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Fireforce: One Man's War in the Rhodesian Light Infantry
Military historians regard this memoir as a modern primer on counterinsurgency warfare in Africa. Author Chris Cocks was a highly decorated soldier in the elite Rhodesian Light Infantry. His book is a gut-wrenching tale of the savage face-to-face fighting in the African bush. An authentic portrayal of one of Africa's ugliest wars by a soldier who was there.
306 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2000
88 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
About the author
Chris Cocks
7 books7 followersI was born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (part of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland) in 1957. The Federation collapsed in 1963 and Southern Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence (from the UK) in 1965. The country became Rhodesia and the "Bush War" started in 1966—the Chimurenga, or war of liberation, conducted by ZANU / ZANLA (Mugabe) and ZAPU / ZIPRA (Nkomo). I grew up in a land of sunshine clouded by growing war clouds, as colonialism was facing ts death throes.
In 1976 I was conscripted for my national service, and ended up serving 3 years in the Rhodesian Light Infantry. Then 18 months with PATU, the Police Anti-Terrorist Unit. A ceasefire was declared in December 1979 and came to power in the newly independent Zimbabwe in April 1980.
For the next 20 years I drifted, moving eventually to South Africa in 1996. I finally found my place in the world in 1999 when I stumbled into publishing. In 2015 I moved to the UK.
In 1976 I was conscripted for my national service, and ended up serving 3 years in the Rhodesian Light Infantry. Then 18 months with PATU, the Police Anti-Terrorist Unit. A ceasefire was declared in December 1979 and came to power in the newly independent Zimbabwe in April 1980.
For the next 20 years I drifted, moving eventually to South Africa in 1996. I finally found my place in the world in 1999 when I stumbled into publishing. In 2015 I moved to the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 16, 2014
I admit, I didn't know a lot about the Rhodesian Bush War. This book gave quite a bit of insight into the "Common" soldiers views. Literally, the African Vietnam. It was amazing how many Americans fought in this was because they couldn't fit back into American society. A good book and well worth your time.
December 18, 2022
I was ambivalent about reading this - not exactly politically correct to read about a soldier's stories fighting for the apartheid regime in Rhodesia 1976-79. But, this book came recommended and as I knew virtually nothing about this conflict, I gave it a go.
First of all, there's nothing political about the book. It is a straight up, very personal account of the author who was called up for national service duty in 1976 as a Trooper in the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI), and after a year, decided to sign up for a total of three years, being promoted to Lance Corporal along the way. Oh, and the author was 18-21 during the time of the memoir.
Chris Cocks (the author) has an amazing ability to bring out the daily life in the RLI. It is chock full of anecdotes, Rhodesian banter (thankfully assisted by a glossary due to the number of words from Afrikaans), and of course, various combat missions.
There's no grand strategy here, no macro level accounts of the war, no discussion of the political pressure placed on Ian Smith's government from the West, and no accounts from the side of the various "people's revolutionary forces". Just one soldier and how he got along with his mates, the officers, and the various sergeants who governed his daily existence.
Cocks goes on numerous helicopter insertions to run enemy forces to ground; then, once helicopters became in short supply, he did multiple parachute jumps on similar missions. And not every mission was in Rhodesia. Some were in Mozambique, some in Zambia. There's no hearts and minds strategy here. It was simply, find the enemy and kill them.
This is not a relentless combat type of book. There's lots of waiting around, going on leave, going on training courses, and, even going on missions with bad intel (called "lemons") where nothing happened. Casualties do occur but at a fairly low level given the time span of three years. This is not Hamburger Hill or Chosin Reservoir. But, the engagements that do happen are vividly described. The whole three years are interesting to the reader, including the drunken brawls, the escaping to marijuana and other drugs, and the interactions with officers, both good and bad. No pseudonyms here.
A reviewer compared Fireforce to the classic Dispatches but sadly, I read that so long ago that I can't really comment. Fireforce is a distinctly human story of soldier's life - one mixed with fear, boredom, competence, misery, and hijinks.
The book has been reprinted multiple times so it is readily available (though perhaps not in your local US library system).
Filled with photos.
