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Rhodesian SAS: My Time In C Squadron During The Rhodesian Bush War.

Historic Military Interviews

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In this video we speak to Ian Mackenzie about being in the Rhodesian SAS during the Bush War.
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For similar videos: Rhodesian SAS

In this video, "SAS: My Life in the Squadron," provides an intimate and powerful account of military courage experienced by the Rhodesian SAS soldiers fighting in the bush during the 1970s.

Through the stories of real SAS soldiers, the video explores the depths of human fear and the heights of human courage required to become a SAS operative. Ian Mackenzie, a Rhodesian SAS operative, shares his personal account of what it was like to participate in behind-enemy-lines operations, highlighting the challenges and difficulties he faced while learning to deal with fear and being in combat.

The video provides a captivating and thought-provoking story about courage and fear, exposing the harsh realities of combat and the sacrifices made by soldiers in armed conflicts. By sharing Ian Mackenzie's personal experiences, the video offers a glimpse into the struggles of becoming an SAS operative and showcases the heroism and resilience of soldiers who fought in the Rhodesian Bush War.

Overall, "SAS: My Life in the Squadron" provides an honest and compelling account of the realities of war, emphasizing the bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers who have served their country in armed conflicts.

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Should you wish to find more information on these battles the books they are available on Amazon and can be obtained by clicking on the link below:
Clouds In The Wind: A story of danger, love and tragedy
https://amzn.to/3k8HWDz

0:00 Introduction
01:59 Clouds in the Wind
07:08 1 Parachute Battalion
12:29 War in Angola
17:14 SAS Training
20:30 Weapons Handling
29:25 SAS Bush Training
34:22 Selection
48:37 Combat
1:04:35 Observations of Camps
1:07:31 Camp Attacks and Ambushes
1:18:04 Getting wounded in combat and dealing with fear
1:23:17 SAS Food
1:26:22 Deployment
1:35:48 The Last Post

Thank for the use of images:
Images have been used from the Rhodesian SAS Website and from the following books:
http://www.therhodesiansas.com/
The Elite The Story of the Rhodesian Special Air Service by Barbara Cole.
The Elite Pictorial by Barbara Cole
Weapon images from Wikipedia.

"Lest we forget"
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."

This information on this site is intended as a general reference for Internet users. It is made available on the understanding that Historic Military Interviews, as a result of providing this information or sharing these veterans experiences and stories, is not engaged in providing professional advice or necessarily takes a particular stance or point of view. Viewers & Listeners should seek their own advice re undertaking any commercial actions or understanding of these actions and shared experiences. All information in this site is provided "as is", with no guarantee of accuracy, timeline.
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20 Comments

@HistoricMilitaryInterviews Creator 4 years ago Pinned

A story of bravery and courage

@fightingmenofrhodesia 4 years ago

I did my SAS selection in Inyanga in 1974. It didn't seem nearly as tough as your one Ian, thank goodness. I thoroughly enjoyed your description of Rhodesia at the end. It truly was God's own country. Nice video, well done!

@rhodesia1578 4 years ago

Thank Ian for your service to a wonderful country filled with fantastic people. Thank you for your kind words and for respecting the Rhodesians way of life and for who they were as a community. Respect and I salute you ! RIP the fallen warriors of Rhodesia. Long live all Rhodesians, may the green and white live on in our hearts and minds for eternity !

@CrashedSuperman 4 years ago

Great to hear the detail of Rhodesian SAS training and selection. I met many Rhodesians when I was in Durban in the late 1980’s all of them fantastic people who were extremely hospitable to me which I now find extraordinary as they were so badly betrayed by the British Government of the time.

