ACKER GARY MARTIN Born 1955 in Sacramento California USA. A Corporal in the US Marine Corp and a Vietnam Veteran. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA but was captured on 14.02.76 and was imprisoned for 16 years in San Paolo prison Luanda. He was released along with Gus Grillo in December 1982.
ADAMS-DALE SIMON Captain and part owner of a security firm known as “Controlled Risk LTD”. Along with partner Arish Turlo they spent 8 months in Colombia negotiating with the kidnappers of a Mr. George Curtis, Vice President of Beatrice Foods of America. He was released after 240,000 pounds sterling was paid being carried in 4 suitcases. Both men were arrested and thought to been involved, but was released 6 weeks later.
AIMANN RICHARD Born in Germany Approx. 1953 a staunch anti communist he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
AITKEN DANIEL Served in the Royal Marine Commandos and the Special boat Service with the rank of Captain.
AITKEN KEN Served in the Special Air Service, in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA.
ALBRIGHT CLIFF Born in the USA a civilian pilot, DC 9 veteran with 13,000 hours to his credit. A master parachute rigger, jumpmaster and instructor with over 500 jumps to his name. In1983 he fought in El Salvador.
ARTHUR ED Born in Ohio in the USA, Vietnam Veteran.
ASPIN LESLIE Born in the UK and served in the British RAF. A self confessed double agent. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was also a recruiter along with John Banks. Later he had dealings with Lebanon.
ATHANASIOU JOHN Born 15th April 1938 Istiaia (Greek). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
ATKINS Fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team 14.20.76.
AVES PAUL He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded. He was also at the Massacre at Maquela being one of the firing squad. Col Callan had ordered him to be on the party and to shoot 14 British mercenaries that had been accused of firing on their own men. Knowing that if he refused he would have also been shot by Callan himself.
BACON the III GEORGE WASHINGTON Born 04.08.46 in Biddeford Maine USA. He grew up in Longmeadow Massachusetts where he went to the university. In 1966 he joined the Army and became a distinguished soldier before joining the Special Forces. In 1968 and 1969 he went to Vietnam where he ran reconnaissance missions into North Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. He took a bullet in the shoulder and picked up a swag of medals for his bravery. He was an expert in Vietnamese and could speak Chinese. He personally trained the Montagnards (Laotian) tribe’s people at Konbtum for the FOB2. Taking them out on raids himself. On his return to the US he was discharge and went back to college as a teacher. A few months later he was recruited by the CIA (Christians in Action) as George calls them. He returned to Laos as an adviser operating on the Plain of Jars, later he received the Intelligence Star the CIA’s second highest award. Back in the USA on 04.02.76 he met up with Bart Bonner in an effort to return to Vietnam and help the Vietnamese people, after the American withdrawal. Bacon felt that the US Government and the Congress had betrayed their word of Honour to the people of South East Asia. Bacon and Bonner became very close friends and worked together on a couple of projects. So in December 1975 he flew to Johannesburg and offered his services to the FNLA fighting in Angola but he was turned down. He then went to Lusaka Zambia where he offered his services to Jonas Savimbi’s UNITA faction. This offer was also rejected, possibly because the UNITA leaders suspected Bacon of being a CIA plant, so he flew back to the USA. Finally he got to Angola in early February 1976 and fought for the FNLA. It is debatable as to weather he was still working for the CIA, many believe he was. But after just a couple of weeks along with 5 other Mercenaries he was killed in an ambush. Gary Acker was also in the same Land Rover and was shot in the leg.
According to a statement signed by Gary Martin Acker while awaiting execution in an Angola prison, George Bacon died at 12pm on 14.02.76 at the town of Gbmb during an ambush on there Land rover. After suffering multiple wounds to his chest and abdominal area.
BAFKIN DAVID The American version of John banks, and Californian pilot. He advertised in the press for bored Vietnam veterans seeking Communists to fight, and offered $1200 a month for the pleasure of doing so. Once boasted he could take a thousand former US servicemen to Angola (1976).
BANKS JOHN Born in Aldershot England in 1945, his father was an officer in the Army Medical Corps attached to the airborne forces. So John spent most of his early years in and around Camberley. Close to the Royal Military Academy and the conglomeration of the Army Barracks at Aldershot. Before he had reached the age of 10, he had lived in Egypt and Cyprus in a service community attending service schools.
In 1962 at the age of 17 years he enlisted in the Army at Maida Barracks. On completion of his initial training he was posted to D Company the elite “Pathfinder” unit of the Second Battalion of the Parachute Regiment.
After 4 years in D Company John was transferred to Second Battalion’s Special Patrol Company. A unit specialising in the deep penetration of enemy held territory by small ruthless patrols. It was during this time that John saw action around the world in Aden, Borneo, Cyprus, Malaya and the Trucial Oman States. (Gulf Area).
He claimed he was shot in the stomach in Borneo. In Aden he was shot in the back while carrying a wounded comrade to safety. He was also hit in the face with shrapnel from a Russian Grenade. Because of his injuries in 1968 he was posted to the Parachute Regiment Battle School in Wales, as an unarmed combat instructor.
On 10th June 1969 he was discharged from the Army. John then claims that he applied and was accepted to join the US Army Special Forces. But was released after a few weeks when it was discovered that his brother Roger (the Katangese Mercenary) was believed to be running guns to the Vietcong in the Mekong Delta.
John has also claimed (but it has never been verified) that he was then offered and accepted several missions for the CIA in Europe undertaking 4 trips to smuggle people across the Iron Curtain.
In 1970 John met up with David Sterling (founder of the S.A.S.) (Having been introduced by James Kent), who was running a security firm called “Watchguard”? John has also claimed (though it has never been verified) that he was recruited as member of the “The Hilton Assignment” as a radio operator. A group of 25 mercenaries where to try and release from a Libyan prison a large group of political prisoners, who would then join up with a coup that would be in process to overthrow Colonel Gadhaffi. The raid was to be launched from Italy by boat. There were three attempts to get the raid operational. The first one was made up of 100% English nationality personnel, this the English Government put a stop to not wanting to get involved. The second and third attempts were 100% French nationality personnel. On Sunday the 21.03.71 as the third attempt was being made to start the raid. The Italian security forces stormed on board the “Conquistador X111, as it was about to leave “Trieste Harbour”, picking up the Captain and three French crew members and placed them in prison. After the CIA appealed to the Italian Secret Service and also the British to terminate the assignment. The Captain was charged under the name of Jock Fraser, (could this be an alias). John claims in his book “Wages of War” to have been on board a boat called the “Conquistador 111” when it was impounded in Trieste Harbour (not the Conquistador X111 as claimed in the book “The Hilton Assignment” by Patrick Seale and Maureen McConville). If that were the case, then that would make John Banks the Captain and not the Radio operator as he has claimed (being the only Englishman on board at the time). Also according to Patrick Seale and Maureen McConville a Frenchman called Leon led the second and third attempts, and in Johns book he claims to have been serving under a French leader called Leon. It is possible that John was a member of the First attempt (in October 1970) the one that David Sterling was involved with, because John was working with David at that time. David Sterling was involved with a lot of very high-ranking government members including Sir Alec Douglas-Hume, (Foreign Minister at the time) and he was warned off and told that no British subjects should take part in the raid. The British Government was worried that Colonel Qadhaffi would retaliate against them if the attempt failed. It was for this reason that the second and third attempts used all French Mercenaries. James Kent also took a active part in all three attempts that were made, in fact the first attempt was his plan and he put it into operation, only failing when the arms and ammunition failed to turn up, plus the British government putting a stop to it. It is hard to confirm or deny whether John Banks was connected with the Hilton Assignment or if it is all part of the legends that has build up over a long period of time. With little white lies being believed by some people, when verification can not be made by governments refusing to give details
The CIA had thought Gadhaffi would be sympathetic to the USA. How wrong they were once again. (Read chapter on William Morgan).
After a few weeks in an Italian prison John arrived back in Britain broke. So he started his own bodyguard agency called “Agency Body Guards” which also went broke after just a few months.