I'm now more interested in the larger conflict and will seek out something that is unbiased.
Quibbles - there's one map with type font so small as to be useless. I had to take a photo of the map with my phone and enlarge it so I could see where Cocks was posted to
First of all, there's nothing political about the book. It is a straight up, very personal account of the author who was called up for national service duty in 1976 as a Trooper in the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI), and after a year, decided to sign up for a total of three years, being promoted to Lance Corporal along the way. Oh, and the author was 18-21 during the time of the memoir.
Chris Cocks (the author) has an amazing ability to bring out the daily life in the RLI. It is chock full of anecdotes, Rhodesian banter (thankfully assisted by a glossary due to the number of words from Afrikaans), and of course, various combat missions.
There's no grand strategy here, no macro level accounts of the war, no discussion of the political pressure placed on Ian Smith's government from the West, and no accounts from the side of the various "people's revolutionary forces". Just one soldier and how he got along with his mates, the officers, and the various sergeants who governed his daily existence.
Cocks goes on numerous helicopter insertions to run enemy forces to ground; then, once helicopters became in short supply, he did multiple parachute jumps on similar missions. And not every mission was in Rhodesia. Some were in Mozambique, some in Zambia. There's no hearts and minds strategy here. It was simply, find the enemy and kill them.
This is not a relentless combat type of book. There's lots of waiting around, going on leave, going on training courses, and, even going on missions with bad intel (called "lemons") where nothing happened. Casualties do occur but at a fairly low level given the time span of three years. This is not Hamburger Hill or Chosin Reservoir. But, the engagements that do happen are vividly described. The whole three years are interesting to the reader, including the drunken brawls, the escaping to marijuana and other drugs, and the interactions with officers, both good and bad. No pseudonyms here.
A reviewer compared Fireforce to the classic Dispatches but sadly, I read that so long ago that I can't really comment. Fireforce is a distinctly human story of soldier's life - one mixed with fear, boredom, competence, misery, and hijinks.
The book has been reprinted multiple times so it is readily available (though perhaps not in your local US library system).
Filled with photos.
I'm now more interested in the larger conflict and will seek out something that is unbiased.
Quibbles - there's one map with type font so small as to be useless. I had to take a photo of the map with my phone and enlarge it so I could see where Cocks was posted to
April 15, 2013
c1988. A bittersweet read, indeed. It certainly has an authentic voice and many of the idiomatic phrases made me laugh! We really did speak like this - way back then. I learnt some surprising things even though I was in the same country at the same time. I had forgotten just how young we really were and just how good the censorship worked in those days. It is well written and heartfelt. I would recommend this to all of the normal crew - but with a "health" warning. However, rarely again would the Rhodesian forces strike with such impunity. The guerrilla's intelligence network, itself of the highest order, was ably assisted by sympathetic personnel who had apparently infiltrated the top levels of the Rhodesian Military Command. I remember after the war was over, speaking to a man from the American embassy. He claimed the Americans knew our every move, as did the British and presumably the Russians. Their satellites could pick up any abnormal troop build ups...I think I believe him. We could not win - any which way.". In a nutshell: ""In 1977 I was just a young man - a boy, and in all wars it is always the youngsters who are caught up in the fights of the fathers - not of their own making."
February 21, 2015
I've read many other military books and memoirs, what stands out most about Fireforce is not the soldiers' heroism, the evil of their adversaries, or the politics of Rhodesia, but the casual way in which Chris Cocks writes about the killing process. Whether in the middle of a battle, the deaths of civilians & children, there is something unnerving about it -as there should be. I don't mean to say he should have avoided those stories, I'm glad they're in the book. I'm also not saying that he was a war criminal or that he took pleasure in any of it -in fact, he makes it very clear that he didn't. It's just that I've probably never read a non-fictional account where throwing dead babies on a pile of corpses, executing teenagers, and killing in general is written about so casually.
The rest of it is fairly typical. Tough drilling, camaraderie, ignorant officers, the ol 'hurry up and wait', and all the rest of the shenanigans that soldiers and their armies get up to since time immemorial. As a story it's probably better than three stars, but I give it a solid four because it's good to read about a part of the world I knew very little about, about a country that no-longer exists, and about the perfect example of a 'useless war'.
