Fighting Men of Rhodesia ep220 | AC Roger Finch | Paratroop Despatcher

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[@gillmolony6781]

Roger, you and your mates are just so courageous. What would we have done without you and our amazing troops. We salute and thank you all.

[@calummackenzie1797]

I had a mate of mine in Support Commando who on a Fireforce jump was the 11th guy out the Dak. When he went passed the 1st guy, he knew he was in trouble, looked up & saw that he had a line over the top of his chute. Said it looked like Dolly Parton's bra 😂😂😂. Creamed in & landed flat on his arse. Bruised the bottom of his spine & arrived at Andrew Fleming paralysed from the waist down. He was in at the same time as my shoulder op & l was pushing him one handed around Andrew Fleming in a wheelchair. When l returned 3 days later to visit another wounded mate of mine l saw him walking with a stick as the swelling around his spine had subsided. Tough buggers the RLI. Another great interview Tony

[@rog5906]

Glad to hear that he was recovering. I always took it personally if there was any problems as consequences were serious.

[@calummackenzie1797]

@@rog5906 from what l remember Roger he was quite stoic about the whole thing & didn't appropriate blame to anyone. I think he was just glad that he was alive. Of course we took our medication with copious amounts of Shumbas which were smuggled in by visitors much to the disapproval of the Matron 😂😂😂 I've never known so many clinking flower arrangements

[@rog5906]

That's a classic recovery !! The guys always got plenty of support@@calummackenzie1797

[@Toncor12]

Thanks Callum :) Tony B

[@fraseredk7433]

How interesting. Overcoming fear is of course the hallmark of courage. Good interview.

[@gertm6795]

I never had the pleasure of being involved in similar experiences like these apart from the odd PRAW flights to Bright Lights. It was a real pleasure listening to this Roger as I never had buddies with any of this knowledge, training or experience that we could swing the lead over beers just chatting. Much later in Life, I did have the sheer pleasure of enjoying many low-level flights (absolutely love it!), mostly in the Cessna 206's. Cheers Mates, Keep well.

[@kenporonin1]

Outstanding conversation and information presented..... thank you gentlemen....!

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikenorton3294]

Well done guys. Finding a side of great interest to us non meat bombs.

[@annaliedupreez9488]

Very interesting stories and an excellent storyteller. Looking forward to Part 2.

[@jakeybear5452]

Just Brilliant...can't wait for part 2 👍👍

[@sonsofthesilentage994]

Absolutely fascinating

[@Toncor12]

Another amazing character, well done Roger!! :)

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Thanks to you Tony for this one!

[@rog5906]

Thank you but it's really how Rhodesia molded us all.

[@codepuncher]

Roger we all remember you tearing through the streets of Bulawayo, If memory is right it was on your Yamaha 350 ? I was an appy in the railways toolroom. We all loved your old man Jimmy as he always found time to help us youngsters. He wore an apron and had tree trunks for legs, he cycled to work each day. Great man.

[@rog5906]

Thank you for the message, yes a Yamaha 350 I was crazy about bikes, when I eventually calmed down just a bit I started road racing in SA and then over to the Isle of Man to race the TT. Dad was a really great guy Thank you !

[@rog5906]

If you look in the background you will see photos of Dad when he was a top cyclist with framed certificates presented for breaking records.

[@codepuncher]

@@rog5906 Wonderful. The pic looks like road racing, Not sure when Callies cycle track was built but I can imagine your dad has something to do with that venue. Perhaps if you guys haven`t cut part 2 yet, you could mention your dad again. After all good Rhodesian men were built from great Rhodesian parents.

