Signed ten men

2014 paperback with 163 pages brand new. R50 postage in SA. I also do an affordable courier.....ask me!   Ops Askari was a large-scale, cross-border, mechanised operation launched by the South African Defence Force in November 1983. As is the nature with an assault like this, the constituent parts of Ops Askari was a complex blend of fighting men and support personnel from different Defence Force corps and combat disciplines. This account does not strive to recount the exploits of all these different elements in all their various facets. The focus is a rather narrow one. It is the story of five disparate, yet very similar, groups of young men who took part in this great raid into enemy territory against a superior force holding most of the battlefield aces. These five groups feature in this story for one reason: they all took part in the two attacks on a rickety little town in Angola called Cuvelai, on the 31st of December 1983 and again on the 3rd and 4th of January 1984. They only formed part of a much larger effort. The entire force is the subject of a number of books, but in this account the focus is on the five groups which I call the Spine of Delta. The first of these groups was a company of National Servicemen, known as Alpha Company (A Coy,) hailing from 1 South African Infantry Battalion (1 SAI Bn) in Bloemfontein, 1983. I was their captain, and it was my privilege to be their company commander from March 1983 right through the training phases and for the duration of Ops Askari. Then there was Delta Company (D Coy,) also NSM from 1 SAI. They formed part of 61 Mechanized Battalion Group (61 Mech Bn Gp) during Ops Askari. Also from the 1983 intake in 1 SAI was an 81 mm mortar platoon from the units Support Company, a young squad who fought courageously as part of The Spine during the hectic final five-day struggle for the occupation of Cuvelai.  The fourth element was also trained at 1 SAI Bn but during operations it did not deploy as a group. These men were Ratel drivers allocated where they were needed. They were fondly referred to as Digue's Platoon, named after their indefatigable platoon sergeant, Pierre Digue. This platoon participated as drivers for The Spine. These four bands of comrades shared their military roots, all being trained at 1 SAI in 1983. There was, however, a fifth and quite different group. They were'nt national servicemen at all, but students from four University Military Units; from University of Pretoria, University of the Free State, University of Stellenbosch and Rand Afrikaans University. They had already completed their two years' commitment as NSM and were civilians once more. During the university recess they had the option to volunteer for deployment as individuals or as a group from various Citizen Force (CF) Regiments. This book is mainly a compilation of their stories; of the reminiscences of those young national servicemen from Alpha and Delta Companies, 1 SAI; the 81-mm Mortar Platoon from 1 SAI by way of 4 SAI, Middelburg; Digues Platoon, officially the Chief of the Army's Platoon of drivers, and the valiant students from Tuks, Kovsies, Maties and RAU. With 63 black and white photos from the operation and the authentic war journal by Ian Scott from the University of Pretoria Military Unit.  