The rest of it is fairly typical. Tough drilling, camaraderie, ignorant officers, the ol 'hurry up and wait', and all the rest of the shenanigans that soldiers and their armies get up to since time immemorial. As a story it's probably better than three stars, but I give it a solid four because it's good to read about a part of the world I knew very little about, about a country that no-longer exists, and about the perfect example of a 'useless war'.
December 10, 2023
One of the finest books I've ever read about the life of an infantryman.
Cocks and I are separated by wide gulfs. He was an active duty enlisted servicemen during a brutal bush war, forty five years later I serve as an infantry officer in the National Guard during peace. Cocks fought for a country that no longer exists; the apartheid regime of Rhodesia was replaced by the nation of Zimbabwe. But I recognized so many things that are so common to servicemen and infantrymen throughout time and space. Cocks never discusses the politics of the war, other than to obliquely reference his own anti-Ian Smith leanings. Fire Force is simply a member of an infantryman at war, and a crackling good one at that.
Cocks and I are separated by wide gulfs. He was an active duty enlisted servicemen during a brutal bush war, forty five years later I serve as an infantry officer in the National Guard during peace. Cocks fought for a country that no longer exists; the apartheid regime of Rhodesia was replaced by the nation of Zimbabwe. But I recognized so many things that are so common to servicemen and infantrymen throughout time and space. Cocks never discusses the politics of the war, other than to obliquely reference his own anti-Ian Smith leanings. Fire Force is simply a member of an infantryman at war, and a crackling good one at that.
Read
December 29, 2019Very honest, depressing yet inspirational. Absolute respect for these young kids of the bush war. Kids that lapped it up like a dry sponge! Its a wonder how few and infrequently they were injured considering the hostility day in and day out. Goes to show how consumedly professional and competent the Rhodesians' had become. Its about brotherhood, how to stay alive... and kill instinctively without hesitation... and then try live and make sense of it all for the rest of your life!
February 16, 2021
Among the finest war memoirs ever written; from among the most controversial wars ever - "Fireforce: One Man's War in the Rhodesian Light Infantry", Chris Cocks' memoir of his three year enlistment and tour with the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) during the Rhodesian Bush War is among the finest memoirs of war ever written. It has been positively compared to numerous other war classics, both fiction and non-fiction, including "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "The Red Badge of Courage."
This is a "warts and all" memoir of soldiering. Not for the faint of heart.
Cocks is a good writer and captures the sights, smells and experiences of soldiering with a keen wit and a sharp eye. From basic training through the tragedies and triumphs of small unit combat to his final muster out, Cocks gives the reader a near perfect soldier eye view of life in the RLI, Rhodesia's answer to the US Army Rangers, as they fought for the life of their country in a war they could not win.
The Rhodesian Bush War resembled the Vietnam War in that it was unpopular, possibly unwinnable, and for whom the Rhodesians were constantly portrayed as the bad guys -- racist, western colonialists who stole the country from the black African majority and therefore deserved to be hated, ostracized, and embargoed.
The truth, as usual, was more complicated. Rhodesia was never genuinely apartheid like it's neighbor (and ally) South Africa, and the Security Forces were largely made up of black African Rhodesians who hated communism and knew the white minority would protect them from the extreme tribalism that consumed their neighbors. Alas, the combination of sanctions and negative press forced the White majority to cede power. And Robert Mugabe, with assistance from the United States, China, and the Soviets, was pushed forward as the savior of Zimbabwe. Sad.
Cocks largely ignores the politics and leaves the army shortly before the end. Ironically, he did join the Army as a political liberal, from a family that opposed the Ian Smith government, and was disinterested in the larger politics behind the war. He served as a loyal soldier, one who fought for his mates, and fought well. And suffered, as a result, of the PTSD, drug addiction, alcoholism, and relationship dysfunctions that plague soldiers after they come home from war. Especially a war in which they are branded the losers. All this is laid out well and is gut-wrenching to read. But too important a part of the story to ever leave out.
