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Hannes Wessels

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We Dared to Win: The SAS in Rhodesia Kindle Edition

by Hannes Wessels (Author), Andre Scheepers (Author, Contributor) Format: Kindle Edition

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A memoir from a Special Forces fighter about his experiences in the Rhodesian War and how combat has shaped his life.

Andre Scheepers grew up on a farm in Rhodesia, learning about the bush from his African childhood friends, before joining the army. A quiet, introspective thinker, Andre started out as a trooper in the SAS before being commissioned into the Rhodesian Light Infantry Commandos, where he was engaged in fireforce combat operations. He then rejoined the SAS. Wounded thirteen times, his operational record is exceptional, even by the tough standards that existed at the time.

He emerged as the SAS officer par excellence—beloved by his men, displaying extraordinary calm, courage, and audacious cunning during a host of extremely dangerous operations. Here, Andre writes vividly about his experiences, his emotions, and his state of mind during the war, and reflects candidly on what he learned and how war has shaped his life since.

In addition to Andre’s personal story, this book reveals more about some of the other men who were distinguished operators in SAS operations during the Rhodesian War.

“Andre was the best of the best and the bravest of the brave.” —Capt. Darrell Watt, ex-SAS and subject of A Handful of Hard Men

Print length

366 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Casemate
Publication date

April 19, 2018
File size

21892 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“It is a book that left me breathless, angered and saddened. It is a book about soldiers fighting a war they were not allowed to win; a war to save a country from itself. It is a book of immense bravery and sacrifice against incredible odds. It is a book that proves that some men are born to become warriors, others to become heroes. Only a select few are born to be both.”
Lt. Colonel Eeben Barlow, ex-32nd Battalion and Chairman of Executive Outcomes

“If you have read Hannes Wessels's A Handful of Hard Men - among the best books to emerge on guerilla warfare in South Africa in recent times, then We Dared to Win will not disappoint. Working with Andre Scheepers - an outstanding SAS operator during the Rhodesian War - they have pulled together another remarkable panoply of events that ultimately changed history throughout South Africa. Indeed, these events are gripping, incisive and very well done!”
Al J. Venter, author and war correspondent

“Andre was the best of the best and the bravest of the brave.”
Captain Darrell Watt, ex-SAS

About the Author

Hannes Wessels was born in 1956 in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) but grew up in Umtali on the Mozambican border. As a boy, holidays were spent with Game Department rangers; time on safari in Mozambique with the late Wally Johnson was a big influence on him. Wessels also grew to know Robert Ruark whose love of Africa, its people, politics and the written word left a lasting impression. He saw action in the Rhodesian bush war before acquiring a law degree which he chose not to use. He has hunted big game in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania in a 20-year career. In 1994 he was severely gored by a wounded buffalo which almost cost him his life. While no longer directly involved in hunting, he is part-owner of a lodge and game ranch in Zambia on the Zambezi and remains keenly interested in all matters relating to African wildlife and conservation. He has published Strange Tales from Africa in the USA, a collection of anecdotes from his hunting days. He is also a syndicated writer for Outdoor Life in the United States and is currently writing a history on the Rhodesian SAS. He is married to Mandy and has two daughters, Hope and Jana, and lives in Darling in the Western Cape of South Africa.

After a childhood on a farm in the Rhodesian bush, Andre Scheepers joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry commandos, followed by the SAS in 1974. In the thick of the action during the Rhodesian Bush War he was wounded on 12 occasions. Turning down an opportunity to go into the British SAS, he elected instead to join a seminary and later became a priest. A true leader, beloved by his men, his calmness in extreme danger coupled with his ability to think his way out of tight corners made him the quintessential SAS officer.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07FKS6FC7
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Casemate (April 19, 2018)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 19, 2018
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 21892 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 366 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #194,039 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #9 in History of Southern Africa
- #20 in Biographies of the Army
- #105 in Colonialism & Post-Colonialism

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With roots in Africa going back over 300 years Hannes Wessels was born in 1956 in what was then Salisbury in Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) but grew up in Umtali on the Mozambique border. As a young boy school holidays were spent with Rangers in the Rhodesia Game department but time in his early teens on safari in Mozambique with the late Wally Johnson were a big influence. During this time Wessels met Robert Ruark, whose love of Africa, its people, politics and the written word left a lasting impression.