2014 paperback with 163 pages brand new. R50 postage in SA. Special edition limited to 200 copies. Numbered 162 and made out to a Van der Poel. I also do an affordable courier.....ask me!   Ops Askari was a large-scale, cross-border, mechanised operation launched by the South African Defence Force in November 1983. As is the nature with an assault like this, the constituent parts of Ops Askari was a complex blend of fighting men and support personnel from different Defence Force corps and combat disciplines. This account does not strive to recount the exploits of all these different elements in all their various facets. The focus is a rather narrow one. It is the story of five disparate, yet very similar, groups of young men who took part in this great raid into enemy territory against a superior force holding most of the battlefield aces. These five groups feature in this story for one reason: they all took part in the two attacks on a rickety little town in Angola called Cuvelai, on the 31st of December 1983 and again on the 3rd and 4th of January 1984. They only formed part of a much larger effort. The entire force is the subject of a number of books, but in this account the focus is on the five groups which I call the Spine of Delta. The first of these groups was a company of National Servicemen, known as Alpha Company (A Coy,) hailing from 1 South African Infantry Battalion (1 SAI Bn) in Bloemfontein, 1983. I was their captain, and it was my privilege to be their company commander from March 1983 right through the training phases and for the duration of Ops Askari. Then there was Delta Company (D Coy,) also NSM from 1 SAI. They formed part of 61 Mechanized Battalion Group (61 Mech Bn Gp) during Ops Askari. Also from the 1983 intake in 1 SAI was an 81 mm mortar platoon from the units Support Company, a young squad who fought courageously as part of The Spine during the hectic final five-day struggle for the occupation of Cuvelai.  The fourth element was also trained at 1 SAI Bn but during operations it did not deploy as a group. These men were Ratel drivers allocated where they were needed. They were fondly referred to as Digue's Platoon, named after their indefatigable platoon sergeant, Pierre Digue. This platoon participated as drivers for The Spine. These four bands of comrades shared their military roots, all being trained at 1 SAI in 1983. There was, however, a fifth and quite different group. They were'nt national servicemen at all, but students from four University Military Units; from University of Pretoria, University of the Free State, University of Stellenbosch and Rand Afrikaans University. They had already completed their two years' commitment as NSM and were civilians once more. During the university recess they had the option to volunteer for deployment as individuals or as a group from various Citizen Force (CF) Regiments. This book is mainly a compilation of their stories; of the reminiscences of those young national servicemen from Alpha and Delta Companies, 1 SAI; the 81-mm Mortar Platoon from 1 SAI by way of 4 SAI, Middelburg; Digues Platoon, officially the Chief of the Army's Platoon of drivers, and the valiant students from Tuks, Kovsies, Maties and RAU. With 63 black and white photos from the operation and the authentic war journal by Ian Scott from the University of Pretoria Military Unit.  

2008 paperback edition with 318 pages brand new and unread. Signed by author on title page. R46 postage in SA.  Hoare is now 97 years old and lives in South Africa. Hoare was born in Ireland. He spent his early days in India and was educated in England. He served in North Africa and Italy as an officer in the London Irish Rifles during World War II, and achieved the rank of Captain. After the war, he completed his training as a chartered accountant, and qualified in 1948. He emigrated to Durban, Natal Province, Union of South Africa, where he ran safaris and became a soldier-for-hire in various African countries.Congo crisis - During the Congo Crisis Mike Hoare organized and led two separate mercenary groups:1960¿1961. Major Mike Hoare's first mercenary action was in Katanga, a province trying to break away from the newly independent Congo. The unit was called "4 Commando." During this time he married Phyllis Simms, an airline stewardess.1964. Congolese Prime Minister Moïse Tshombe hired "Major" Mike Hoare to lead a military unit called 5 Commando ANC (later led by John Peters) made up of about 300 men most of whom were from South Africa. His second in command was a fellow ex-British Army officer, Commandant Alistair Wicks. The unit's mission was to fight a revolt known as the Simba Rebellion. Later Hoare and his mercenaries worked in concert with Belgian paratroopers, Cuban exile pilots, and CIA-hired mercenaries who attempted to save 1,600 civilians (mostly Europeans and missionaries) in Stanleyville from the Simba rebels in Operation Dragon Rouge. This operation saved many lives. Hoare was later promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the ANC and 5 Commando expanded into a two-battalion force. Hoare commanded 5 Commando from July 1964 to November 1965.

 And direction was given - Alan Flederman (SIGNED!) - 2000 first edition - many black and white photographs - Paperback in good, clean and tight condition. R50 postage in SA. In the dying days of World War II, Alan Flederman was a POW in Italy. As the Allies advanced, there was an ever-present threat that he and his fellow prisoners would be despatched deep into the land of their fears - Germany. Not one to sit around waiting for such a potential fate, Flederman, along with a small band of other prisoners, planned an escape, which, though successful, did not end beyond the perimeter fence of the camp. This book tells the story of the journey from the prison camp to true freedom, through war-torn Italy, where danger lurked in even the most rural hamlets, to the heavily patrolled Swiss border. Flederman reflects on how, without the help, kindness and shelter of the families and individual men and women of the tiny villages that he traced his journey through, he might never have made it. The enormous personal risk these people put themselves in by sheltering him is a debt he passionately acknowledges.

