As with most young Rhodesians, I was called up to serve 18 months of National Service. I however, didn't go to the army straight from school (as was the case with many others), after leaving school, I entered into an apprenticeship as an industrial electrician, so only got called up when I was 20 years old

We underwent three months of basic training, which was rather rigorous, lots of running, and very little sleep, mainly because we had to prepare our kit, and barrack room for daily early morning inspection

It was a matter of being up late, getting up very early, and running around most of the time during the day

Basic training included, weaponry skills, becoming familiar with the various weapons that we'd use, we learning to strip and assemble them, lots of range time, shooting was obviously high on the agenda

The basic weapon was the FN, a Belgian manufactured assault rifle, used at the time by NATO, it was 7,62mm calibre, with a twenty round magazine, semi-automatic (self loading), it could also be fired on automatic. The FN was extremely accurate, having a relatively long barrel. The FN was really designed for conventional type warfare

The only negative factors being that it was extremely well engineered, with close tolerances, so cleaning was essential, a little dirt, and one would suffer malfunctions, and stoppages, it was also a little cumbersome, not ideal for close quarter combat situations, as was the case in the Rhodesian Bush

The support weapon was the MAG, of the same origin as the FN, also 7,62mm calibre, belt fed, a very good gun indeed, (the cyclic rate of fire was 1,500 rounds per minute). It wasn't quite the thing to have to lug around the bush (it was actually designed to be used in the static role, with a tripod mount). If I remember correctly, it weighed about 24 lbs, the gunner still had to carry the ammunition

We learned to march, and perform the usual parade ground manoeuvres, rifle drill, both of which weren't always pleasant experiences, some guys just couldn't get it right, two left feet, and not enough hands

The assault course (an obstacle course) was also visited on a regular basis, so we really got lots of exercise

Map reading, combat techniques/tactics, and a host of bush survival skills were also taught

By the end of basic training we were a lot more like soldiers, quite a contrast from what we'd been on arrival at the training facility three months earlier

After completing my basic training, I applied and was selected to undergo training in signals, so off we went to another training facility, where we were put through 2 months of training in the operation, and setting up of various items of communications equipment/systems (VHF and HF)

With that all behind me, we went back to our training unit, and were then posted to Kariba (2 Independent Company - The Rhodesia Regiment)

Kariba was one of the better postings, lots of nice hot weather, and lots to do when off duty, as there were many hotels, and resorts at Kariba, so we all thought that we were in a really good holiday, but as things turned out, that didn't happen !

We had only been at Kariba for 3 months when we were deployed to the North Eastern Border, to an operational area code named, Hurricane, where we were to spend the next 11 months or so. Then it was back to Kariba, to operate once again in the Splinter operational area, see the map, depicting the Operational Areas

It was here that things became a little more interesting, and challenging, we were based at Mkumbura, and later at Dotito, which wasn't too far from Mount Darwin (see map of Rhodesia) Mt Darwin was where the Operation Hurricane Joint Operations Control Centre (JOCC) was located

The JOCC was essentially the heart of operations, and all orders for troop movement/deployment would be issued and controlled by them. Fireforce were also located at Mt Darwin

Fireforce were quick response units, who would be deployed by helicopter whenever ground troops engaged in a contact with a group of terrorists, or in cases when there had been a sightings of terrorist groups, and support was required

Fireforce were drawn from commando's of the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI), they were usually in the thick of it, and accounted for most of the kills effected by the Rhodesian Security Forces operating in the Hurricane Operational Area

Mkumbura was located on the border with Mozambique, and Dotito was about 150Km north of Mt Darwin. We set up a tented Base Camp at Mkumbura, however at Dotito, we set up camp in a fortified camp which belonged to the Police Special Branch (Special Branch were essentially gatherers of intelligence)

I spent quite a bit of time manning Radio Relay Sites, which were essentially communications from high ground (mountain tops). The team would consist of four operatives, and our task was to provide a relay between ground troops, and the base (HQ)

Communications were HF, and VHF, used to forward messages back and forth, including tactical orders. Most communications were coded, so one had to encode, and decode these manually using codes which were issued daily, the code used was called the Shackle Code

