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A Handful of Hard Men

The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia

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A Handful of Hard Men

By: Hannes Wessels
Narrated by: Jack Chekijian
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It is difficult to find another soldier's story to equal Captain Darrell 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.

In the fight, he showed himself to be a military maestro. A bush-lore genius, blessed with uncanny instincts and an unbridled determination to close with the enemy, he had no peers as a combat-tracker (and there was plenty of competition). But the Rhodesian theater was a fluid and volatile one in which he performed in almost every imaginable fighting role.

After 12 years in the cauldron of war, his cause slipped from beneath him, 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 twilight years, he is now concerned with saving wildlife on a continent where they are in continued danger and devoting himself to both the fauna and African people he cares so deeply about.

©2015 Hannes Wessels (P)2017 Tantor Africa Armed Forces Military Military & War Special & Elite Forces World World War II War
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A very nice book about some pretty hardcore soldiers doing what they had to do to defend their own country. It would hv been better if the book was spoken by someone with a more Afrikan accent. The narrator posh accent and slow way of reading doesn't fit this kind of book. The story told is about men who eat current SF soldiers for breakfast, not a love novel

Narrator style doesn't fit the story

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I have never left a review for anything before, but felt I had to warn others. I am really struggling with the narrator. sounds almost computer generated, made me feel like I needed to pay a ransom ! why get an American to read a story about Africa? terrible pronunciation and utterly lifeless delivery, left me completely cold and ultimately uninterested in a story worth so much more. might just try the book. if you have trouble sleeping, this is the audio book for you.

utterly ruined

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Excellent insight into a fascinating bit of history and some very brave and professional soldiers.

Excellent insight

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What a disappointment that this story which has to be told is narrated by an American who can't even pronounce "Salisbury" the capital of Rhodesia ! Otherwise this is a story which has to be told.History has proved that it was a gross mistake of the British (Labour) Government to install Robert Mugabe and Zanu as the rulers of Rhodesia.In doing this they betrayed the white settlers and this will go down in the history of ignominy.The civil war that ensued supported by Russia and China who are "anti Imperialist" ...What about Tibet? What about Eastern Europe? Armed by these countries the so called Liberationist movements Zanu and the Crocodile gang slaughtered white civilians whilst the World looked the other way. Let's not forget that Rhodesia lost more troops in the Second World War than Britain herself. This is a white Rhodesian voice that must be heard to redress the balance in the light of decades of misrule by Robert Mugabe. Mugabe destroyed a boyant economy and made thousands of his people destitute so concerned was he by his own aggrandizement. Mugabe made Cecil Rhodes look like a social worker. Apart from the dodgy American accent this is a great story of bravery in the face of World approbation.

Rhodesia : Britain's betrayal

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unbelievable story of brave men betrayed by politicians on all sides...highly reccomend to anyone interested

excellent book

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