I read this memoir with a heavy melancholy as the world knows how the Rhodesian Bush War ended. Despite their tactical successes, the Rhodesian Security Forces could never keep pace with the manpower and equipment losses the war placed on them. Not with the UN, OAS and the Western Free World all refusing to support them and opening the way for the Communist Chinese and Soviet guerrillas to enter the political system and take over in 1980 with the election of Mugabe. the tragedy of war is much more poignant when the cause is a lost one, as every reader of a Rhodesian Bush War story knows this is how it is going to turn out.
But the best way to memorialize the sacrifice of men who served honorably, for the right reasons, or at least for their mates, is to keep reading these kinds of memoirs. With that in mind, I highly recommend this memoir and encourage you get a copy. It has recently been re-issued by Mr. Cocks with a different cover. You can find it on Amazon by searching for "Fire Force."
This is a must read history from a period most people have no knowledge of.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
This is a "warts and all" memoir of soldiering. Not for the faint of heart.
Cocks is a good writer and captures the sights, smells and experiences of soldiering with a keen wit and a sharp eye. From basic training through the tragedies and triumphs of small unit combat to his final muster out, Cocks gives the reader a near perfect soldier eye view of life in the RLI, Rhodesia's answer to the US Army Rangers, as they fought for the life of their country in a war they could not win.
The Rhodesian Bush War resembled the Vietnam War in that it was unpopular, possibly unwinnable, and for whom the Rhodesians were constantly portrayed as the bad guys -- racist, western colonialists who stole the country from the black African majority and therefore deserved to be hated, ostracized, and embargoed.
The truth, as usual, was more complicated. Rhodesia was never genuinely apartheid like it's neighbor (and ally) South Africa, and the Security Forces were largely made up of black African Rhodesians who hated communism and knew the white minority would protect them from the extreme tribalism that consumed their neighbors. Alas, the combination of sanctions and negative press forced the White majority to cede power. And Robert Mugabe, with assistance from the United States, China, and the Soviets, was pushed forward as the savior of Zimbabwe. Sad.
Cocks largely ignores the politics and leaves the army shortly before the end. Ironically, he did join the Army as a political liberal, from a family that opposed the Ian Smith government, and was disinterested in the larger politics behind the war. He served as a loyal soldier, one who fought for his mates, and fought well. And suffered, as a result, of the PTSD, drug addiction, alcoholism, and relationship dysfunctions that plague soldiers after they come home from war. Especially a war in which they are branded the losers. All this is laid out well and is gut-wrenching to read. But too important a part of the story to ever leave out.
I read this memoir with a heavy melancholy as the world knows how the Rhodesian Bush War ended. Despite their tactical successes, the Rhodesian Security Forces could never keep pace with the manpower and equipment losses the war placed on them. Not with the UN, OAS and the Western Free World all refusing to support them and opening the way for the Communist Chinese and Soviet guerrillas to enter the political system and take over in 1980 with the election of Mugabe. the tragedy of war is much more poignant when the cause is a lost one, as every reader of a Rhodesian Bush War story knows this is how it is going to turn out.
But the best way to memorialize the sacrifice of men who served honorably, for the right reasons, or at least for their mates, is to keep reading these kinds of memoirs. With that in mind, I highly recommend this memoir and encourage you get a copy. It has recently been re-issued by Mr. Cocks with a different cover. You can find it on Amazon by searching for "Fire Force."
This is a must read history from a period most people have no knowledge of.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
February 12, 2025
If you can separate your feelings about the politics of Rhodesia and its short notorious history then you'll find this book to be an excellent memoir about a little known or understood war in a unique place and time.
Chris Cocks served as a member of the RLI 3 Commando during the late stages of the conflict with foreign-backed insurgents who both infiltrated Rhodesian borders and established camps as well conducting cross border attacks from neighboring countries Mozambique and Zambia.
Fire Force was established specifically to react to the former but as the war grew in intensity, it was used for a broad variety of missions. Unfortunately for the Rhodesians, the war was largely lost by this point and it is during this time that the author embarks on a harsh course of recruit training and then is introduced to the reality of combat with a shocking kind of immediacy.