We usually spent a week at a time on the relay site, we'd be deployed by helicopter (which was great) and were back at the base camp until the next deployment

Being in Base Camp meant, in addition to the usual radio duties, camp guard duties. I however enjoyed the time on the relay sites, on one occasion I spent a month on one such site, it was much better than being back in the base camp

After completing 18 months of National Service, it was back home, and back to work, but not for long, as we were then to be called-up on a regular basis, six weeks in, and six weeks out. I was posted to the local Territorial Unit, 10th Battalion Rhodesia Regiment, the headquarters of which was located in Gwelo, the town where I lived

I wasn't as fortunate as I'd been during my National Service, and wasn't to be used as a Signaller, just a plain "Infantryman", so it was a matter of lots of walking, patrols, setting up ambushes, and OP's (observation Posts, which were basically finding high ground during the night, and keeping a low profile during the day, whilst observing the surrounding area for any unusual activities)

A patrol would comprise 4 persons, (a patrol leader, a second in command, and two riflemen), these were referred to as a "stick". A stick would usually be deployed for 3 to 4 days, and would have to carry ammunition (120 rounds each), apart from the MAG gunner, he would carry 300 rounds

We also carried two HE hand grenades, two smoke grenades, two white phosphorus grenades, and one, or two HE rifle grenades. Of course we had to carry food, the army issue rations, referred to as "ratpacks". One usually didn't take much food, the less the better, something that one learned from experience, as having to carry all the stuff was quite strenuous, and slowed one down somewhat

Short trousers (PT shorts), a camouflage "T shirt", running shoes (known as takkies) were usually worn, as well as a soft floppy camouflage hat, or cap. A small backpack (for rations, spare ammo, rifle cleaning kit, small gas stove, etc) were carried, and the webbing, comprising a harness, belt, magazine pouches, water bottles, a sleeping bag was secured to the backpack

We often bought custom made webbing, and backpacks from local dealers, the army issue webbing, and backpacks were terrible, the more comfortable one could make things the better

The local manufactures made good business from many Rhodesian soldiersIn some areas water was a problem (unless it was during the rainy season), and we'd often fill our water bottles (we carried two water bottles) with water from rivers, stagnant pools. It's wonder that we didn't contract some sort of disease, but when one is thirsty, one will drink anything, it was usually extremely hot, so dehydration was always a concern

Besides the extreme heat, on occasion, extreme wet, the other problem was the insects, mosquitoes, tsetse flies, horse flies, ants, on occasion bee's, I actually came to hate ants with a passion, didn't care much for the other insects either, so insect/mosquito repellent was a must, otherwise one would be eaten alive

In some of the operational areas, one would often come across a local store, then we'd buy cold drinks, and bread (buns), one tended to crave for sugar, so a good old "coke" went down extremely well

We'd often traded our army issue rations for other commodities, which on occasion included a bit of the "hard stuff", like brandy, or cane spirit, which we'd mix with our army issue cold drink powder, it was affectionately referred to as "jungle-juice", and when mixed with liquor, it became "hooligan-juice" (for obvious reasons), and you thought we were fighting a war, I guess all soldiers do these things

We operated in various parts of the country, in different Operational Areas, namely, Thrasher (eastern boarder with Mozambique), Grapple (central part of country), and Tangent (western part of the country), see the picture, depicting all operational areas within Rhodesia

Another aspect of the call-up system was three to four days of Battle Camp, which was essentially to ensure that we were prepared both physically, and mentally prior to deployment to the operational area (we were bush ready)

During these three to four days of Battle Camp, we'd sharpen various skills, such as weaponry, combat techniques (attack techniques, which were called skirmishing), and map reading

We did lots of shooting, zeroing our weapons, and jungle path shoots, which was a good way of sharpening up ones reflexes (jungle path shooting is basically having to walk along a path though heavy undergrowth/wooded areas, where targets were concealed, and would "pop-up", and one would have to hit as many targets as possible)

It was great fun, "pop-up" targets don't shoot back !!