He then went to Vietnam were he fought on the opposite side to his brother. Recruited by Watch Guard he arrived in February 1971 in Saigon and then went to Da Nang where he joined a small army of mercenaries, mostly British Ex SAS men. The mercenaries were organised into ten men “killer” groups, and infiltrated into North Vietnam to carry out specific tasks of demolition, sabotage, kidnapping and assassination. One of the assassinations targets being a Red Chinese General. This operation, Banks alleges was financed by the Australian Government.
A further unproved claim by John is that in 1972 he was fighting in Kurdistan for the Kurd Separatist Troops. John and an ex parachute friend led raids across the rugged mountain border. After 4 months his friend was killed, so John returned to Britain and ran a trucking company delivering goods to the Middle East.
In 1975 he ran a Mercenary for hire firm trying numerous schemes but not with a lot of luck, finally ending up with the Security Advisory Services.
Then in 1976 he recruited and sent out over 100 men to Angola to join the FNLA to fight the Cubans even visiting briefly himself, but this was another lost cause.
In 1980 he was arrested and charged with obtaining money from an American Diplomat in London. For this he was given two years in prison, but escaped and was recaptured 4 months later.
BANKS ROGER Older brother to John Banks he fought on the Katangese side in the Congo in the early sixties with Belgium born “Black Jack” Schrammes Tenth Commando Unit. He is also believed to have been running guns to the Vietcong in the Mekong Delta.
BARKER DEREK “BRUMMIE” Born in England and served in the parachute regiment. In 1969 along with Paddy McKay went to Tel Aviv for John Banks Security Company. Where they were arrested by MOSSAD for also carrying out snatch raids of Arabs from Lebanon and Jordan. Spent a short time in jail before being deported. Back in England he was arrested and charged with biting off a mans nose during a fight in a pub. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA being recruited by John Banks. He was captured and sentenced to death by firing squad on July 10th 1976. Brummie was unlucky (as he always claimed) to the end. He was placed in front of the firing squad along with the other Mercenaries that had received the death sentence. When the first shot was fired Brummie it seems passed out and collapsed to the ground untouched. The firing continued until all the others were killed. Then as the bodies were being loaded on to stretchers and taken away Brummie sat up and asked what had happened at which point the officer (believed to be a FAPLA Officer) ran over and shot Brummie in the head 3 times. He is buried in Luanda.
BARVAUX Went to Katanga in 1961 during the second battle of Katanga he was put in charge of the town of Kamina.
BASSON FREDDIE He served under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare in the Congo in 1964 for the ANC and was killed.
BAX TIM Was a member of the Rhodesian Sellous Scouts. After the fall of Rhodesia Tim moved to South Africa and became Commanding Officer of the Transkei Regiment.
BAYLISS RAY Served in the Royal Marine Commandos with the rank of Sergeant. Recruited by John Banks to fight in Angola for the FNLA in 1976. He flew to Kinshasa but it is not confirmed if he did make it to Angola or if he returned to England.
BECK KEVIN In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. While on this attempted coup he got drunk on the plane taking the mercenaries to the Seychelles. Upon going through customs he went through the red channel instead of the green no declare. A weapon was found in the bottom of his bag thus started the shoot out in the air terminal by all the other mercenaries who had been on the plane, that led to the failed attempt.
BEKKER Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC was made up to lieutenant.
BELFORD Dr DONALD (MACDONALD ?) A self appointed doctor he was in fact a PT instructor but worked as a medical orderly in Leeds England, he became the English recruiter for the Angolan FNLA working for Holdern Roberto.
BELLOTTE PRINO Born 1st January 1935 Gorsia Italy (Italian). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
BELMUNDO JOSE RICARDO An Angolan and a deserter from the South African feared “Buffalo Battalion” who later exposed this feared Mercenary unit.
BERNADINO FELIX Cuban mercenary, involved in the "Trujillo Conspiracy" plot against Castro.*3
BEST JOHN “GINGER” An alias read John Chownes.
BISHOP PETER .A bodyguard to John Banks and Leslie Aspin during their recruitment of Mercenaries for Angola.
BLACK ANDREW Born in 1955 civilian pilot with no military experience. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. He miraculously survived the Callan organised Maquela massacre after a fellow mercenary said he knew him and he was a friend. He was recruited by John Banks as a Flying Instructor but was sent to the front line instead.
BLACKMORE ROBIN Born 1955 in Watford England and served in the Parachute Regiment. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed, one of the Maquela Massacres victims.
BLAVIER ANDRE A Belgian who boasted of Mercenary service in the Congo. Was recruited by John Banks to go to Angola and fight for the FNLA in 1976. But was taken off the plane by the Belgian police when it stopped to refuel at Brussels Airport and later charged with outstanding offences in that country.
BODDY TONY Born in 1937 in the UK and served in the British Parachute Regiment. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed, being shot in the back. It is rumoured that it was a playback for his part in the Maquela massacre. (He was one of the firing squad). Col Callan ordered 14 of his own Mercenaries to be executed for firing on there own men.
BODENAN FRANCOIS Born approx.1951 a French Agent, he hijacked Moise Tshombe aboard a privately Chartered British Aircraft off the coast of Spain in 1967 (where Tshombe was in Exile) and flew him to Algiers where he was in imprisoned for 2 years. Before being killed after an unsuccessful break out attempt by the French Mercenary Denard. Tshombe’s death was announced 30.06.69. In 1982 Bodenan was brought before a Spanish Court Martial in Palma de Majorca, accused of infringing Moise Tshombe’s human rights and sentenced to 24 years imprisonment.
BOND BOOZY BONZO A South African ex-RAF pilot went to Nigeria in 1967 as a pilot recruited by John Peters. He flew wearing a Muslim praying cap and was reputed to have knocked back a bottle of whisky before reaching the target, somewhere in Biafra. He took great pride in being shot up and was not happy unless his aircraft returned to base looking like a flying sieve. The Nigerian pilots with understandable prudence and flatly refused to fly with him.
BONNER BART US citizen he had once owned a Telephone Answering Service. Served in the US Marine Corp with a tour of duty in Vietnam. Back in the USA he moved to Washington to establish and become the head of Veterans and Volunteers for Vietnam, (VVV) a group of people trying to assist the people of South East Asia now that the American Government had pulled out on the 04.02.76. He met up with George Bacon and an instant friendship was struck up. Both men wanting to go back to South East Asia and fight the NVA, but nothing was to happen. It is rumoured that he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
BORLACE MICHAEL Former RAF pilot he spent 3years from 1975 to 1978 serving Ian Smith’s regime in Rhodesia. Where he had been involved in flying helicopter missions against guerrillas and after that he was signed up by Major Ronald Reid-Dalby to serve in the tough irregular Sellous Scout Force. He latter went on to join KMS (Keeni Meeni Services) based in the Channel Islands and led a small team to Honduras to train and fly missions for the Contras against the Sandinistas Government of Nicaragua. After a falling out with the Americans who were running the operation, the former accusing the later of having a Bay of Pigs mentality, they were soon to pull out.
BOSQUET Went to Katanga in 1961 during the second battle of Katanga between the 5th and 21st of December 1961 he was put in charge of the town of Kongola.
BOTES DES Born approx. 1927 served in the Rhodesian Police Special Branch, before moving to South Africa. Running a Karate school in Johannesburg and at one time holding the South African Championship. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and was involved in the unsuccessful attempted coup on the Seychelles.
BOTES VICTZ LOURONS Born 20 February 1924 Vlakspruit (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
BOTUSCHOFSKY PETER Born approx 1943 a refugee from Juterborg. He attended the ‘Mark Brandenburg’ School (in the Soviet zone). He escaped very fast just after the communist wall went up by swimming through a canal and having a report of his story in the newspapers. He was taught in a communist school but was never a communist. In 1964 he became a member of the 5th Commando unit in the Congo fighting under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare.
BOUVE In 1964 he went to the Congo and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a lieutenant.
BRACCO A Pilot went to the Congo in 1965. In 1967 as a pilot he crash-landed a plane into a lake returning Puren to Schrammes 10th Commando but all on board survived.
BRAHAM DAVE From Kenya went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant, later being made up to lieutenant.