2008 paperback edition with 318 pages brand new and unread. Signed by author on title page. R60 postage in SA.  Hoare is now 98 years old and lives in South Africa. Hoare was born in Ireland. He spent his early days in India and was educated in England. He served in North Africa and Italy as an officer in the London Irish Rifles during World War II, and achieved the rank of Captain. After the war, he completed his training as a chartered accountant, and qualified in 1948. He emigrated to Durban, Natal Province, Union of South Africa, where he ran safaris and became a soldier-for-hire in various African countries.Congo crisis - During the Congo Crisis Mike Hoare organized and led two separate mercenary groups:1960¿1961. Major Mike Hoare's first mercenary action was in Katanga, a province trying to break away from the newly independent Congo. The unit was called "4 Commando." During this time he married Phyllis Simms, an airline stewardess.1964. Congolese Prime Minister Moïse Tshombe hired "Major" Mike Hoare to lead a military unit called 5 Commando ANC (later led by John Peters) made up of about 300 men most of whom were from South Africa. His second in command was a fellow ex-British Army officer, Commandant Alistair Wicks. The unit's mission was to fight a revolt known as the Simba Rebellion. Later Hoare and his mercenaries worked in concert with Belgian paratroopers, Cuban exile pilots, and CIA-hired mercenaries who attempted to save 1,600 civilians (mostly Europeans and missionaries) in Stanleyville from the Simba rebels in Operation Dragon Rouge. This operation saved many lives. Hoare was later promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the ANC and 5 Commando expanded into a two-battalion force. Hoare commanded 5 Commando from July 1964 to November 1965.

1989 first edition hardcover with dust jacket and394 pages in very neat condition. Signed by Wood on title page. R65 postage in SA. When the Rhodesian Army recruited André Dennison in 1975, it secured the services of a hardened veteran of four of the minor wars of the 1950s and 1960s. Thus he was the most appropriate choice as the first Officer Commanding 'A' Company of the new 2nd Battalion of the Rhodesian African Rifles. André Dennison  kept a meticulous record of the daily life of his 'A' Company, writing up his war diaries every night and eventually, when convalescing from wounds, transcribing them into a single volume. He wrote in the dry, humorous style of the professional soldier, sparing little pity for his enemy while displaying deep affection and admiration for his men as he chronicled their exploits.

 SA Reserve bank.Ten Shillings note 1958. A/153. Signed MH de Kock. Third issue. EF condition.See scans

Buy SA Ten Rand Note Signed Gov. G. Rissik C36/907147 2nd Issue Condition as per image. for R150.00

Buy Selous Scouts - the men speak - Jonathan Pittaway * SIGNED* for R2,500.00

 SA Ten Shillings bank note 1947 E/95 Good condition.See scans. Signed MH de Kock. 1st issue

Buy SPECIAL FORCES: The Men Speak - Jonathan Pittaway & Douw Steyn (SIGNED & NUMBERED) for R2,750.00

Buy The Men Who Would Not March - David Thomas - Paperback **Signed copy** (Surrender of Concordia) for R235.00

G. Rissik - 2 x 10 Rand 1966 - 2nd Series A/E and E/A   This is a South African Ten Rand note set signed by reserve bank governor G. Rissik. It is a second series set printed and issued in 1966. The set on offer here contain both the Afrikaans and English Dominant notes(Afrikaans over English and the English over Afrikaans - Tien/Ten and then Ten/Tien). Both notes have the springbok watermark. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS WELCOME  

R 10  Note G. Rissik - 2nd Series 1966 This is a South African Ten Rand note signed by reserve bank governor G. Rissik. It is a second series note printed and issued in 1966, this specific note appear with the C-16 prefix with Afrikaans predominant. The note is in a F+ / VF condition in my estimation, but please look at the images above to judge for yourself. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS WELCOME  

R 10  Note G. Rissik - 2nd Series 1966 This is a South African Ten Rand note signed by reserve bank governor G. Rissik. It is a second series note printed and issued in 1966, this specific note appear with the C-28 prefix with Afrikaans dominant. The note is in a VF condition in my estimation, but please look at the images above to judge for yourself. INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS WELCOME