
Comes with bonus DVD and other items.
For other Books & DVD's on The R.L.I. .....

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At last! the history
of the Rhodesian Light Infantry.
We’ve
seen the stories of the more ‘glamorous’ Selous Scouts,
the SAS and the Rhodesian Air Force, but very little about the
RLI, often underrated, but arguably one of the most effective counter-insurgency
units of all time. This was the unit that brought the ‘Fireforce’ concept
to the world’s attention—the devastatingly ruthless
airborne envelopment and annihilation of a guerrilla enemy. Dubbed “The
Killing Machine” by Charles D. Melson, chief historian of
the US Marine Corps, the RLI was a veritable ‘foreign legion’ with
over 20 diverse nationalities serving in her ranks.
The RLI, a truly international airborne battalion,
comprised of over 20 nationalities, fought the bitter Zimbabwean ‘bush
war’ for 15 years, against the overwhelming tide of communist-trained
guerrillas. Kill rates don’t win wars, but during its brief
19-year history, it is estimated that the RLI accounted for between
12,000 and 15,000 enemy guerrillas, for the loss of 135 men. RLI
soldiers were recipients of four Silver Crosses and 42 Bronze Crosses
of Rhodesia. An RLI trooper holds the world record for operational
parachute descents – a staggering 73 operational jumps – most
under 500 feet!
A glossy coffee-table, pictorial format with
hundreds of colour photos, maps, rolls, honours and awards. It
is not intended as a definitive history but, with more of a classic ‘scrapbook’ feel,
the presentation attempts to capture the essence of this fine unit—what
it was like to be a troopie, one of the ‘ouens’. We
have accessed a host of unique, previously unpublished photos and
illustrative material and many former RLI members have embraced
the project, generously contributing photos, memorabilia and anecdotes.
Ian Smith has written his tribute in the front and the foreword
is by the last CO, Lieutenant-Colonel Charlie Aust.
Comes with a copy of the DVD The
Saints.& Rhodesia The War Years.
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