BRAUN ‘KAMIKAZE’ (Read Brown, Johnny possibly the same person) A colourful Czech who had flown for the RAF against the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. Was recruited to fly in a combat role for Biafra in 1968. Carrying out the first raid over Nigeria flying a B-26 ironically one of his former enemies a German pilot called Fred Hertz. Flew Biafra’s second fighter plane a B-25 after Braun’s aircraft became immobilised due to lack of spare parts.
BRIDGE ERIC Born in the UK and served in the Royal Marine Commandos, later he saw action against the Mau Mau in Kenya. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mercenary Mike Hoare for the ANC and obtained the rank of Lieutenant. He was badly wounded in the face and arm, on the very first patrol that Mike Hoare led during the conflict, taking an Airfield just out side Albertville.
BROCK Cyril Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC. He was killed while riding in a truck, and travelling through open countryside when a rebel some hundred yards away
fired a shot at the convoy. By sheer bad luck it hit him in the head. He is buried at Aba where he fell. *2
BRODY ANTONY Fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed at Quibocolo.
BROOKS AUBREY Served in the Rhodesian Sellous Scouts. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. During the assault Brooks was cut off from the main party and wounded. He was left behind when Hoare and most of his men escaped from the Seychelles by hijacking a plane. After wandering around badly bleeding he was captured and over the next couple of days he was very badly beaten. Finally he was taken to hospital and handcuffed to the bed along side Carney who had also been captured. They were treated badly by their guards, so much so that their Doctor refuse to leave there side and in one instance prevented them from being shot. During his trial he was sentenced to death by hanging later it was reduced to 20 years in prison. While in prison a mutiny took place at the prison (17.08.82.). Brooks and his fellow Mercenary prisoners helped the loyal Guards. They were rewarded by being moved to Platte Island, where they were only locked up at nights. During the day being allowed to roam anywhere, finally being released in the summer of 1983 and allowed to fly back to South Africa.
BROOKS BILLY Born in 1954 in London, no military experience a truck driver. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA Being recruited by John Banks. Was killed being one of the victims in the Maquela Massacre that was ordered by Col Callan on his own men.
BROOKS WILLIAM Born in the USA in 1962 he served in the US 82nd Airborne Division as an Artillery Fire Director and saw action in Thailand, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic where he was wounded, leaving the Army in 1966. In 1972 he went to France and joined the French Foreign Legion under the alias of Walter Bride. In the Legion you are not allowed to sign on in your real name. On 23.01.72. at the Legions Headquarters in Bunifacio, Corsica, the home of the 2nd Legion Parachute Regiment he signed on for 5 years. He did not like these early months the whole place was dirty and they were only allowed to wash their cloths twice a week. The discipline was poor and their weapons were dirty and rusty, there was no oil to clean them. The pay was only about 30 to 40 dollars a month, the theories being that if you have no money then you can’t escape. The Legion was very worried about the volunteers trying to desert. In May 1972 he along with all the other recruits had to march 100km north to the town of Cote and the Special Forces School operating in the mountains where he also had to try and learn French. On 09.01.73. Travelling in civilian cloths he was posted to Djibouti in Africa, arriving at the town of Gabode just out side Djibouti on13.02.73. Where he joined the peacekeeping Force “The Exteriors”, located in border forts patrolling along the frontier of Somalia and Ethiopia. A group known as the 13th DBLE (Demi Brigade of the Legion) that numbered 1200 men. He also went to Holl-Holl on a light machine gunners course. In March 1974 he went to Ali-Sabieh 40 km south of Holl-Holl, on another course where he slipped a disc in his back. In February 1975 after recovering he attended a non-commissioned officer’s school at Oueah passing out on Sunday 17.04.75 and was made up to Legion Sous-Officer, rank of Sergeant. Obtaining this rank in under five years is good for the Legion, its considered very fast. He then flew to Marseilles on 26.09.75 where he stopped using his alias name. He also tried unsuccessfully to get the Legion to incorporate American service training ideas into its Force. He left in 19.01.77 feeling rejected and returning home to the USA. Extracts taken from “Merc” by Jay Mallin and Robert K Brown.
BROWN JOHNNY “KAMIKAZE” Real name was Jean Zumbach (read Braun, could be the same person). A Pole Zumbach was a veteran of the polish air forces brief stand against the Luftwaffe at the beginning of World War 11. After his country’s fall he flew in the RAF and was credited with 17 German kills. When the War was over he adopted the name Johnny Brown and flew for hire in France and North Africa. He was recruited to fly for Tshombe in the Congo War, then moved on to Biafra. Coincidentally flying Biafra’s B-25 was a former Luftwaffe pilot, Friedrich Herz.
BROWN ROBERT K Born in Monroe Michigan in the USA on 02.11.32. He served in the Army from October 1954 to September 1957, as an officer in the Intelligence Corp. Upon his release he backed Fidel Castro and had a brief career gun running for him. But after a brief trip to Havana to meet Castro he finally realised that he was and always had been a communist. Betraying all his followers he then set about deposing Castro. Brown also became a very successful journalist and writer on military subjects. After reserve training in 1964 he joined a group getting refugees out of Cuba. And was also involved with a group trying to overthrow the right wing dictatorship in Haiti. In 1968 he rejoined the Army having been kicked out of the special forces a couple of month earlier and went to Vietnam being assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 18th Regiment of the First Infantry Division obtaining the rank of Captain and becoming there intelligence officer. Later commanding the Tong Le Chon Special Forces Camp. He was wounded in an ambush taking 14 fragments from a mortar in his back. Retiring as Lieutenant Colonel Special Forces in January 1985. Dropping back to his writing he establish the very successful Soldier of Fortune magazine, a magazine that is well read by military minded people around the world and is also a contact magazine for personnel looking for that type of work.
BROWNE WILLIAM RICHARD Born in the UK brother to the Tory MP for Torrington in Devon England. Went to the Congo in 1960 as one of the original Mercenaries with the rank of Captain to fight for the Katangese after being recruited by Russell Cargill (The first recruter in the Congo). He commanded a unit called “Compagnie Interationale” Later he also recruited for this unit in South Africa, Rhodesia and Katanga. On the 07.04.61 He was captured along with 30 of his Mercenary friends near Manono by a United Nation Forces made up of Ethiopian troops, after the UN broke an agreement made earlier, that they would divide the town, and each would look after their half. His capture caused a great deal of embarrassment to the British Government because of the connection with his brother. He was expelled from the Congo but kept returning to Katanga from Northern Rhodesia.
BRUNIN An Irish farm boy served in the Queens Irish Guards. Joined the French Foreign Legion in 1972 was trained on the island of Corsica went to Djibouti in Africa where he saw active service.
BRUNSWIJK RONNY Led a Mercenary-Rebel force against the Latin American country of Surinam and its leader Colonel Desire “Desi” Bouterse with the rank of captain (formerly a member of Bouterses bodyguard). Enjoyed some dramatic successes during 1986 thanks in some small measure it would seem to the presents of foreign mercenaries amongst his guerrilla/rebel force.
BUFFKIN DAVID Born in California in the USA he lied about his age to enlist in the Army in 1953, was discovered and kicked out. He then proceeded to enlist fraudulently three more times. He persistently volunteered for Vietnam but was never sent there. His frustration led to trouble during each enlistment, assault and battery, disobeying orders and of going AWOL. Each of his discharges was less than satisfactory.
Became a self styled mercenary recruiter. His idea was to hold files on about 500 mercenary’s, that between them would have all known skills and would serve anywhere in the world.
The war was in Angola so he flew to Africa and made the necessary contacts with the FNLA. Back home he made arrangements and sent out the first five mercenaries’. This was a lost course from the start, realising this too late. He flew back to Africa to get the men out. George Bacon and a Canadian, who were killed, believed to be Douglas Newby nick named “Canada”, Gus Grillo, Gary Acker, who was imprisoned, and Daniel Gearheart who was executed. He was too late the war was over. Back home thinking of away to seek the release of Acker and Grillo. Buffin contacted the Cubans and offered to spy in return for information and help for Acker and Grillo. The Cubans enrolled him and gave him a $1000 for information but would not seek the release of his friends.
He then flew to Kinshasa, (Zaire) for them to spy out the land. Here he spotted two Cubans spies on their way to Rhodesia. So Buffin flew to Rhodesia and told the special branch what he knew. In return the Rhodesians enrolled him with the rank of, “Flight Lieutenant” in the Rhodesian air force.