@GlobalFLATTSman 4 years ago

What a fantastic interview with an amazing fellow. A no bullshit tell it like it is yarn. At nearly 70 myself, I grew up in the jungle in Papua New Guinea, and after spending 8 years in the Australian Army as a tradesman apprentice then four years a combat engineer in a construction Sqn., working with so many who have become life long brothers from different mothers, I went home to New Guinea and started a fishing safari business. I understand that zest for adventure all to well, it has shaped, prodded and pushed me all over the globe including Africa throughout this amazing journey called life. A chap working on a plantation nearby my safari camp spent a lot of nights and fair bit of my grog telling me of his similar experiences in Rhodesia, so much of what I heard in this interview just dovetailed beautifully here. As a fellow who understands the colonial era myself and the lifestyle it brought us I so appreciate all of Ian’s commentary and will try to find his book somewhere.

@imamba1 4 years ago

I did mine in 1964. It was a bit different but not that much and it sorted us out and did its job of making us ready to be in a SF unit. Thank you for enforcing these memories for me, now an old "When We"and for showing everyone what great guys Rhodesians were. I was so wrapped up listening to these memories that I forgot to eat and sleep. Wonderful stuff. I miss Rhodesia like you can't believe. Thank you again.

@andrewthomas2353 4 years ago

I was a child and slept safely because of heroes like you. Thank you for your service.

@grantsanders4211 4 years ago

I thoroughly enjoyed Ian's talk. Thank you for your service! I was born in Bulawayo in 1976 my dad fought in the war. I have the deepest respect for these men. Thank you!

@Toncor12 4 years ago

When I made my comment below, I had not heard the end of the interview. Thank you so much Ian for what you have said about our beloved land and the people that filled it. It means so much when it comes from another nationality. It was heaven on earth that place. Your accolade made me burst into tears. Twenty years in the UK and I am still pining for home.

@FrankRS-ww7pp 1 month ago (edited)

Wow great story telling!! This is the epitome of talking for Africa. Riveting interview!!! Brave brave men. So proud of our history.

@brianpirie2256 4 years ago

My Best mate Sgt Andre Chait was in C Squadron SAS. Sadly killed on my Birthday. I was in the 1st intake to one yrs service in the RRAF. Loved it.

@dougcombrinck451 4 years ago

Ian, thank you and all of the hundreds of other foreign nationals from across the globe who for whatever their personal reasons risked life and limb to assist us in our struggle in Rhodesia. I am sure that I would not be wrong in saying that at the end of it all you left the country with heavy hearts, having fallen love with the country and it's people. We salute you all.

@hudsonchalmers6504 4 years ago

The anticipation is worse than the reality. At 77 my army training has helped. When diagnosed with cancer, accepted calmly and dealt with it. Recently a severe angina, I was calm, called the ambulance , my dear wife was panicking. You certainly describe the feelings and emotions that no doubt we all had in certain measure

@alanbrooke1711 4 years ago

Our actions have been vindicated by the state of affairs in present-day Zimbabwe.

@hjpc73 4 years ago

i love to hear about this. Rhodesians never die!

@Simon_Hawkshaw 4 years ago

Brave men, remembered with pride and thanks.

@hudsonchalmers6504 4 years ago

We were on a lot of OP's dropped off at night. Daylight patrols ,fleeting contacts mostly, and we would call it in. 1975 ,I was 30 and pretty fit and mature and a lot more cautious than than 17 year olds

@tomster1414 3 years ago

Unbelievable knowledge and it just flows off Ian’s lips , outstanding

@Nick.T_C7 4 years ago

Thanks for a great interview Ian. The comments at the end of your interview on how Rhodesia was during the vush war (rifle racks in the pubs etc) brought tears to my eyes. The bonds of all together is one thing i really miss.
God Bless, keep well always.

@alanheathcote 4 years ago

Ian, it was great hearing and seeing you again. I was on the same MA3 course as you (and 4 of your colleagues). We learned to greatly respect you guys at that time and all of you were a great advert for Squadron. I really appreciated your longer than normal description of the selection course we used to see coming by the MTS barracks especially on the 36 hour non-stop, and then your additional detail of what happened in the Matopos after that. Your analysis of the before and after of contacts was unique in all the videos I have so far seen, and your admission of the fear we all had was honesty of the top order. I salute your extraordinary service. Go well.