After leaving school he joined the RLI (Rhodesian Light Infantry) and saw action in the bush- war waged against the forces of Robert Mugabe’s Patriotic Front before acquiring a law degree and working as a prosecutor for a brief period of time. Leaving law, he hunted big game professionally in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania in a twenty-year career. In 1994 he was severely gored by a wounded buffalo which almost cost him his life.

He has published ‘Strange Tales from Africa’ in America which is a collection of stories about people and places encountered by him in the course of his hunting days. His biography of PK van der Byl (former Rhodesian Defense Minister), ‘P.K. van der Byl; African Statesman’, includes a revised history of the Rhodesian political imbroglio. His first book on the SAS and the Rhodesian war titled ‘A Handful of Hard Men’ is rated by many to be the best book written on the conflict and the political context in which it was fought. He then wrote, ‘We Dared to Win’ with Andre Scheepers and has just published ‘Men of War’ to complete a trilogy on the fight to save Rhodesia.

He has also written and published ‘Guns, Golf and Glory’ about the great golfers that came out of Rhodesia and later Zimbabwe, which he co-wrote with close friend and former world number one golfer, Nick Price.

He is married to Mandy and has two daughters; Hope and Jana and lives in Darling in the Cape Province of South Africa. While no longer directly involved in hunting he retains business interests in this sector and remains keenly interested in all matters relating to African wildlife and conservation.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

576 global ratings

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Mark Gaska

Confirmation of my suspicions

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2022

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As an American from the same generation as most of these men I recall my suspicions of false reporting coming out of Rhodesia and then Zimbabwe in the late 1970s thru the late 1990s. My cynicism suspicions of the American Press were vindicated with my readings of Hannes Wessels books. The other 'A Few Hard Men" told more of a story of bravery while Andre Scheepers' account seem more of after-action reports with refection and analysis add in. Both books hit a home run. 'We Dared to Win' illustrates that a strong case be made that the Rhodesian SAS and Selous Scouts were among the best operators in the world. I drew many similarities to reading of Americans SF (MAC-SOG and Seals) in Vietnam. The exception being the Rhodesians were literally fighting for their own land and country.

Allow me to become philosophical for a moment. The betrayal and abandonment of free world principles to Marxist backed belligerents is the same problem we face today, whether it is in the world at large or of our own countries. Those brave Rhodesians provide us a glance what to expect when western nations fool themselves into believing ludicrous notions of reparations and wokeness. They (our leaders) continually cast knowledge and common sense aside for aggrandizement and delusional virtue.

I would offer this to those men reading this review and to all who still feel betray and bitter 40+ years later. You Dared to Win, and You Did. As to your previous inept leaders and traitors may I suggest the following final point borrowed from the book quoting Theodore Roosevelt. "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure ...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy or suffer much, because they live in a grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat". Andre and Hannes thanks for reminding men of common sense of that.

15 people found this helpful

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M. Laney

Good read

Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019

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This was an excellent collection of experiences from the SAS operators in Rhodesia during the Bush War of the 1970s. I think it gave a good picture of what the soldiers were going through during that war. These were men who were doing what they could to defend their country.

I recommend this if you want to get an understanding of what those soldiers were experiencing. It is not a full military history of the war but a collection of memories from several soldiers during the conflict.