At about this time it is suspected that he was also working for the CIA, or the FBI. A newspaper article in the Montreal Gazette 13-01-77 finally exposed him. His whereabouts is unknown, but wherever he is he must have a stiff neck from looking over his shoulder.
BURGER Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC was made up to RSM.
BUTCHER BRIAN Served in the British Parachute Regiment. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Is reported to be the man who stood guard over the reluctant British Mercenaries until the moment of their execution by Col Callan. Later he was involved with Leslie Aspin in dealings with the Lebanon.
CABASSO LOUIS Alias Carden, Ex legionnaire 1er REP. In March 77 he was involved with Bob Denard and took part in the Assault on Cotonou.
CALISTRAT FERDINAD Born in Romania but later he became a Spanish Citizen. Served in the Spanish Foreign Legion and saw service in Riomuni and Ifni. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare for the ANC, became his combat training Instructor. He also became a personnel friend to Tshombe, later taking the rank of Captain and becoming his Intelligence Officer.
CAMPER FRANK A Vietnam Veteran who fought freelance in the Yemen, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Runs a school in America for the training of Mercenaries under real life conditions.
CANNING VINCE Served in the French Foreign Legion. Also fought in Angola in 1976 in the FNLA.
CAREY BARNEY Born approx. 1941 an ex publican from London for years he had run the “Gloucester Arms” pub. He moved to South Africa and lived and worked for his Father. Speaks Swahili. At the age of 19 he went to the Congo and served in the 5th Commando. Later going to the Yemen and fighting under Faulques. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the Attempted coup of the Seychelles. During the fighting he was separated from his men and left behind. When Hoare and his men hijacked a plane and flew out of the Seychelles. He was captured and badly beaten ending up in Hospital along side Brooks and handcuffed to his bed. The Doctor was so worried for their lives that he stayed by their sides at all times and at one time actually saved them from being shot. At his trial he was sentenced to death for his part in the coup, later it was reduced to 20 years imprisonment. On 17.08.82 a mutiny took place at the prison, Carney and his fellow Mercenary cellmates helped the loyal guards. For this they were rewarded by being moved to Platte Island, where they were only locked up at nights, they were all released in the summer of 1983 and allowed to fly back to South Africa.
CARGILL RUSSELL A recruiter of pilots for the Katanga rebel beak away group led by Tshombe in 1961.
CARLSON Dr PAUL Went to the Congo in 1964 and is shown as having been a mercenary, but he
was actually one of the hostages held in Stanleyville and was killed
when Belgian paratroopers tried to rescue them. Believed to have been a doctor working for the ANC at the front. *2
CARPENTER Born in the USA a Colonel and served in Vietnam and possibly the Congo. Led the “Buffalo Battalion” South Africa’s most feared Mercenary unit.
CARTER HOWARD From Birmingham in England went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant.
CARTON-BARBER Arthur (JACK) Born 26 March ?? in the UK and served in the British Army. Lived in Port Elizabeth South Africa for a time. Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961. Later he returned and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC was made up to RSM, known as the “Whiskered Giant.”
CASHMORE JOHN Fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. He was killed along with 5 other Mercenaries in an Ambush on 14.02.76.
CASSIDY As a Soldier of Fortune he fought in Angola in 1976 in the FNLA.
CASSIDY SAM Born in Glasgow Scotland and served in the Scots Guards went to the Congo in 1964 and served under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant, later being made up to RSM.
CHALONER DAVY Born approx 1946 in London England, small with a pug nose and enormous whiskers covering his infantile features. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a sergeant was killed in action.
CHAMBERS TOM Recruited by John Banks to fight in Angola for the FNLA in 1976 flew to Kinshasa but returned home after becoming sick having never setting foot in Angola.
CHANU CLAUDE Born in France and an experienced sailor. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC.
CHOWNES JOHN Alias Ginger John Best was recruited by Leslie Aspin as a Bodyguard and to fight in Angola for the FNLA in 1976. But returned from Kinshasa after briefly setting foot in Angola along with John Banks. On his return he recruited for Leslie Aspin and made a considerable amount of money after the fall of Angola (un spent recruitment money that was never returned to its owners).
CHRISTODOULOU CHARLES A Greek Cypriot believed to be a cousin of Costas Georgio (The infamous Col Callan) from Birmingham in England. Served in the British Parachute Regiment 1st Battalion and toured in Northern Ireland. Sometimes known as “Charlie Caldwell” or “Charlie kebab” and later as “Shot gun Charlie”. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed in an Ambush along with 5 other Mercenaries. A ruthless and bloodthirsty man disliked by all except Col Callan, (Costas) his best friend. Charlie had been one of the first four British Mercenaries to arrive in Angola, along with his close friends Costas Georgiou, Nick Hall and Michael Wainwright. Costas had flown to Angola to offer their services to Holdern Roberto and he agreed for them to fly in. Nick Hall was first to make contact with Don Belford and Colin Taylor, two representatives of Holdern Roberto being based in Leeds England. But Costas had pushed his way in and took over.
CLARK JOHN WALTER Born 17th September 1917 Durban (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
COETZEE Born in South Africa went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under Mike Hoare and the ANC.
COLEMAN JOHN W Born in 1951 in the USA, served in the US Army in Germany and Vietnam. He was in the Infantry Recon unit based in Quang Tri and Tuy Hoa obtaining the rank of Sergeant. Returning to the US and the Instructors Training Course, then on to the NCO Academy and finally the Rangers School. He saw further tours of duty in Germany and Panama. Coleman then turned up in 1976 in Rhodesia and joined their Army, later transferring to the light Infantry and then moving on to the Tactical Training Course as an Instructor. He then moved on to the South African Defence Force, finally moving back to the USA in 1979.
COLEMAN “SKINNY” From Rhodesia went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
COLUMBIC RON Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a lieutenant but was killed in action. It is believed that he was Jewish.
COOPER GARY Born in London England went to the Congo in1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was made up to Sergeant.
COOPER MAJOR JOHN Served as a Corporal with David Sterling during the birth of the Special Air Service in North Africa. Operating behind German lines in the desert during World War II (in 1941/42). After the War he became Commander of “A” Squadron 22. Special Air Service and fought throughout the Malayan Campaign. In 1959 he was one of the leaders of the assault against the Saudi backed rebels on Oman’s Green Mountain. He then took a private contract for the Sultan of Oman and later helped the Arabian Royalists in the Yemen. He also worked along side the famous British Colonel, David Smiley.
COPELAND SAMMY Born in 1947 joined the British Army as a boy Soldier in 1964 and served in the British Parachute Regiment, obtaining the rank of Sergeant. With tours of duty in Northern Ireland, Bahrain, Malta, British Guiana. Had a dishonourable discharge after a court martial for possession of firearms. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA with the rank of RSM. He was executed on the orders of Holdern Roberto for his part in the Maquela Massacre (he was also one of the firing squad)(and is reported to have enjoyed what he did when Col Callan ordered the executed his own troops for firing on his own men).
CREMER ANDRE Went to Katanga in 1961 and was hired by Munongo to form a killer group of Mercenaries and assassinate United Nations officials, in particular the Irishman Connor Cruise O’Brien’s and deputy Michael Tombelaine, but it was called off at the last moment.
DAHLSEN ARNOLD Born in Norway a civilian doctor, he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
DALGLIESH KEN Served in the Rhodesian Police Special Branch. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. He escaped after the failed attempt, along with Hoare and most of the other Mercenaries on a hijacked Aircraft back to South Africa. They were all put on trial and Ken received 30 months imprisonment. In November 1983 he was released after serving just over half his sentence.
D'ANNUNZIE LUIGI Born 31st October 1935 Casalanguida (Italian). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
DANIELS Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a radio operator.
DAVIDSON DAVID “DARKIE” Served in the Special Air Service a weapons instructor.
DAVIES JOHN Was recruited by Tom Posey and sent along with Peter Glbbery to Nicaragua as Military Advisers in 1985, but they only made it as far as Costa Rica. Where they were arrested and found to be in possession of arms and money intended for the Contra Rebels.
DAVIES PHILIP Born in 1954 in Birmingham England and served in the British Army. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was executed by Col. Callan in front of his troops (shot three times) for shooting at his own men.
