Bandit Mentality: Hunting Insurgents in the Rhodesian Bush War. A Memoir

If you enjoy your Southern African war-experience books, then this one will be an eyeopener. Written entirely objectively, often belligerently and largely devoid of patriotism and politics, the intelligently put together story encompasses the author's time in Rhodesia as a (foreign) volunteer police serviceman around the mid-1970s war years up to and including 1980. Its main point of difference to other similar subject matter and period books, is that it gives an outsider soldier's point of view and in parts is hyper-critical of the powers that were along with those in authority and the way they undertook and often misguidedly directed their part in the war from a policing point of view. Having stated all that, it's actually a refreshingly great read, time and time again it draws you in and then brings you down to Earth with a thud as, for the author at least, it was not a war fought with overtly obvious heroes and goals. I enjoyed it for that alone.I should add, the author's recollection for finer detail and the characters involved (and their names) is to be commended, especially considering all the events contained in the book occurred well more than forty years ago now.This one is highly recommended.

A fascinating and detailed account of leading BSAP Support troops in active counter-insurgency operations. This is all about living with his African police in the Rhodesian bush - patrolling in all weathers, questioning locals to gather information, interspersed with fierce action contacts. Covers the smell and feel of life in rural areas, as well as the resourcefulness of making do in infantry work on foot against a better armed enemy. Very readable and thoroughly absorbing. Excellent pen pictures of the characters among his policeman soldiers, as well as of the social life in a country at war.

As someone who served with black troops in that time and place I can say this is an excellent description of how the war was fought on the ground. Good job.

This is an easy read and very entertaining. The author has a wonderful gift with words: at times the reader feels that he/she ha been dropped into a situation.It's a very good read. The reason for only 4 stars: this book needs editing eg chapter 12 appeared twice.

This is a refreshingly honest account by a New Zealander who volunteered to serve in Rhodesia’s British South African Police Support Unit, as the insurgency gained momentum 1976-1980. The Support Unit was the still largely civilian police’s para-military unit (1200 strong), with black African other ranks & NCOs and officered by regular, white police officers and those whites doing National Service.What motivated him to serve? Simply ‘a selfish love of combat and life with a complete lack of routine…I was hooked on the adrenaline rush…adventure for the sake of adventure’ (Pg.267). Plus the opportunity between six week tours in the bush to drink, party and relax. By 1978 even with his experience no-one bothered to persuade him to stay, so the author left and ended up as an adviser to newly recruited UANC fighters, known as security force auxiliaries.Little has been written about the ordinary black African role in Rhodesia’s insurgency; I exclude the Selous Scouts who were mainly turned ex-guerrillas. Loyalties were not fixed, the author recounts in the autumn of 1976 a captured guerrilla recruit claimed to be a serving policeman’s wife (Pg.79). Their motives were mixed, paid employment, revenge for some; they were loyal to the Support Unit and the BSAP – who ‘watched over them’ and like the French Foreign Legion ‘gave solid service in return’ (Pg.172).The stance of the majority, rural African population in the Tribal Trust Lands facing violence from the guerrillas and the Rhodesian security forces was to steadily change. The Africans would claim ignorance of the guerrilla’s presence to actively supporting them. A good illustration at a Rhodesian firepower demonstration from an old African man asking ‘He said that if we are so powerful, why are there so many CTs in the bush? A good question’ (Pg.80).Counterinsurgency warfare success is based on the security forces protecting the civilians from the insurgents; Rhodesia simply had extremely limited spending power, let alone forces able to live with the rural Africans and protect them (Pg.132).This is a book which rightly concentrates on hunting insurgents, although criticisms of the Rhodesian approach abound, for example the lack of any briefing and debriefing (Pg.289). It helps to explain why Rhodesia failed to survive as the numbers of disaffected Africans grew, with so many leaving to join the nationalist guerrillas the security forces could not “hold the line”.

A good read , found it interesting and how they coped with very little

I did a 2 year tour as a section leader with Delta Troop, Support Unit, 1971-73. The civil war, although on and off sporadically since 1966, only really hotted up with the farm attacks in Centenary in late 1972 and during my time was limited to farm attacks, land mines, ambushes and the odd contact, none of which I or my section was directly involved in. It was interesting, therefore, to read a first hand account about the 'real war' from the perspective of my former Unit. I can however, attest to the endless energy sapping foot patrols, the heat, the flies and the every day hidden dangers that this part of Africa throws at the unprepared, unwary or just dozy, whether on foot or in a vehicle in the bush. There is no bull-sh*t in this book. Too many former members of what was essentially a small and elite band of men, as well as some credited in the book, are still alive and in contact on social media for any 'licence' to have been used. Highly recommended for former members or anoraks who do re-enactments.

One of the best books written from a personal perspective about the Rhodesian conflict. Easy writing style, visceral, accurate. Takes you into the fight superbly well.

I knew who Lindsey was but never worked with him and from what I heard from people who did, he was a good soldier. It was great to read about familiar names and places.

Excellent, informative tale of police support actions in Rhodesia. Written by a man who was in the thick of it.

As a ex member of the BSAP this book was extremely interesting and totally factual.