The original script of this account was written in the early 1990s and eventually found its way onto my website, http://www.jrtwood.com, together with my drawings. Several people suggested that I publish it as a book. Among them were my son, Andrew, and Jeremy Hall, once Lance-Corporal Hall, J., 6 Troop, 2 Commando, 1RLI. Then earlier this year, without any prompting, my publisher, Chris Cocks (also a onetime lance-corporal), offered to publish a history of Fireforce, an offer I could not refuse.
Fireforce is an example among many of Rhodesian ingenuity. There was no textbook on which to base strategy and tactics; the Rhodesians wrote that as they went along. The young men who manned the Fireforces are examples of raw courage. Few soldiers have been asked to face jumps into the unknown every day of a deployment. My only direct experience of Fireforce was when, as an 8RR lance-corporal manning an OP, I talked a K-Car onto a line of running men. After 1976 in the company of Dr Graham Child, David Lee, Donovan Slatter, Bill Lacey and ‘Winkie’ Prentice, all of the Research Section of the Rhodesian Intelligence Corps, I studied Fireforce contacts reports and produced research reports on our findings.
The long time span of the genesis of this book means that it is difficult to recall every assistance given. My family, Carole and Andrew, have had to live with the constant rebuke “I have a book to write”. Major Chuck Melson, the Chief Historian of the US Marine Corps has been a valued friend, collaborator and a constant source of research material. Brigadier David Heppenstall, Colonel John Redfern and lieutenant-colonels Garth Barrett and Ron Reid-Daly allowed me sight of the research material on which this book is based. Alex Binda generously passed on photocopies of contact reports. Group Captain Peter Petter-Bowyer and Wing Commander Harold Griffiths allowed me sight of their logbooks. Squadron Leader ‘Prop’ Geldenhuys has not only answered numerous questions, supplied copies of his books but went to the trouble to obtain Mozambican maps for me. Paul Naish and Craig Fourie are always ready to help and have supplied me with research material, the latter also kindly making available a plethora of photographs.
Jonathan Harvey, Dennis Croukamp, Fraser Brown, Theo Nel, Jerry Strong, Johan Joubert, Max T, Jon Caffin, Peter Petter-Bowyer, Tom Argyle, Jimmy Swan, Nigel Henson, the late Pete McDonald and Beryl Salt, Claude Botha, Harry Whitehead, Ross Parker, Jeremy Hall, Tony Coom and Dave Heppenstall of the RAR Regimental Association (UK) were also generous with their photos. Craig Bone kindly supplied the cover painting and two of the colour plates.
Among the people with whom I discussed this subject either directly or on the telephone or by email were: the late Air Marshal Norman Walsh, Lieutenant-Generals the late Peter Walls and John Hickman, Major-General Leon Jacobs, Brigadiers Tom Davidson, Peter Hosking, David Heppenstall and the late John McVey, Colonels the late Mike Pelham and John Redfern, Lieutenant-Colonels Charlie Aust, Mick McKenna, the late Ron Reid-Daly, Brian Robinson and Grahame Wilson, Commandant Neal Ellis, Group Captain Peter Petter-Bowyer, Wing Commander Harold Griffiths, Majors John Cronin, Peter Hean, Nigel Henson and David Padbury, Captains Mike Webb and Mark Adams and Lieutenants Neill Jackson, Mike Rich, Vernon Prinsloo, Graeme Murdoch, Squadron Leaders Prop Geldenhuys, Victor Wightman and Alf Wild, Captain Jacques Dubois, Flight Lieutenants Michael Borlace, Michael Ronne and the late Victor Cook, Sergeant-Major John Norman, Sergeant Ron Flint, Beaver Shaw, Corporal Peter Leid Lance Corporal Jeremy Hall, Mike McDonald, Dr Cliff Webster, and my cousin, the late David Arnold. I thank them all and pray for forgiveness from anyone else whom I have forgotten.
Richard Wood
Durban, South Africa
November 2010