DEACON ALEX In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the failed attempted coup of the Seychelles.
DEAN JACK Born in the USA he was a Major in the Special Forces. Being an underwater demolition expert and instructor. Trained at the Special Warfare Centre at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Flew to Angola but his services were not wanted by the FNLA, so he joined the UNITA and successfully undertook guerrilla raids against the Cubans in the South of Angola.
DE-ASSUNCIO MANUEL Portuguese went to Angola at the age of ten with his parents. Later he fought for the FNLA.
DE-CHARRETTE-DE-LA-CONTRIC MICHEL Alias Kermarec fought along side Bob Denard in the assault on Cotonou in March 1977.
DE-CHIURE HUGUES Alias Sergeant Rucker fought along side Bob Denard in the assault on Cotonou in March 1977.
DE-CLARY MICHEL Born in France fought in Katanga in 1961, he lead a unit that captured the Irish Garrison at Jadotville when the 184 strong force surrender to the Katangese. The first significant battle involving Mercenaries in the Congo in september1961.
DE-GROUWE LEON Born in Belgium and married to rich proprietress of Jewellery shop in Belgium. In 1964 he fought under the Belgian Major Protin and later the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant. Later he was killed when a Bazooka rocket hit the Jeep that he and Ingo Hudowernik was riding in, towards the end of the conflict they were both buried in Albertville.
DE-JAEGER DARBY Born approx. 1915 went to Angola in1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC. He had the job of feeding over 1000 men and made a good job of it, so much so that Mike Hoare made him up to Sergeant and later Sergeant Major.
DE-JAGER CHRIS In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare to take part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles, but he backed out at the last minute.
DE-LA-MICHELLE From France nick named “Frenchie” he went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare for the ANC, in the 14th Commando.
DE-LAURIER Served in the British Air force, in 1964 he went to the Congo and became a Major in the 5th Commando unit fighting under the South African Mike Hoare.
DELAUNEY Ex colonial administrator for the DeGaullist Government, Ex Cavalry Officer.
DELIN JOSEPH Known as Jose born in Belgium but living in South Africa. In 1960 at the age of 47 he went to fly for the newly formed Katanga Air force. He was a top ranking flight instructor with grey Moustache, a veteran of the South African Air Force. For the Katangian Air force he flew a single seater “Fouga” jet and became there top pilot along with a 28 year old Belgian lady killer known as “Magain” who flew the two seater “Fouga.”
DEL SOL LOBO Born in Buena Aires parents from Argentina, US citizen and Vietnam veteran. He ran a Security Organisation G and G Guard dogs Inc. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA.
DEMPSTER CHRIS Was born in India. His father being a Bandsman in the British Army for 35 years. So Chris grew up around Army Barracks in India, Britain and West Africa. He left school at the age of 15 years and tied his hand at window cleaning, chimney sweeping and building. At the age of 16 he fell off a scaffold and fractured his skull in five places. The accident left him quick tempered and easily provoked. With an inclination to end disagreements with his fists.
He then joined the Army as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery and saw service in Kenya, (Mau Mau), Sarawak and Hong Kong. He also represented the Army in the, Middleweight Boxing Championships against other services. He applied to join the Army Elite the Special Air Service. But was rejected after hitting another soldier with a rifle butt.
He was severely wounded in Borneo where he was ambushed and had his stomach slit open very badly by a bamboo Panga, but he still managing to kill 6 terrorists. He was mention in dispatches for his part in repelling an attack on his patrol by communist rebels. After this he was down graded and put on a cooks training course. One morning he lost his temper and struck an officer. He was sentenced to 56 days in Colchester but went AWOL. His discharge from the Army followed.
He then got married and joined the Merchant Navy. In 1967 he went to Israel and fought in the six-day war. In returning home he tried his hand at panel beating, being a mechanic, plumber, salesman and disc jockey, calling himself Oliver Plunkett. He backed all the top bands like The Who, Ten Years After, Gary Glitter, The Mojos, Smokey, Sweet, Hot Chocolate. And provided back up support for established Radio DJ’s like David Hamilton, Dave Lee Travis and the Emperor Rosko. But slowly his popularity waned and in 1976 he was off again to Angola to fight for the FNLA, after being recruited by John Banks. He was ordered by Col Callan to be on the firing squad at the Maquela Massacre, executing 14 British Mercenaries for shooting at there own men. He hated Callan for forcing him to do it, but knew that if he refused Callan would have shot him.
DE-MURVILLE COUVE Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Doctor in the field. He is a distant relation of the French Foreign Minister.
DENARD BOB Born approx. 1929 in France the son of a French peasant farmer, he served in the French Marines as an NCO and fought in Indochina. Later serving in the Security Forces in Morocco and Algeria. He got involved in shadowy right wing activities, including a plot in 1954 to assassinate Pierre Mendes-France the left wing Jewish intellectual and French political leader. Which cost him 14 months in prison. In 1961 he went to Katanga and served under Robert Faulques as a Subaltern. It was at Kolwezi that he was to win the reputation for personal bravery and loyalty but his later activities were to do nothing to justify this. Bob was too flamboyant a figure for the English-speaking Mercenaries to take seriously and he was viewed by the Belgians with a mixture of uneasy admiration and deep suspicion, (as Schramme’s later attitude indicated). When Robert Faulques left Katanga Bob took over the Command of the Mercenaries for the last battle against the United Nations. On the 21.01.63. Denard along with Schramme and Puren retreated with just under 100 other Mercenaries known as the “Red Devils” across the border and into Portuguese Angola. Where the Authorities were always denying that any Mercenaries had ever set foot on Portuguese soil. Bob and a handful of men then left Angola and followed his old leader Robert Faulques to the Yemen to train the Royalist troops of the Imam El Badr (The Iman of Yemen) in the civil war there, against the Egyptians of Abdul Nasser. He ended up commanding all the European Mercenaries in that area.
On the 28th and 29th of October 1967 Denard along with 13 Mercenaries recruited in France by a friend called Moreau, attempted to release Godefroid Munongo from a prison on an island in the Congo river estuary by canoe, the raid ended in a farcical failure
Between November 1965 and February 1967 he returned to the Congo and at one time he was commanding all of the French Mercenaries from the 6th Commando Commanded 5 Commando taking over from Mike Hoare. Also in 1969 it is strongly rumoured that he tried to break out Moise Tshombe from an Algiers prison, where he had been locked up for two years since his high jack off the coast of Spain by Francois Bodenan. The bid failed and Denard lost 6 or 7 Mercenaries in the attempt, plus shortly after Tshombe was killed.
In March 1977 Bob led a small Mercenary force in the assault on Cotonou in Benin, an attack that only lasted a few hours but the coup attempt failed.
DENNISON ANDRE Known as Andy a Captain in the British Army he served in the SAS as Troop Commander in Rec “B” Squadron in Borneo. He left the British Forces and moved to Africa where he commanded a force in the Army of Botswana. He returned to the UK and went to Northern Ireland and served as a Regular Training Major in the Ulster Defence Regiment. After replying to a newspaper advert he contacted John Banks who was recruiting Mercenaries to go and fight in Rhodesia. Banks made him a Major and they both got together to recruit a further 200 men. But unknown to Banks Dennison informed the Rhodesian authorities of the plan. At the last minute the whole exercise was called off. So Dennison went to Rhodesia before any of the Mercenaries found him out and tried to kill him. In Rhodesia he was decorated for outstanding bravery while seriously wounded. He was killed in absurd circumstances while serving with the Rhodesian African Rifles in July 1979. He was inside a bar of the “Zimbabwe Hotel” near Fort Victoria when it came under fire; he rushed out side and was shot in error by a Black Police Officer.
DERRICKS Fought in the Congo in 1964 as a Major under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare.
DE-SAINT-PAUL TONY Went to the Yemen and fought under the Frenchman Robert Faulques in 1962. Was killed at by shrapnel from an Egyptian bomb Christmas 1963, reported to be the only Mercenary killed in this conflict.
DEVAY YVES Veteran of the Belgian Army.
