Memoirs of a Bush War Operator: Further Memoirs of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, Selous Scouts and beyond

From the searing heat of the Zambezi valley to the freezing cold of the Chimanimani mountains in Rhodesia; from the bars in Port St John’s in the Transkei to the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa; to the slums of Maputo Mozambique and the violence and corruption of Beira Mozambique to the beauty of the Portuguese Islands. This is one man’s story of his fight against terror and survival in a world that no longer had any use for him or his skills.

Twice decorated with the Member Of The Legion of Merit (ML) and the Military Forces Commendation (MFC), Andrew Balaam was a member of the Rhodesian Light Infantry and later the Selous Scouts for twelve years. This is his account of his experiences whilst in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, Selous Scouts, Transkei and South African Government.

His story is brutally truthful, frightening and sometimes humorous. It is also the story of the final hours of one of the finest armies in the world, the fight for power amongst senior army officers, the fighting, backstabbing and spying as seen through the eyes of the author.

The author, one of ten children, spent his early life moving between Bulawayo, in Southern Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe), and Livingstone in Northern Rhodesia (now known as Zambia). In 1966 he was called up for National Service & decided to join the Rhodesian Army. After doing a stint in the Rhodesian Light Infantry he left to join the Rhodesian Railyways. However, war was on the horizon, and 8 months after leaving, he re-joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry. Two years later he joined the famous Selous Scouts, where he stayed until the end of the war. After leaving Rhodesia he ended up in the Transkei with Ron Reid Daly and other former Scout members.