Fighting Men of Rhodesia ep45 | Steve Edwards 1st talk

Welcome to a series of interviews with the Fighting Men of Rhodesia as Hannes Wessels & I try to record the war stories of these outstanding warriors.
The Rhodesian forces produced some of the finest fighting soldiers and airmen of the era and Steve Edwards, who served with Rhodesian National Park and Wildlife Management as well as the Selous Scouts as a reservist, is one of those men.
If you wish to obtain the book by Mike Bromwich mentioned in this video please click on this link www.bromwich.uk...
For those who wish to obtain Hannes Wessels' books please check out:
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Or check out his blog at:
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For excellent Rhodesian cammo clothing please contact:
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There is an initiative to raise money for Zimbabwe's trapped pensioners, it's entitled "Portraits of Rhodesians in charcoal" www.facebook.c...
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[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

If you wish to obtain the book by Mike Bromwich mentioned in this video please click on this link www.bromwich.uk.com/

[@grichgrich2307]

Thank you for the link to purchase the book.

[@russellfulton6935]

Excellent interview with a true Rhodesian professional and with typical Rhodie humility. Really, really enjoyed listening to Steve. Respect. Salute.

[@lizwemketiwa8174]

I have this book and a profound peace of work! I am happy that my late father Zeph Muketiwa was part of this great remarkable journey!

[@rorytomlinson8527]

A most interesting interview Steve.

[@simonsparks5738]

Thanks Steve.

[@TheBushmanmike]

I was at School with Richard and his brother. Mukumbura and the "fence" huge memories with Grey's Scouts. Lost a horse to a mine that was washed under the fence onto our side in a flooded area. Another fantastic interview, many thanks.

[@juliansteyn4272]

PTC and ESC linesmen were often at risk during the war. Hats off to everyone that did their share to keep the country running and thriving irrespective of the risk and personal threat. Pioneer blood runs thick and strong.

[@geoffreyblyth6462]

Excellent interview from an amazingly experienced and humble man. Well done and SALUTE to you Steve.

[@jimschneeberger3385]

This series keeps getting better and better. Good seeing you again Steve, thanks for sharing. Stay safe. Jim

[@marklabrum2440]

Thanks for a fantastic series guys, I am really enjoying it. I served in the Rhodesian Armoured Car Regiment in 1979 and spent some time at Chirundu, which is not far from Mana Pools. Interesting times, and I loved the bush and there was a lot of game around that whole area also at Kariba. Keep up the good work, the real history must be recorded.

[@markdening9549]

You may think, ' its only parks and wildlife ' BUT watch this , its amazing....typical of the Rhodesian war effort.

[@MichaelMoyo-pt9mz]

Excellent recall and experience,I wonder if this is the same Steve I know via M.Pullen ex Mayor Vic.Falls?

[@wpfilms2]

Thank you. These interviews are interesting. I grew up during the 70s is Harare and my father was a mine sweeper in the army. Sadly he later passed away of cancer in his 40s and I never had the chance to discuss the war an adult.

[@sherbornecars4064]

Another outstanding contribution to the series. Good to see a variation to include National Parks.

[@FortuneZer0]

I got a "Rhodesian Safari on sound" LP by WAL records. The Foreword on the back side is written by A. T. Inglesby Director of Tourism. Script: Ian Dixon Music: Sam Sklair Narration: Victor Mackleson Cover Design: Neil Peterson Recorded at the Studio of Manley van Niekerk Recording engineers: Ian Crewe & David Challen Would there be an interest if I record it for youtube?

[@van5695]

Yes, most definitely!

[@fraseredkins2509]

Most excellent talk.

[@scallywag9392]

Graham Witshire, what a splendid fellow! My great friend from Oriel Boys High School... RIP my good buddy, sorely missed!

[@rayshankland5953]

What a great interview. Thanks Steve & Hannes.

[@clivemidlane8152]

Brilliant interview. Well done Steve and Hannes. Very informative 👏👏

[@karlrandall6346]

Such an interesting interview.....the National parks were and probably still are the most important guardians of the wildlife resource Zim needs to cherish.....as a kid I was so proud of our National parks and was privileged in 84 during the stock counting season to go around Gonarezhou with friends of the then Warden (an Olympic Discus thrower for Zim ...great bloke). Your stories of the bush Sir I'm sure could go on an on and keep us riveted....many thanks and would love to hear more from you

[@pquirk7008]

What an awesome interview. I have watched most of them now, and it has always been about the SAS Scouts RLI, and yet we have a fantastic game ranger teaching us all

[@jandejong5307]

Another part of the excellent series: well done to Hannes and Steve. Keep it up, much appreciated.

[@rhodesia1578]

Fantastic interview with Steve Hannes.. thanks very much for coming on board Steve and sharing your experiences and stories. You guys from the national parks were the untold soldiers of the war . Your bush skills are amazing. I know mana well and recall the areas you have mentioned . Beautiful part of the country... Gods country they say ! Garden of eden !!! Humble man with great compassion and dedication to the wildlife! Much respect ✊ ! Take care ! Look forward to hearing more from you Steve in the future!

[@alastairhenderson6709]

Billy Howels - that name rings a bell. He had served in my unit - BSAP Support Unit - prior to joining Parks. I think his Mum used to own or train racehorses. Also had a Dave Winhall in my BSAP recruit squad. Believe he might be the same as mentioned in your talk - he still lives in Zim. near Chirundu.