DE-WET STEYN In late1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. After the failed attempt he flew out with Mike and the other Mercenaries on a hijacked Aircraft, back to South Africa where they were all put on trial. But he was acquitted, being only a doctor on the raid and not carrying a weapon.
DICKENS Served in the British Parachute Regiment. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. He was killed along with 5 other Mercenaries in an ambush on 14.02.76. He was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team.
DIMMOCK MALCOLM He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed along with 5 other Mercenaries in an Ambush on 14.02.76, being a member of Canada Newbys last stand team.
DOE JOHN Born in the USA served with the USMC in Vietnam. Was the very 1st Sergeant Major in the Rhodesian Sellous Scouts. A noted weapons instructor and expert in anti-terrorist and long-range reconnaissance operations. In 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
DOLINCHEK CANTON LUBIC Was recruited by Mike Hoare and in late 1979 was part of the attempted coup of the Seychelles. He became separated from his men when the fighting started at the Airport and was left behind when Hoare and his men hijacked a plane and flew out. He was captured and put on trial receiving the death penalty, later it was reduced to 20 years imprisonment. When a mutiny took place at the prison 17.08.82 all the Mercenaries stayed loyal to the Guards and as a reward they were all moved to Platte Island where they were only locked up at nights, during the days they were allowed to roam around. They were all released in the summer of 1983 and allowed to fly back to South Africa.
D'OLIVSIRI CYRIL Born 31st December 1939 Durban (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
DONOVAN JOHN Born in the USA he became a Major Special Forces USAR a demolition’s expert. Owned a company Known as Donovan Dynamiting his firm is the largest user of C4 in the USA. Later in 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
DOOREWARD PIETER South African joined Mike Hoare on a coup attempt against the Seychelles in late 1979, put in charge of back up. After its failure he along with Mike Hoare and most of the Mercenaries escaped by hijacking an aircraft and returning back to South Africa. Where he was put on trial, he received 5 years imprisonment but in May 1984 he was released after serving just less than 2 years of his sentence.
DOUGLAS-HOLDEN NORRIE From Lancashire in England went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant, was killed in action.*2
DREYER TIM South African he went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant later he was wounded.
DUFFY PETER Gordonstoun educated a Karate expert and a leading exponent of the Shokokai style, ex Congo Mercenary having served in the 5th Commando under Peters. In late 1979 was recruited by Mike Hoare and was on the attempted coup of the Seychelles. After its failure he fled along with Mike Hoare and most of the other Mercenaries on a hijacked Aircraft back to the Seychelles where they were all put on trial. He received 5 years imprisonment but was released in May 1984 after having only served 2 of those years.
DUGGAN Major in the Special Air Service.
DUKE From the USA, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC was made up to Lieutenant.
DUKES CHARLIE Born in the USA and served in the Rhodesian Special Air Service a member of the One Recce Commando unit. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles, where he was badly wounded. But managed to escape along with Hoare and most of the other Mercenaries on a hijacked Aircraft back to South Africa, where they were all put on trial, but Dukes was acquitted.
DUPRAEX THOMAS HOFMOYR Born 14th February 1934 Krugoradorf (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
DYSON Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC. He was killed in action at Likati and is buried there.
EARLY JOHN in Vietnam, Obtaining the rank of Captain, (US Army Special Forces). Was at the siege of the Lang Vei Special Forces camp Afterwards he became teaching assistant at Southern Illinois University, (1975).
After six months he was recruited and told to fly to Kinshasa all expenses paid. But never made contact, so moved onto South Africa. From there up to Rhodesia and joined the Rhodesian Air Force to expand and modernise the Rhodesian Parachute School. Was also made Chief Airborne Advisor to the Commander of Combined Operations, Lieutenant General Peter Walls. And was made responsible for training a team of instructors to build a Halo Committee, (High Altitude Low Opening).
He wrote a book on rules and regulations to be used by Halo. When he arrived at the parachute school they were turning out twenty-four personnel a month, when he left a year later they were graduating one hundred and fifty man classes in the same facilities, with three additional instructors.
Lieutenant Colonel Ron Ried-Daley soon grabbed John and made him Commander for planning and executing all Airborne Operations. The unit comprised of both white and black ranks. Training consisted of parachute drops as low as five hundred and sometimes four hundred feet and at night with planes being talked in. The talker having a QFE Altimeter would tell the pilot so the pilot knew his exact height. His ideas were very revolutionary and soon had good results.
John led the raid into Mozambique to Pungwe in Manika Province killing 1,184 terrorists and only suffered 4 friendly casualties. He led 65 disguised Sellous Scouts in eighty two and half-ton trucks with 50 Calibre Machine Guns Mounted on them. They did there home work and knew that the camp at Pungwe was a training area and at 6am all the personnel would be on the parade ground for roll call and exercise, with all the weapons locked in the Armoury. Being so deep in Mozambique they thought they were safe. John drove his convoy right into the camp at 6.30am, his men were dressed in terrorist uniforms and waving Frelimo Flags. His men dismounted from their trucks and fell in a single line. The Guerrillas all three thousand of them were on the parade ground and thinking the convoy were there own troops they started clapping and giving the black power salute. John gave the command to fire. The initial fire fight if you could call it that lasted about thirty minutes. By 8.30am the machine guns on the trucks had run out of ammo, leaving 1,184 dead they just turned round and drove home. General Walls claimed that the Sellous Scouts alone had killed or captured more enemy than the entire army since the war started about 1969-70 and the Scouts had only been in existence since 1973 and hadn’t even done anything really punitive until John joined them.
It was rumoured that Nkomo- Mugabe both wanted all the Sellous Scout leaders put on trial when they took over Rhodesia.
Later in 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
ECHANIS MIKE Born November 16 1950 in Ontario Oregon. Being small he had an inferiority complex when he was at school. To try and overcome this he took part in all the athletic games and mixed with all the large boys. His childhood was very wild and he drove cars very fast he wrecked every car his father owned.
Completing school in 1969 but didn’t wait to graduate. He immediately joined the Army something he always wanted to do. He completed his basic training at Ford Ord in California and subsequently joined the Airborne School at Fort Benning Georgia.
He joined the Special Forces and after Benning he went to Fort Bragg North Carolina, for Special forces training. Then he was off to Vietnam with the 75th Rangers arriving in March 1970. In May he was riding through a KHE Pass in a truck, when he was hit by an ambush. Echanis was hit in the foot by an AK-47 round. He returned fire but was again hit in the head, arm and leg. For fighting with valour he was awarded the Bronze Star. After 8 months in hospital he was discharged a cripple. Not being one to give up he started to do bodybuilding and returned to the Martial Art which he’d started at school.
In 1975 he moved to Los Angeles to study under Joo Bang-lee, “Hwarang” a Korean Martial Art. He was soon promoted to Sul Sa, (Master of Infiltration) the first American to achieve this honour.
He now developed his own form unarmed combat, described by a lot of people as the most effective system of hand combat ever devised. Word spread and he was soon back in the Special Forces passing on his skills.
After two years service Echanis headed for Nicaragua. Here he joined President Somoza and set about training his civilian bodyguards. Building them into very well trained unit. Next he trained the Nicaraguan National Guard. Very effectively and named them “Los Commandos”.
The country was having trouble with the Sandinistas Guerrillas. On August 22nd 1978 they took over the National Palace and took thousands of hostages. Echanis was all for launching a commando style raid using the men he had trained in Helicopters. But Somoza was against it and gave into the Rebel demands.
On September 8th Echanis boarded an Avo Commander with Brigadier General Jose Ivan Alegrett Perez, operations chief of the guard. Something happened on the plane and it came down into Lake Nicaragua there were no survivors. Echanis was given a military funeral in the United States.
Echanis concentration became such that he could suspend a thirty-pound bucket of water from a steel spoke pushed through the flesh of his neck. He once demonstrated his prowess, as a jeep was driven over his torso without injury to him. His best friends were Charles Sanders and a Vietnamese recruited by Echanis named Nguyen “Bobby” Van Nguyen.
EDENS RALPH G Born in the USA president of “Security and Research Ltd.” in Humble Texas. An International Security Consultant and Unconventional-Operations expert. In 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
EDWARDS TREVOR JOHN A Briton. A deserter, from the feared South African, Buffalo Battalion. Who later exposed this feared Mercenary Unit.
