mystery death at Lancaster House

CHAPTER 17
Bust the bridges • A big surprise • Time to say goodbye

CHAPTER 18
Ceasefire • More attempts to kill Mugabe • Walls folds • The order that never came • A farewell to arms

Appendix A The Unilateral Declaration of Independence
Appendix B SAS Roll of Honour

Endnotes
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

"A Handful of Hard Men is, first and foremost, an account of the actions of Rhodesian SAS throughout the brief life of that republic; Wessels has a talent for bringing the lengthy list of battles and skirmishes to life. However, his account regularly connects the events in southern Africa to the larger context, and the perceptive reader understands that the war was not lost on the battlefield: iIs end was the result of treachery in Washington, D.C. and London, as well as in New York at the United Nations and even within the halls of government in Salisbury, Rhodesia, where (it is alleged) agents of influence played a role in undermining the nation. The account of the SAS ends with a fading away; deprived of the opportunity to assassinate Robert Mugabe before he could assume control of the nation and transform it into the horrific slaughterhouse called Zimbabwe, the brave men of the SAS stood down. They did their duty; the loss of Rhodesia was a tragedy willed by forces beyond their control. Wessels’ book is a worthy tribute to their sacrifice, and will be of benefit to all readers who desire a better comprehension of this aspect of the worldwide war against the forces of Marxism-Leninism."

New American Magazine

"Focusing on the story of Captain Darrell Watt of the Rhodesian SAS, A Handful Of Hard Men recounts the trials and tribulations he and his team endured while resisting the forces of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo. Their story is nothing short of mind blowing - drinking their own urine and eating used teabags to survive when resupply missions failed. It's Impossible not to marvel at the bravery and determination of these soldiers – the term 'hard men' fails to do them justice.. –"

History of War

"Hannes Wessels was born in 1956 in Salisbury and grew up on the Mozambique border. He left school to become a combat soldier and saw lots of action. His book is a paean to the greatest soldier he got to know well, Captain Darrell Watt, of the Rhodesian SAS and Special Forces. Watt won all his battles but eventually, thanks to Lord Carrington and gang, lost the war. For 12 long years in the cauldron of war Captain Watt never lost a battle, exhibiting Spartan-like bravery and better than Spartan-like ingenuity in combating far, far superior forces. The Rhodesian SAS amounted to just an incredible-to-believe 250 men. In the book Wessels recounts harrowing incidents perpetrated by Zanu and Zapu (Mugabe and Nkomo forces) soldiers on black and white civilians, and even on their own recruits..."

The Spectator

"What we saw on the BBC TV news while all this was going on was the various meetings between Harold Wilson, his ministers and Ian Smith, who had declared independence for Rhodesia. We were unaware of what was actually taking place in the country... Hannes Wessels redresses the balance with an amazing tale of daring and courage."

Books Monthly

Hannes Wessels was born in 1956 in Salisbury and grew up on the Mozambique border. He left school to become a combat soldier and saw lots of action. His book is a paean to the greatest soldier he got to know well, Captain Darrell Watt, of the Rhodesian SAS and Special Forces. Watt won all his battles but eventually, thanks to Lord Carrington and gang, lost the war. For 12 long years in the cauldron of war Captain Watt never lost a battle, exhibiting Spartan-like bravery and better than Spartan-like ingenuity in combating far, far superior forces. The Rhodesian SAS amounted to just an incredible-to-believe 250 men. In the book Wessels recounts harrowing incidents perpetrated by Zanu and Zapu (Mugabe and Nkomo forces) soldiers on black and white civilians, and even on their own recruits...

Spectator UK Taki

What we saw on the BBC TV news while all this was going on was the various meetings between Harold Wilson, his ministers and Ian Smith, who had declared independence for Rhodesia. We were unaware of what was actually taking place in the country... Hannes Wessels redresses the balance with an amazing tale of daring and courage.

Books Monthly UK