Cocks has a way of using stories to sketch out the personalities he fought with. The backgrounds of the people in his unit were varied and included Vietnam veterans as well as ex-policemen from South Africans, and former British SAS, as well as Canadians, Scots, and a multitude of other nationalities. The stories of these people are often amusing and Cocks drives home the reality of the conflict by pointing out when and how they died.
As a study of this specific conflict, the book provides an excellent overview of how it was fought. With limited resources and men, the unit is forced to "make do". Despite this hardship, they were consistently able to dominate their foe in combat.
However, by the end of the book it is clear that the continual sweep operations and cross border raids, though largely successful, are ineffectual in deciding the outcome of the war. By the end of his time in the unit, Cocks has become disillusioned by the war and tired of the meaningless death and suffering.
He witnesses several atrocities in the field and is not even capable of mustering moral outrage. Instead there is simply resignation and a wish to get away from it all. Cocks may have survived his war but it's clear by the closing pages that it has aged him well beyond his years and stolen a part of his youth that he can never get back. I found the author's numbness to these events disturbing and difficult to parse in places, but that gap is one I'm grateful for not being able to cross.
Chris Cocks served as a member of the RLI 3 Commando during the late stages of the conflict with foreign-backed insurgents who both infiltrated Rhodesian borders and established camps as well conducting cross border attacks from neighboring countries Mozambique and Zambia.
Fire Force was established specifically to react to the former but as the war grew in intensity, it was used for a broad variety of missions. Unfortunately for the Rhodesians, the war was largely lost by this point and it is during this time that the author embarks on a harsh course of recruit training and then is introduced to the reality of combat with a shocking kind of immediacy.
Cocks has a way of using stories to sketch out the personalities he fought with. The backgrounds of the people in his unit were varied and included Vietnam veterans as well as ex-policemen from South Africans, and former British SAS, as well as Canadians, Scots, and a multitude of other nationalities. The stories of these people are often amusing and Cocks drives home the reality of the conflict by pointing out when and how they died.
As a study of this specific conflict, the book provides an excellent overview of how it was fought. With limited resources and men, the unit is forced to "make do". Despite this hardship, they were consistently able to dominate their foe in combat.
However, by the end of the book it is clear that the continual sweep operations and cross border raids, though largely successful, are ineffectual in deciding the outcome of the war. By the end of his time in the unit, Cocks has become disillusioned by the war and tired of the meaningless death and suffering.
He witnesses several atrocities in the field and is not even capable of mustering moral outrage. Instead there is simply resignation and a wish to get away from it all. Cocks may have survived his war but it's clear by the closing pages that it has aged him well beyond his years and stolen a part of his youth that he can never get back. I found the author's numbness to these events disturbing and difficult to parse in places, but that gap is one I'm grateful for not being able to cross.
May 12, 2024
-4.5- This is an excellent book that details the intensity of being a Rhodesian Light Infantry Soldier late in the Bush War involving Rhodesia and various scumbag African terrorist countries. While not as wry and amusing as Tim Bax’s Three Sips of Gin or as mission detailed as A Handful of Hard Men this book gives an excellent insight into the chaos and stress of fighting a war against vastly superior numbers. Cocks (what a hilarious last name—-too bad his first name was not Peter or Richard) puts the reader on the ground with the RLI as they fight terrorist cells both inside Rhodesia and along the border countries that are invading Rhodesia (Mozambique and Zambia) among them. One unfortunate aspect of the Bush War was Rhodesia struggled to get proper arms for their troops as a result of a global embargo. One of their greatest assets was aerial assault, think the 1St Air Cavalry in Vietnam. A drawback for the RLI was their French helicopters were small and could only bring in one four man stick at a time and they did not have enough helicopters. So in a brilliant plan the Rhodesians turned the RLI into a parachute regiment using old WWII Dakota airplanes. This enabled them to drop paratroopers right into the thick of battle. In WWII our airborne troops did maybe 3-4 drops, the RLI did dozens into hot landing zones. Cocks details the stress and losses as the book wears on. If you are looking for an excellent book on the Rhodesian Bush War that puts you right into the heart of the battles then this book os for you.