ELFORD LOU Went to Angola in 1976 to fight for the FNLA recruited by John Banks believed to be an M16 agent.
ELLIS NEAL A Rhodesian legend. First class chopper Pilot having flown in Angola, Zaire, Bosnia and Sierra Leone.
ELLIS Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was killed in action at Baraka.
ENGLAND ROGER English believed to have served in 3 Para. Went to Angola in 1976. Later he served in the Rhodesian Special Air Service. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. But was left behind when Hoare and his Mercenaries fled, hijacking a plane. He was captured and put on trial receiving the death penalty (death by hanging). Later he was moved with the other Mercenary prisoners to Platte Island as a reward for not taking part in a mutiny at the prison (17.08.82.) On Platte Island they were only locked up at nights, during the day they were allowed to roam anywhere. They were all released in the summer of 1983 and allowed to fly back to South Africa.
ERASMUS JOHNNY Born in Rhodesia he was a wizard with explosives. In 1968 he went to Biafra and fought under Robert Faulques and Rolf Steiner.
ERIKSON Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, became Mike Hoare’s personal runner.
EVANS In 1964 went to the Congo to fight under the South African Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Medic.
EVANS COLIN Born in 1948 in England at the age of 17 he joined the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry for 10 years. He saw active service in Aden and spent time in Northern Ireland, Germany and three months in Malaya. He then transferred to the Royal Corp of Transport and passed a basic B3 driver’s course with flying colours. Being sent to Munster in West Germany where he saw out his 10 years. Upon his discharge he took up long distance Truck driving. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA but was captured and imprisoned for 24 years.
FABRI Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
FARMAN Fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team.
FAULQUES ROBERT (RENE) An ex Legionnaire and Paratrooper one of the few French Paras to Survive a Vietnam prison Camp, an expert in counter revolutionary warfare. Went to Katanga with a group of French officers to help the Government, (the French were backing the Congo at the time). They were later recalled but Faulques stayed on and with the rank of Captain he was put in Command of the Mercenaries in Katanga in 1961. During the second battle of Katanga he had his head quarters set up in the town of kamiama. On the19th December 1961 a United Nations force of Ethiopians won a fight at the town of Miniere beating a Mercenary force commanded by Bob Denard. Tshombe had given orders to hold the town at all costs, this so infuriated Faulques that he left Katanga, swearing that he would never return and accept orders from Africans again. Politically it looked like the end of Tshombe and Katanga, but Denard and Puren stayed loyal and stayed on to fight.
In 1962 Faulques went to the Yemen to assist El Badr, leader of the Royalist Guerrilla group. Along with a few of his loyal Mercenaries who had fought under him in Katanga, Bob Denard was also with him for a time. In 1968 he went to Biafra and led the breakaway revolt with the assistance of Bob Denard and a group of Mercenaries.
FINCH CARL British, was in Surinam September 1986 along with John Richards ex French Foreign Legion and an unknown Mercenary. They both left in November, but Finch returned the following March along with two other Britons named Charlie Mosley and John Love.
FLEMMING Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Captain.
FORSBERRY Went to Angola in 1964 and fought under South Africa Mike Hoare for the ANC, was made up to Lieutenant. Served in the 54th Commando.
FORSELL SVEN Austrian living in South Africa, a TV presenter and ex opera singer. In late 1979 while planning a TV documentary about Mercenaries was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
FORTUIN CECIL “SUTCH” UK citizen. (Half South African) Served in the British Parachute Regiment. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was John Banks personal bodyguard, Banks left him behind to make up the number of Mercenaries that he had promised to deliver, but failed. Was captured and sentenced to 24 years in prison. In March 1984 along with all the other white Mercenaries was released from prison and returned to England.
FRANKLIN A Sergeant in 5 Commando in the Congo in 1964.
FRASER JOCK Possibly an alias, a Glaswegian seaman who was recruited by Steve Reynolds on “The Hilton Assignment” as a replacement skipper on the motor vessel “Conquistador X111”. For a raid to break out of a Libyan prison, scores of political prisoners who would then take part in an already in progress uprising to over throw Colonel Gadhaffi. As the boat was about to leave “Trieste Harbour on the day of the raid, the Italian Security forces stormed aboard and impounding the vessel, imprisoning Jock and four French crew members. The raid was called off and Jock was released from prison four weeks later.
FREEMAN BARRY Born in Manchester England and Served in the British Army. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded. Back in England he was worried about retaliation against him, because of his part in the Maquela Massacre, he was one of the firing squad. Col Callan had some of his own troops executed because they fired on there own men, Freeman was force to be one of the firing squad. So in October 1976 he went to Rhodesia and joined a group of 700 Mercenaries helping the Rhodesian Army in fighting against incursions by Zanu Guerrillas.
FRITZ JOHAN In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. Unfortunately he was accidentally shot dead by his own men during the attack at the Airport. He was the only Mercenary killed during the coup being killed by his own men.
GAFFENKA Born in Germany a regular Army Corporal of the Federal Forces for many years. In 1964 he served under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare in the Congo fighting for the ANC. Obtaining the rank of Sergeant in the 52nd Commando unit under Lt. Von Lieres.
GALINO’S PAUL A Greek born in Rhodesia after the Second World War. Fought as an officer in the Greek army against the Communism of General Markos. He then became an Officer in the Rhodesian Army and later an Officer in Tshombe’s Katangese Army becoming the best soldier in the unit. He then fought under the Belgian Major Ptotin and later the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare.
GAN-GANOWICZ RAFAL Was born in 1932 in Warsaw. His father was lost during the Warsaw revolt. Joined Army Craiova. In 1948 he joined the underground youth anticommunistic group in Wrocław. And in 1950 escaped to West Berlin where he joined the American service. After leaving he moved on to Paris where studied at a NATO military school and received from General Anders the rank of podporucnik (second lieutenant). In Paris he also studied at the Polish school. With the rank of lieutenant he served in 12th shelf "Red Devils" to gendarmerie katangaise. In 1965 he enlisted in Bruxelles and served in the Congo where he led a battalion. In 1967 served in the Royal Army in Yemen. His group brought down the Soviet warplane piloted by Colonel Kozlov, the head of the Soviet advisers in Yemen. Later he returned to France and lived in Paris, working as an electrician. In the mid-eighties he worked as a correspondent for «Radio Free Europe» and was the foreign representative of the underground organisation «Fighting Solidarity». In 1997 he returned to Poland, and worked in Lublin for the Fund of young Democracy. He died on October, 26th, 2002 in Lublin.*1
GARDIEN CHARLES Born in Belgium very anti Communist. Could always be found fighting where communism was trying to gain a foothold. Fought Nasser in the Yemin. Then in 1964 he was in the Congo fighting under the Belgian Major Protin and later the South African Lieutenant Colonel Mike Hoare, where he was put in command of the Volunteer Company of Mercenaries.
GARY Former English Army Sergeant (in his 50s in 1964) known as Sergeant Gary. Served under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare in the Congo in 1964 and was well liked by the African troops that he commanded.
GAWTHORP BRIAN He was a civilian cookwho fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
GAWTHORP VIC Brother of Brian Gawthorp rumoured to be a spy working for the British Special Branch. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. He died in suspicious circumstances, one rumour has it, that he was not liked by a couple of Mercenaries who found out he was a spy, and working for M16. Another rumour has it that he was killed in the battle that wounded Col Callan and ultimately lead to his capture. Brian his brother claimed on his return to England that he had died of a heart attack due to the heat on 09.02.76 a story he told journalist Frank Branston.
GAY ALEXANDRER Born in Glasgow Scotland and Fought under Bob Denard at the Battle of Bakavu, after the town fell he crossed over the border into Rwanda. Where he was interned in a camp along with several 100 other Mercenaries, while the world Courts decided what to do with them. On the 4th April 1968 he was flown out of Rwanda along with all of the other white Mercenaries with there Passports stamped “Not Valid in Africa.” Later that same year he re-appeared in Biafra, fighting under Frenchman Robert Faulques getting out in 1969. He also spent a short time in the Sudan with the German Rolf Steiner who he had met in Biafra. Getting out of the Sudan before Steiner’s arrest. Some people believe that Frederick Forsyth based his character Channon, in his bestseller book “Dogs of War” on Alexandra Gay, but there are others who think that it might have been the Scotsman Taffy Williams whichever both had served in Biafra.
