This is an exerpt from a wikipedia article on the Rhodesian Light Infantry:

"Following majority rule, the regiment was disbanded on 1 November 1980.
A nucleus of former R.L.I. personnel remained to train and form the
First Zimbabwe Commando Battalion of the Zimbabwe National Army. The regimental statue, "The Troopie", was spirited out of Zimbabwe to South Africa, and is now held at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol, United Kingdom."

Call and confirm it and let us know, huh?

I drive past Bristol when I drive to London now and then, so I'll pop in and take a pic if it is.

 

Just on the off chance anyone is interested.  This is the Troopie in its current state at Bristol museum.

 

I didn't take these photos.

Yeah I had Fireforce on my amazon wish list, I should get round to buying it some time.

 

I should like to do my final year dissertation on Rhodesia if I can.

 

I'll have to pick up the book sometime, thanks for the review.

 

I am a little surprised they used marijuana to that extent, as it isn't exactly a sign of professionals, but like you said, it was the 70's.

 

I am not surprised about the young age and their being rowdy.  The RLI was formed as light infantry after all, while the Commando tag was added later, as was the parchute training, almost as an after thought.

 

The RLI being a one battalion regiment, with smallish companies, does give an image of being elite through small numbers.  However, as best I remember they were actually the only white infantry regiment of Rhodesia, and so although good infantry by any standard, were not elite per se.  I believe the other elements of the Rhoesian army were armoured based, or the black infantry (Rhodesian Rifles?), and of course the Sealous Scouts, and Rhodesian SAS.

If your interested Longrifle, the author of Fireforce, Chris Cocks, has another book due to be published 31st May 2007, according to amazon.co.uk, called "The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry".

 

I am reading Fireforce now, and think it a good read, but....

 

 

Jesus F****** Christ!  George Galloway was in the RLI?!

 

Please tell me I am mistaken?  There is a photo in the book of a "George Galloway", which looks like a young George Galloway MP, and a quick google search found a reference of such on Arrse.

 

I didn't see that coming....

 

Dear Yimmy,

I have known Geoege Galloway BCR (not MP) Since 1974 or thereabouts . he was my stick leader in BCoy 2RR Fire force group.He then joined me in I RLI around 1976 where we both became stick leaders. Oh, and by the way, BCR stands for Bronze Cross of Rhodesia. George was ALWAYS one of the best. A true leader (by example) Trust me , you must be thinking of someone else or you must be joking about some MP??? excuse my ignorance.

As for this misconception of Marijuana and the common usage within the RLI.. Horse shit I say. I wont deny that the guys had a smoke or two during R&R.Some even had a joint at night around the fire. Some equals between 2 and 8% of any Commando.

Based at a particular JOC. The work started when the Choppers could respond to sightings or incidents calling for back-up by SS & SAS mostly. I can assure you. To the best of my knowledge, that there was mo time nor inclination for the use of "African Tobacco". Whilst there was work to be done. Just call it discipline. Straight up!!!

As for "the rowdy" & the RLI  being rowdy? They worked 42 days in the bush and 8 days or less back at the unit. The town of Salisbury was small and few places to meet the mates, the only ones we had, we lived in the bush and fought with and watched our seventeen year old friends and some watched their twin brothers dying in front of them whilst continuing with the scene at hand. COLD FACT. It happened and they were six meters apart "Greater Love hath no man than he that lays down his life for his Friend / Brother"   If  there was a bit of a noise or rowdy behavior in town it was unintentional and I believe we deserved it. I know the civilians still loved them. "Greater Love hath no man than he that lays down his life for his friend".  This behavior was also quite common and accepted in Bulawayo where the 2nd Battalion were on the same 42/-8 days programme. There were very few civvies in the Country of Rhodesia. Everyone volunteered or got called up to a National Service of  upto two years. At The Age Of Seventeen!!! Rowdy was commonly associated with some song around at that time. "THE  BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN". ( Thin Lizzie).The restaurants and clubs all knew when the boys were back in town and there were no real problems. Remember, the average age of the guys were nineteen . Some never even had the time to go home during R&R.  Most had just left School so eager to be part of the war. Some died on their first call out on the first day. 1of 42. FACT. And thats the little that I know. What about the rest of the RLI.,The Commandos, Base Group, Everyone and I mean everyone was out there seeing the same thing with the same stories to tell. And they all wanted to be there. Even more!! Call it what you like. Call it Rhodesia

As for some other Special Forces people being more reserved  and quiet. Sure that is a fact but they were the "makonyas".

Old soldiers who went on to specialised groups. They had already done and seen it all and they were obviously less in number. However, when there was a reunion, planned or not. Then you could TASTE the word ROWDY  and the civvies and facility owners new  that something special was happening. " Leave them Alone". I once heard someone say."Those Are Our Boys" Rhodesia was at war with the world. Maybe Zimbabwe is a better place to live now and less rowdy now that they have so called liberated their prosperous country?

 

 

 

 

 

jack,

 

Thanks for that post.  Sorry if I got a wrong impression of the RLI from reading Chris Cocks' book.

 

Your description of the typical trooper sounds alot like the typical US soldier in the Vietnam era.

 

Speaking of.....were most of the Americans in the RLI well thought of by the Rhodesians?