[@rog5906]

Thanks Will Callies I think was built early 1930's as I have one of his photo's from around that time. A special thing happen the other year when I eventually sold the family home that Mom and Dad had built before I was born in morningside. Had to go up to Byo to sign papers and the Lawyer says as we sit down " today I'm excited. I am going to meet Jimmy Finch !" He looks around and says where is Jimmy ? I said no that is my Dad he looks at me and says But youre not black ! I explained that Dad was a cyclist who raced road and track at Callies he had a massive black following who cheered whenever he came onto the track. A black woman in the crowd had a baby one day and he was named Jimmy Finch not Jimmy Finch Ndlovu just straight Jimmy Finch. That child grew up to be the famous Jimmy Finch soccer star of Africa ! This lawyer was a soccer player for Zimbabwe Saints. Well I o special treatment that day thanks to Dad !@@codepuncher

[@codepuncher]

@@rog5906 That`s hilarious.

[@SeanFinland]

Thanks Rodger and Tony.

[@gill5453]

Thanks! Enjoyed this.

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Glad to hear it!

[@robertbushney6393]

Brilliant interview Rog looking forward to your second interview. Cheers Les.😊

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Very soon!

[@rog5906]

Hi Les you Skabanger !!! Oopie lo Sadza Whena

[@nathanmiller6051]

Thanks for sharing your story Roger! interesting and educational a military history lesson indeed! Tony, what more can be said, a master class! excellent job! What a wonderful humble personality, I'm sure you could have done anything you wanted to in the media field had you wanted to, in any decade, thanks again guys! Brilliant job! 🙏 sorry for writing a book haha 😄

[@Toncor12]

My A1 fan, thank you my buddy, much appreciated.

[@nathanmiller6051]

@@Toncor12 👍🙏

[@pamberinehondo9447]

You were lucky being called “Barrel “. Did my course in Bloemfontein and I got called “Tempe Post Bag” 😂

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Hahaha!

[@allanisted2733]

Cheers Roger

[@mazambaan]

That was terrific...🥃😎

[@sadzasnake1755]

Intake 163 the biggest intake Rhodesia ever had.

[@charlieking-williams9725]

Too Correct... Washed the Shirt for a week to get rid of the Smell... 😂😂😂😂😂 Shuwa, thank you Men for another Lekker interview... Cheers 🍻 and Respect...

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

💯

[@mtkoslowski]

I’d like to nominate Ian Douglas for you to get in touch with. He was also a parachute instructor at New Sarum. I understand that he lives in South Africa.

[@Toncor12]

Are you able to ask him on our behalf boet? Tony B

[@mtkoslowski]

@@Toncor12 Sorry friend, I haven’t spoken to the man since 1979. He’s pretty big into sport skydiving though.

[@rog5906]

Yes I remember Ian well from those days

[@Toncor12]

@@rog5906 contact details?

[@Toncor12]

@@mtkoslowski that's the problem we have boet, loads of people recommending people but how do we contact them? I will try on FB.

[@mccallan2798]

55:02 "Very expensive...." What price to save one Rhodesian soldier???

[@Toncor12]

You misunderstood my comment. I was saying how many men and ammo and fuel and hunters and daks and helicopters it sometimes took to kill one terr. I was not referring to the value of one of our soldiers.

[@rog5906]

I do feel that you misunderstood Tony. Yes he did say that But we all knew that the cost of war was a toll on all but the country didn't spare cost to protect and look after all. Tony was mentioning that but not in as many words

[@isaymymind1727]

@@Toncor12 Don't be afraid to say Terorist.. yes they were and they are terrorising such a well built country.

[@isaymymind1727]

I will buy myself an old castle in France, renovate it and name it Rhodesia. You are all welcome to visit.

[@gordonross160]

Thanks Tony, Roger great to see you again. It's amazing through it all we only have good memories of those days.

[@rog5906]

Hey Gordon hope all is well with you ! You are so right only Good memories, I think so much to do with it was very one helped everyone. Adversity brought us all closer. Scary memories was being on Hefer field at break time with you and someone else throwing a javelin at each other from one side to the other of the field!

[@Toncor12]

Cheers boet (Tony B)