commander-in-chief trembled with cold. After all, he was no
longer so young. Some soldiers persuaded him to put at least his
shoes, trousers and socks near the fire to dry.
‘In the flickering of the flames I saw his sleeping face beside
me. There was something innocent and wise about him, like an
elderly child. Why this slim man, who could lead a comfortable
life in the paradise city of Durban, with his pretty blonde wife, and
among valued friends, came here to march through the night and
the storm is incomprehensible. He could have led the operation
comfortably, as did the high Belgian officers, from a headquarters
far behind the lines, or at least from a comfortable vehicle or well-
equipped quarters in abandoned villas.
‘But he did not do this. He was always out in front and showed
less mercy to himself than to his soldiers. Perhaps it was because
this wild band of adventurers, drinkers and similar ilk loved him,
although he often treated them like dogs. To the Belgians he was
a mystery and magnificent.’
The book was first published by Partners in Publishing in 2018.
It is an authoritative work of 320 pages and includes 200
references, an index, seven maps and a family tree. In addition
it has 89 photographs on an extra 28 pages. The ISBN number is
9780620798617 and the recommended retail price is £20, and it’s
available from all good book retailers.
A DIFFERENT WORLD
Whilst Mike’s story, as admirably told by Chris, relates to a very
specific moment in time, in a place both geographically and
physically removed from many of today’s conflict zones, I am
certain that it’s one that will resonate with many of you whose
E:
By 31 December 1964, Mike had had enough of the horror and
wanted no more of the ‘damnable country’. But Mobutu made all
sorts of promises, and on 3 January Mike flew to Durban for two
weeks’ leave and to consider his options.
‘Then,’ Mike said, ‘Horton (a CIA officer in South Africa) phoned.
He did not like me, and had rapped me on the knuckles for writing
to him on an earlier occasion as a result of my contact with Don
Rickard. Now I was well known, and he said he had something
terribly important to discuss with me, and kindly asked me to put
an evening aside. He came to Durban and took Phyllis and I out to
dinner. I told him I had had enough (of the Congo). He said, “God,
no, no, no, we must change all this. We need you.”
‘Three days later, he came back to me. He said, “I have been
told to tell you you can name your price. We need you today. You
may need us one day”. Those were his exact words. I asked for
$10 000 which was nothing really. I agreed to go back. They kept
their side and I kept mine. They produced aircraft, fast boats, etc.
That’s what made it possible for me to do it all.’
The Americans regarded the Congo as the key domino in
central Africa; they feared that if the Congo fell to the Soviet Union,
its many neighbours would also become vulnerable. As the CIA’s
station chief in Leopoldville, Larry Devlin, later wrote, this would
give the Soviets an ‘extraordinary power base in Africa. Control of
the Congo would also give the Soviet Union a near monopoly on
the production of cobalt, a critical mineral used in missiles and
many other weapons systems, since the Congo and the USSR were
the world’s main suppliers of the mineral. Such a scenario would
put the United States’ own weapons and space programs at a
severe disadvantage.’ Clearly, the stakes were too high for the
Americans.
Now it was time for action again. Mike called his campaign
to take the key towns to the north Operation White Giant – after
the rebel jungle-drummers who referred to 5 Commando as the
‘White Giants’. We see the pirate in Mike when we read in Congo
Mercenary, ‘Once more I was faced with the apparently insoluble
problem of transport. I had gathered every available vehicle from
far and wide and lined them up on the barrack square. They were
a sorry sight. I paraded the men. “Gentlemen,” I said, “there lies
your transport for the campaign. (Get those) vehicles ready to fight
and travel a distance of 1000 kilometres. Beg, borrow or steal,
but get them on the road. The alternative is marching, carrying
everything on your backs!”’
About 250 men from 5 Commando struck out from Bunia on
15 March 1965. North of Mahagi, Mike led a force of 120 of his
men plus ‘The Black Watch’ (100 guides and scouts from a nearby
town) on foot from Ambesi to Aru, a distance of some 50 km. Their
twin targets were the important town of Aru and the nearby Esebi
mission which was now a rebel training centre.
Hans Germani recalled how that night, the column advanced
on foot. ‘Hoare was in his best mood as “nothing is as nice as a
good march”. Then, the sky opened. A wall of water fell down on
us. In pouring rain we ran into a village, but the rebels had fled.
We pressed into the abandoned houses. Everything was dripping
wet. Hoare allowed three hours’ rest. The freezing men fell to the
ground as if dead and slept soundly.
‘A few started a fire and somehow we found we had a large pot
of hot tea. “One recognises a good English troop,” the lieutenant-
colonel proclaimed, “by the speed with which it manages to make
hot tea under the most difficult conditions”.
‘We lay on the ground side by side. The thoroughly soaked
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