6 people found this helpful

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Steven

Good

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2023

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Good

One person found this helpful

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Boerseun

Brutally True and Sad

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2021

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Wonderful book that is so sad how soldiers that gave beyond everything was stitched up by the Politicians in the end and all for nothing. All that served in those times like myself gave up a lot to do what had to be done and all for nothing.
The worst part in South Africa, as was the case in Rhodesia was the actual winners - the Communists, aided by their British allies within Intelligence. Percy Sillitoe who blundered through the Guy Burgess and Maclean blunders as head of MI5 before working for Oppenheimer in South Africa.
The Rhodesians had their nemesis with Ken Flower and off course Genl. Walls was so impressed with tea with the Queen Mother that he ended off doing bugger all when he could.
Good men, Professional Soldiers, sold down the drain like dogs. Shame on this new world establishment.

8 people found this helpful

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Simon Zealot

This is history very few have the slightest understanding of...

Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2020

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This is an absolutely riveting story which escapes the view of 99.9% of people in the US who have a completely America-centric and ultra-limited view of issues outside of our experience. On top of that, “We Dared to Win” will be dismissed by most because of issues with apartheid, etc.
I only stumbled across the history of Rhodesia recently and am embarrassed for not knowing anything written about here, especially since my Marine Corps time was just after events covered in this masterpiece. Was blown away by the pace of operations the Rhodesians maintained and the very long odds they faced. Anyone who thinks Zimbabwe is now better off is not a serious thinker. These men, while they were able to operate, held the line against communism in Southern Africa. I would have hated to fight against them.

27 people found this helpful

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David H

Comes in handy to know first hand what you are reading about.

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2019

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Interesting read but I find when a writer is talking in the first person it becomes very self opinionated, which is probably only natural. Anxiously awaiting the second part of my order to see how the two books factually compare with each other. Be interested to know why one book arrived in a flash and the second has taken well over a month to get here.
Thanks anyway folks... DH

One person found this helpful

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Steve Bowers

Sacrificing the good in pursuit of the perfect.

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2020

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An imperfect democracy becomes a Socialist hellhole. Coming soon to a city near you. Finely trained elite- spartans all- finally overwhelmed by semi-trained mass's.

One person found this helpful

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Me

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2023

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Awesome book about a conflict we never hear about.

3 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

DT

Great Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 8, 2023

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If you are interested in African history this is well worth a read.

Paul Horncastle

Good informative read

Reviewed in Canada on August 30, 2019

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Wonderfully written, kept my interest.

Ger

Interesting

Reviewed in Australia on May 11, 2023

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Very good read.

i phone

Hats off, great accounts

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2021

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As a retired soldier, I have always had an interest in the Rhodesian bush war and was a firm supporter for Ian Smith and its people's fighting to keep a country. I'm reminded of a couple of close friends who left our Battalion in the early 70s, they almost convinced me to go with them and a part of me still regrets not taking on that great adventure. I saw one of the guys on a news report after a notable fire-fight which saw 34 T's killed; so I'm glad they got the adventure they were after while the rest of us staged on in NI. I have read several books and accounts, this one is first class and I take my hat off to the courage and daring do of those who fought this war.

Finally, I am massively embarrassed to this day about the back stabbing and subterfuge of the British Government who jumped into bed with Mugabe and sold out the country, it was shameful, the bread basket of Africa reduced to dust and utter corruption while lost souls of its white tribe were scapegoats for the despot, slaughtered and scattered to the winds. My heart goes out to you all and best wishes to the Rhodesian military veterans one and all. A dam good read - thanks

24 people found this helpful

Brian M

A great read for anyone who was involved in the bush war

Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2019

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This is a very interesting read for anyone who was involved in the bush war in Rhodesia . It’s more a selection of short stories depicting sorties and enemy contacts made by the Rhodesian SAS . It highlights the ingenuity and bravery of a band of men who despite their tender age fought bravely for their country .
This book is hardly a novel but was written to maintain a record of the bush war and for that I am grateful to the authors . It is very sad to watch your once vibrant country totally collapse .

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