June 30, 2021
I've re-read this, having first read it many years ago, and it has lost none of its visceral impact. This tells the story of a young man fighting in the Rhodesian Bush was as a soldier in the Rhodesian Light Infantry. The book chronicles Chris Cocks' career from enlisting, through training to his active service with 11 Troop. The book exudes authenticity and lays to rest any ideas that there was methodical brutality, it was just that war brutalises everyone, whatever side they're on. He keeps politics firmly out of the discussion, which is refreshing, I took one star away from the inclusions of the Cheetah Magazine and letters home, perhaps there was too much of this. Chris Cocks' greatest strength is his own narrative.
One of the best books about war that I have read.
One of the best books about war that I have read.
February 1, 2018
This is not a literature masterpiece but it is a good book. The theme , the Bush War in Rhodesia, is something that is now totally forgotten. How the Rhodesian army tried to stop the actions of the black guerillas who were terrorizing the civilian population. It was a gruesome task but as they were totally outnumbered by the various black factions (ZANU, ZANLA…) they did not stand a chance despite the quality of the Rhodesian troops. The story is well told and cast a light on a military action that nobody wants to talk about as it was the bad colonial forces against the good blacks. This led to the 40 year disaster that was Zimbabwe.
June 6, 2019
An interesting read on an a forgotten conflict
It's an interesting read, but can be somewhat tedious. I had to take a break about half way through, but it's still worth reading. The RLI was a pioneer in modern small unit tactics and counterinsurgency, so it's enlightening to get a boots on the ground perspective.
The brutal nature of the Rhodesian Civil War is front and center in Chris's account. I appreciate the inclusion of the details in order to get a better idea for what the people really went through.
In summary, it is a good first hand source for the conflict and the RLI.
It's an interesting read, but can be somewhat tedious. I had to take a break about half way through, but it's still worth reading. The RLI was a pioneer in modern small unit tactics and counterinsurgency, so it's enlightening to get a boots on the ground perspective.
The brutal nature of the Rhodesian Civil War is front and center in Chris's account. I appreciate the inclusion of the details in order to get a better idea for what the people really went through.
In summary, it is a good first hand source for the conflict and the RLI.
March 23, 2024
Knowing more of the Rhodesian war than most, and having met Chris Cocks on a number of occasions this was a particularly interesting read and despite being involved in the South African SWA conflict there was much to learn about how the Rhodesian war was waged. A fascinating and very worthwhile read.
January 2, 2025
force structure
I might be getting mature in my military reading but I found this book interesting because of how the light infantry changed their structure to meet the constraints and advantage of the helicopters. This further informed employment and the need for para training to provide increasing numbers on the ground in a rapid manner.
I might be getting mature in my military reading but I found this book interesting because of how the light infantry changed their structure to meet the constraints and advantage of the helicopters. This further informed employment and the need for para training to provide increasing numbers on the ground in a rapid manner.
November 14, 2017
An interesting book
An interesting book about a little known war.
It records the brutal war fighting but also the fact that those fighting were human not just faceless soldiers
An interesting book about a little known war.
It records the brutal war fighting but also the fact that those fighting were human not just faceless soldiers
December 9, 2018
Tells it how it was
Gritty no holds barred account of the Rhodesian bush war. The RLI fought in a manner many would learn from. This book takes us right into the action in a very personal way.
Gritty no holds barred account of the Rhodesian bush war. The RLI fought in a manner many would learn from. This book takes us right into the action in a very personal way.
July 14, 2019
Excellent read
Raw eye opening and a suprising story of a virtually forgotten conflict. Worth reading the challenges of the now vanquished Rhodesian nation and her grossly outmanned army.
Raw eye opening and a suprising story of a virtually forgotten conflict. Worth reading the challenges of the now vanquished Rhodesian nation and her grossly outmanned army.
August 31, 2020
Excellent lessons learned
One of the best and most insightful books on the Rhodesian situation and military response I have ever read. Should be mandatory reading for all ranks for those involved in COIN.
One of the best and most insightful books on the Rhodesian situation and military response I have ever read. Should be mandatory reading for all ranks for those involved in COIN.