[@backyardprojects9945]

Another great interview Hannes and John. Plz more fighting women and perhaps ZIPRA & ZANLA if possible. Did you two ever imagine just how popular this series was going to be? I don't think we the viewers will ever let you retire...

[@geoffreydean8433]

Great Interview

[@pauldoveton2980]

You guys did a fantastic job.

[@tightcamper]

Those TR28s were very good radios. Simple and effective if frequency agility was not required. They continued to be used well into the 80s.

[@Cammoyoung]

Great Interview Steve, Hats-Off to you Sir. Another great Podcast John/Hannes, thank you.

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@alantownsend8022]

Some great Umtali men in Parks as well as others of course. Ollie Coltman was same year, John Stevens and the Fynn brothers. All the Game Dept men were brave and imparted great bush skills to the fighting men.

[@hudsonchalmers6504]

Great guys

[@mkuluclive3783]

Hannes, I am waiting for your interview with Leon Varley .Another possibility is ex RAR Lt.Graham Gardner.

[@darylthomson9020]

Another fantastic interview. Thank you.

[@umwzhills999]

Thank you, remember Billy well. Please could you mention our “rat packs” at some point, and the “comforts for the troops” food drops.

[@cyberphox1]

Isn’t the song ‘it’s a long way to mukumbura’ about this area? I remember hearing that played on the radio when I was just a little squack

[@Toncor12]

that song covered a long period of time in the war and although it applied to areas north and NNE of salisbury, every troopie adopted the theme for their own area.

[@andredevilliers4261]

Great interview. Where is Dave Schammel today?

[@fraseredkins2509]

May I suggest Dave Westerhout as a talk.Olympic shottist and Commonwealth athlete and soldier.?

[@rossitherhodie5659]

Great Interview Thanks

[@hermitzl6494]

Good afternoon sir, I am a historian in the US who through your podcasts have found a great admiration for what you guys did in Rhodesia and the sacrifices that you all made for your country and each other. I am very grateful that Mr Wessels has produced the books that he has because they are helping me to learn and understand about the time better. That being said, there is a lack of knowledge and material available in the US about Rhodesia, I looked up some of the other books about people that were mentioned such as Mr Reid-Daly or Mr Croukamp but they may as well be out of print here in the states. Is there anywhere you recommend or know that may have books from these other authors that ship to the states? I might be looking in the wrong spot and I would like to know more about the RLI, RAR, Selous Scouts, and even more history about Rhodesia and South Africa. You and Mr Wessels stories have grabbed me and I have bought his books which are excellent and a few others from other authors that he and you have interviewed. Thankyou very much and please keep this podcast up as long as possible. These stories must be told. I feel they are as valuable to History as our own Vietnam War Veterans stories. Thankyou from the US

[@gordonshaw5381]

I am the author of Choppertech about Fireforce operations in the Rhodesian war from a gunners perspective. There is a Facebook page or you could contavy Mimi on [e-mail]. Hannes interviews me in this series.

[@keithchisnall]

Choppertech is a most remarkable book filled with amazing stories and facts well worth the read

[@hermitzl6494]

@@gordonshaw5381 Thankyou sir I will be in contact.

[@Toncor12]

@@hermitzl6494 Hermit, please contact me at [e-mail] as I have a large collection of military books on Rhodesia. I can give you a list of all of them and help you find them too.

[@hermitzl6494]

@@Toncor12 Thankyou very much sir, I will be in contact

[@joejoe809]

Great Stories ..

[@adamvanderriet9669]

Awesome!!!

[@scallywag9392]

Hannes and John, please check that your database hasn't been hacked. I found a weird reply to my post on Graham Wiltshire, some Victor Castro fellow

[@larsandreasrisy4402]

I really like listening to these talks,i find the stories quite intresting and exciting. I'm alllways looking forward to the next release😊 Keep up the good work 👍😊

[@umwzhills999]

Sherbet guys thank you yet again.

[@alanbstard4]

I think the M60 grenade was a Yugoslavian ( then iron curtain ) produced ordinance

[@basilpreston4164]

Sapper Basil Preston, Doug Christiani and Selous Scout Ant White were choppered to the land-mine Rhino vehicle blast (January 1974) where Richard Eilwood (sp) had his feet seriously injured as he was standing outside of the Rhino above the petrol tank. Richard was National Parks and was paying the National Parks game staff at Hunting camp C/D. Richard had offered SAP camp staff a ride back to their camp; as these SAP were mostly kitchen staff and were always moaning about something, so their Major had sent them out on a patrol, as punishment. Hence why the Rhino was full up. All had to be casevaced. 3x Chopper trips, and the main cook, who was always moaning the loudest was choppered out with the last flight, (at last light) as it was thought that he was shamming his injury; it turned out that he was the worst injured with his back being broken, and Richard ended up with a foot being amputated. Both sappers and Ant White spent the night ambushing the Rhino vehicle. Next morning, Sapper Basil Preston found the tandem TMH 46 mine, disguised in an elephant foot print.

[@fraseredkins2509]

Something on the Pookies would be of wide intetest

[@benwinter2420]

Its an interesting thing . . we could track to an extant . . but others were better

[@alantownsend8022]

Worked 2 ways sometimes we were tracked by them and had to use anti tracking skills.

[@MOOSEDOWNUNDER]

Tough job. No doubt about it.

[@Blackmoses2]

So zipra actually fought the war.

[@terrybyrne3988]

Who is the couple at 2:06?

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Cliff and Wendy Freeman

[@terrybyrne3988]

@@fightingmenofrhodesia thanks for the feedback. Look very much like my son-in-law's mother and late father but not them.