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At the Going Down of the Sun....
Charlie Warren joins the Rhodesia Light Infantry as a trooper and so becomes a member of one of the most effective and motivated anti-terrorist units ever created.
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First published July 17, 2006
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July 26, 2012
At the Going Down of the Sun follows the exploits of Charlie Warren, a member of 13 Troop, 3 Commando, Rhodesian Light Infantry from his enlistment in 1974-1980.
As others have said, and I will touch upon for those who missed it, there are quite a few typos in this text. Going in with this knowledge, it may bother you it may not. It was not bothersome for me - especially after reading "Z P R A: Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army by Ngwana Maseko Zwangendaba". The continuity of the book, particularly in the beginning, is also difficult to follow at times, but the book settles in after a while and becomes more readable.
Judging this book in an unbiased manner is tough. When judged against "Fireforce" by Chris Cocks (arguably one of the most prolific ex-Rhodesian military authors alongside Peter Stiff and J.R.T. Wood and particularly so in the sphere of the RLI), this book is not going to be as engaging, amusing, and informative in a broad sense as Cocks' prose. Mr. Warren takes himself a bit more seriously than Cocks, who takes himself none too seriously at most times, but I don't think he's as honest with himself either. Mr. Cocks fully admits to the horrors, mistakes, and tragedies that he helped to create, while Warren takes a more conventional approach of blaming the enemy and higher ups for the problems wrought in the 1965-80 period. Just as important though, Cocks does a great job of painting a picture of the unit and its men as a whole and helping the reader get to know those who have not (or sadly, cannot) speak for themselves, where as Warren's is a much more private - introspective affair. As such the reader does not get as good of a picture of the war, its participants and minutiae as they do in Fireforce.
Having said all of that, Warren's book is informative. It gives the reader a good account of a number of military operations during Warren's services - including an account of the Chimoio-Tembue raids and other externals. His description of the transition of the RLI from border/foot patrol unit to an airborne strike force is notable and worth mention. Warren's experiences as a soldier, and his ability to put them to paper in a decent enough fashion should gain him note for adding the existing literature on the Rhodesian Bush War.
In the end, the book is not perfect, but it does offer is own perspective and information that a student of the conflict can appreciate and learn from.
As others have said, and I will touch upon for those who missed it, there are quite a few typos in this text. Going in with this knowledge, it may bother you it may not. It was not bothersome for me - especially after reading "Z P R A: Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army by Ngwana Maseko Zwangendaba". The continuity of the book, particularly in the beginning, is also difficult to follow at times, but the book settles in after a while and becomes more readable.
Judging this book in an unbiased manner is tough. When judged against "Fireforce" by Chris Cocks (arguably one of the most prolific ex-Rhodesian military authors alongside Peter Stiff and J.R.T. Wood and particularly so in the sphere of the RLI), this book is not going to be as engaging, amusing, and informative in a broad sense as Cocks' prose. Mr. Warren takes himself a bit more seriously than Cocks, who takes himself none too seriously at most times, but I don't think he's as honest with himself either. Mr. Cocks fully admits to the horrors, mistakes, and tragedies that he helped to create, while Warren takes a more conventional approach of blaming the enemy and higher ups for the problems wrought in the 1965-80 period. Just as important though, Cocks does a great job of painting a picture of the unit and its men as a whole and helping the reader get to know those who have not (or sadly, cannot) speak for themselves, where as Warren's is a much more private - introspective affair. As such the reader does not get as good of a picture of the war, its participants and minutiae as they do in Fireforce.
Having said all of that, Warren's book is informative. It gives the reader a good account of a number of military operations during Warren's services - including an account of the Chimoio-Tembue raids and other externals. His description of the transition of the RLI from border/foot patrol unit to an airborne strike force is notable and worth mention. Warren's experiences as a soldier, and his ability to put them to paper in a decent enough fashion should gain him note for adding the existing literature on the Rhodesian Bush War.
In the end, the book is not perfect, but it does offer is own perspective and information that a student of the conflict can appreciate and learn from.
Displaying 1 of 1 review