August 14, 2021
The reality of Rhodesia
Chris Cocks story of his time in the RLI leaves nothing out prisoner shootings, drug use, the constant drain of operations. If you have an interest in Rhodesian/ Zimbabwe history this book is a must
Chris Cocks story of his time in the RLI leaves nothing out prisoner shootings, drug use, the constant drain of operations. If you have an interest in Rhodesian/ Zimbabwe history this book is a must
January 13, 2022
Great read and unusually honest writing. The literary agent was wrong.
The world sleeps well because Rough Men are prepared to do violence. It takes a toll and we should be eternally thankful to them.
The world sleeps well because Rough Men are prepared to do violence. It takes a toll and we should be eternally thankful to them.
December 17, 2022
Gritty, authentic and tinged with a great melancholy this is one of the Rhodesian Bush Wars great classics. War seen through the jaded eyes of a soldier not yet 21. This should be back in compulsory reading for anyone in authority contemplating sending young men off to war.....
May 1, 2023
Great book
As a former soldier I enjoy reading the memoirs of those who came before me. Their thoughts on the conflict, their experiences and the take away. Great book, well written.
As a former soldier I enjoy reading the memoirs of those who came before me. Their thoughts on the conflict, their experiences and the take away. Great book, well written.
July 18, 2018
Cracking read
I really enjoyed reading this book and with typical military humour against a traumatic backdrop. I would fully recommend this book to everyone
I really enjoyed reading this book and with typical military humour against a traumatic backdrop. I would fully recommend this book to everyone
April 10, 2019
Super fighting book.
Not at all like my experience in the Marines in early 80's.
Real fighting unit these RLI.What loses these wars are people up stairs.Sad.
Not at all like my experience in the Marines in early 80's.
Real fighting unit these RLI.What loses these wars are people up stairs.Sad.
May 18, 2020
Great book that gets into the actual inner workings of the RLI.
July 19, 2020
Interesting.
December 2, 2020
A very good narrative of the war in Rhodesia.
January 31, 2025
How a reluctant conscript with long haired liberal and communistic leanings became an efficient anti-terrorist operator.
Not safe for work, though.
Not safe for work, though.
July 26, 2012
This book was once likened to "All Is Quiet On the Western Front" and having read and enjoyed both book, I would have to agree. Cocks account of his tour with the Rhodesian Light Infantry is an excellently written account of one man's life-changing experience in war. Let me firstly say that I am often not a big fan of soldier's personal accounts as I find that they tend to go in depth into the admirable, but often a bit tedious to relate, training regimens and confusingly accounted descriptions of combat. Cocks, however, makes both the mundane and the fantastic interesting and relates some genuinely touching and hilarious events. He also relates some of the exploits of other men in the troop, overall political events, and perhaps most importantly, that not race was not always the deciding factor in the decisions that Rhodesians made.
I cannot recommend this book enough for those not only interested in Rhodesia or African wars, but also those who enjoy reading war accounts.
I cannot recommend this book enough for those not only interested in Rhodesia or African wars, but also those who enjoy reading war accounts.
February 6, 2015
Interesting but poorly written
The Kindle edition is loaded with typos. Moreover, there are numerous grammatical errors and the author seems to think that there is some benefit from writing half the prose in a mixture of Rhodesian slang, Afrikaans and an indigenous African dialect.
Having said that, it is an interesting read but it fails to explore the racial politics. I was struck by the photos. They drive the point home that these were just kids. Some of the pictures look like Boy Scouts. The author does not seem to have matured much over the last 35 years or so.
Overall there is nothing terribly memorable about all of this. The author lacks introspection.
The Kindle edition is loaded with typos. Moreover, there are numerous grammatical errors and the author seems to think that there is some benefit from writing half the prose in a mixture of Rhodesian slang, Afrikaans and an indigenous African dialect.
Having said that, it is an interesting read but it fails to explore the racial politics. I was struck by the photos. They drive the point home that these were just kids. Some of the pictures look like Boy Scouts. The author does not seem to have matured much over the last 35 years or so.
Overall there is nothing terribly memorable about all of this. The author lacks introspection.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews