Rhodesian McClellans and the Greys Scouts

[roy elderkin]

Pat This was part of the elections in 1979, when Rhodesia tried to make up a Govt with the aid of Bishop Abel Muzarawo, another of the African factions. The British Govt sent out officials to monitor the elections, plus British Policeman to see to the Polling stations. We were required to protect the British Police and ensure, the polling stations were not attacked.
The photo is a section of Rhodesian Millitary Police, who I was with, the guy in the light shirt is a regular policeman. It took place in the Kandao TTL, about 100 miles outside of the capital. It was a ter hotbed, who were trying to disrupt the elections, there were some firefights around us and on us, but they could not penertrate our cordons, and a number of ters were killed.

We looked happy because, the elctions were over and we were stood down, to return to our units.

[Pat Holscher]

Pat This was part of the elections in 1979, when Rhodesia tried to make up a Govt with the aid of Bishop Abel Muzarawo, another of the African factions. The British Govt sent out officials to monitor the elections, plus British Policeman to see to the Polling stations. We were required to protect the British Police and ensure, the polling stations were not attacked.
The photo is a section of Rhodesian Millitary Police, who I was with, the guy in the light shirt is a regular policeman. It took place in the Kandao TTL, about 100 miles outside of the capital. It was a ter hotbed, who were trying to disrupt the elections, there were some firefights around us and on us, but they could not penertrate our cordons, and a number of ters were killed.

We looked happy because, the elctions were over and we were stood down, to return to our units.

So the British government participated in that election as well? I didn't know that.

I have it in mind that the one that brought Mugabe to power was arranged through a British mediated effort. I had no idea that there'd been a prior one with some British participation.

It sounds like the polling stations were in fact attacked.

[roy elderkin]

No the cordons were a able to intercept before they could get close enough, those on the outer cordons were. My own cordon was caught in a fire fight between fire force and the ters, we were in the middle so it was heads and bums down at the bottom of the trenches. A number of ters were killed, but the polling went ahead.

[Pat Holscher]

No the cordons were a able to intercept before they could get close enough, those on the outer cordons were. My own cordon was caught in a fire fight between fire force and the ters, we were in the middle so it was heads and bums down at the bottom of the trenches. A number of ters were killed, but the polling went ahead.

Were there two British brokered peace agreements then?

[roy elderkin]

Pat Yes indirectly they used the South Africans to bring us to the peace table. Virtualy everthing we needed either import or export went through SA, by using the SA they pressured them to into cutting us off if we did not agree to their demands. It worked and we had to say yes. If you would like to learn the truth behind all of this I would reccomend the book by Ian Douglas Smith "THE GREAT BETRAYAL" he was the Prime Minister. Ironicaly there is a MPs inquiry into the British Arms Industry. into them supplying arms and equipment to Mugabe for the past 40 years.

[roy elderkin]

Pat I have to appologise my dates are incorrect in 1979 the election of Muzorawa took place, but it was still brokered by the British under Lord Soames. A report after the ections declared it was free and fair, and the report was written by Lord Boyd.It was not acepted by the Carter admin who still stil wanted Mugabe the report was never published. The second election was in 1980, when the Brit police attended the election, I was in error sorry.

[Pat Holscher]

A huge Rhodesian Army photo data base from the "World Armies" Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/world_armi ... 626536407/