GEARHART DANIEL Born in 1942 in Kensingham Maryland USA. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA was captured on 14.02.76. After a brief trail in Luanda he was sentenced to death, later he was executed by firing squad. Daniel's big mistake that went against him during the trial was that he had once placed a notice in the American Soldier of Fortune magazine reading 'Wanted: Employment as mercenary on full time job contract basis. preferably in South or Central America, but anywhere in the world if you pay transportation.
GENOCIDE (A call sign) A South African recruited to fly for Nigeria against Biafra in 1967-68. He would upset the pilots on the relief runs into Biafra by repeating monotonously in a heavy accent on his radio, ‘Ullo, Ullo, this is “genocide” calling. Trying to unnerve them and turn them back, not wanting to shoot down fellow Mercenaries pilots. But by the end of the conflict this unwritten law had gone by the wayside and it became common to hear of relief aircraft being shot down, because gunning aircraft tagged on to the relief supply planes heading into Biafra.
GEORGIO COSTAS “Col CALLAN” Born in Cyprus in 1951 his family moved to England in 1963. Believed to be a cousin of Charlie Christodoulou (Shotgun Charlie, Captain Charlie) Served in the Parachute Regiment 1st Battalion and was the best all round recruit. Because of his all round fitness and good military abilities he was made bodyguard to the Commanding office. He Went to Northern Ireland, where with his friend Nick Hall would provoke the locals to riot by throwing stones at them. Then with friend Michael Wainhouse robbed a post office of 93 pounds they both received a 5 years prison sentence for this and a dishonourable discharge. He was the first English Mercenary to arrive in Angola (02.12.75). Having been recruited by Don Belford and Colin Taylor based in Leeds England, being representatives of Holdern Robert’s FNLA (who was being backed by the CIA). Costas flew to Angola to make all the arrangements for himself and his three friends Nick Hall, Michael Wainwright and Charlie Christodoulou (all old friends from his Parachute Regiment days), to go to Angola. Later for work he had carried out on the battlefield Holdern Roberto gave him the rank of Col. He was not liked by his men because of his brutality and blood thirst ways. But at least he led by example. Upon his capture after being wounded in the leg, he was put on trial and executed. But not before he stood up in court and took full responsibility for all the men who had served under him, he was arrogant right to the end.
GERMANI HANS Dr Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the Belgium Captain Protin and later South African Mercenary Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare and the ANC. A very paunchy and rusty Doctor he attached himself to 5th Commando. He was also a writer, read “White Soldiers in Black Africa” (published by Nasionale Boekhandel Beperk). This is a slim vivid often-shocking account of Five Commando’s activities by the eccentric who later became their medical officer. Unfortunately it was published only in South Africa and is therefore rather difficult to obtain.
GILBERT Captain former Adjutant-Chef of the Legion, of the 1st REP French. He was at the Battle of Bakavu fighting under Jean Schramme and Bob Denard.
GINGER (Nickname) Recruited in 1976 by John Banks he served in Angola, was wounded along with the Infamous Col Callan, having his leg blown off. He died during the night through loss of blood. Callan also had a leg wound that led to his capture and being put on trial.
GLIBBERY PETER Was recruited by Tom Posey and sent along with John Davies to Nicaragua as Military Advisers in 1985 but they only made it as far as Costa Rica. Where they were arrested and found to be in possession of arms and money intended for the Contra Rebels.
GLUBB JOHN BAGOT Major General John Bagot Glubb. British soldier of Fortune known as “General Glubb Pasha”. Commanded the Jordanian Arab Legion an Elite six thousand man Bedouin Force. In 1948 with this Force he encircled the Israeli City of Jerusalem leaving only one safe roadway into the city open. This was the Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv main highway. The city was under virtual siege being bombarded daily, Glubb Pasha finally took the roadway. This was all the Israelis could take, so the American Soldier of Fortune fighter David “Mickey” Marcus was put in command and took over. The Israelis fought back bravely and retook the road, they also regained a lot of the Arab controlled parts of the city. Glubb Pasha had to retreat leaving Marcus in charge of over three-quarters of the city. Mickey was reward by being made up to Brigadier General. This was the only defeat that Glubb Pasha ever suffered.
GLYN BRIAN Was one of the great white hunters in Kenya, he met Mike Hoare and over the years they struck up a lasting friendship. In 1964 he went to the Congo and fought under Mike and the ANC being made Commanding Officer, but was wound and later died. He was only in the Congo for seven days.
GOATLEY CHARLES Helicopter pilot in the Rhodesian Air Force. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. After its failure he along with Mike Hoare and most of the other Mercenaries escaped by hijacking an Aircraft to South Africa where they were all put on trial. Charles received 5 years imprisonment, but was released in November 1984 after serving just over half his sentence.
GOFFIN Born in Belgium in 1964 he went to the Congo and with the rank of Captain he fought under the South African Mike Hoare in 5th Commando unit.
GONZALES PHILIP A family nurse practitioner spent two years as Special Forces medic in Vietnam. Ran a clinic for one year in the Republic of Panama, a Spanish linguist and photographer. In 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
GOOSENS MARC Was Flemish (born in Belgian) A Belgian Regular Army Officer. In 1964 he went to the Congo as Belgian’s Chief Adviser with the rank of Colonel assisting the ANC. In 1968 he went and fought in Biafra under the French Mercenary leader Robert Faulques, here he held the rank of Major. During an attack on Onitsha he was killed, his death being dramatically captured on film.
GORDON IAN GRAHAM Born 10th May 1933, from Woking England (British) Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals to go to the Congo in 1961. Later he returned and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was made up to Captain, a very hard man. Hoare once said that he was the nearest thing to a perfect fighting man that he was ever to meet in the Congo.
GOULAY Born in Scotland in 1964 he obtained the rank of Sergeant Fighting under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare in the Congo for the ANC, stayed to the end of the conflict.
GRANT Born in Scotland served as an NCO in the Black watch. Volunteered as a Mercenary and went to Katanga in 1961 where he met up with Mike Hoare. Returned to the Congo in 1964 to fight under Mike Hoare once again and the ANC, obtained the rank of Lieutenant.
GRANT DONALD NORMAN Born 22 April 1924 Detroit USA (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
GRIFFIN “LUCKY” A Kenyan farmer from Al-Kalou. In 1964 he went to the Congo and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a lieutenant.
GRIFFIN ROBIN Served under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare as a Sergeant in the Congo in 1964.
GRIFFITHS “STARS” JOHN Born in the UK known as “Griff”, “The Mole” or “Stars’ because of two star tattoos on his neck. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA having been recruited by John banks.
GRILLO GASTAVO Born in 1949 in Argentina lived in Newark New Jersey in the USA. Served in the US Marine Corp and is a Vietnam Veteran. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was captured on the 14.02.76. and sentence to 30 years imprisonment in San Paolo prison Luanda, he was released along with Gary Acker in December 1982.
GROBBELAAR MARI From South Africa for many years owned a model farm near Golu. In 1964 he was a member of Mike Hoares 5th Commando unit in the Congo.
GROBLER MURRY Was a South African but was born and bred in the Congo. He fought under mike Hoare and the ANC as an Intelligence Officer.
GROBLER VOL In 1964 he went to the Congo and served under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
GURNELL “CURLY” Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
GYURKITS SANDOR Born in Hungry became a Hungarian freedom fighter. Went to Katanga in 1961 as a pilot in the newly formed Air force. Became the hottest flyer of the prop driven planes, called the “Sputnik” because he had fought the Russians in the 1956 Budapest uprising.
HAGEN Born in Germany served as a NCO in the “SS” Division Gotz Van Berlichingen, holder of the Iron Cross and Sturmabzeichen. In 1964 he was a Sergeant in the 5th Commando unit serving under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare. He could always be seen wearing his German medals on his chest. Mike Hoare had given him permission to wear it.
HALL NICKOLAS MERVYN Known as Nick served in the British Parachute Regiment 1st battalion, with tours of duty in Northern Ireland, with his close friend Costas Georgiou (the famous Col Callan). When life was dull they would provoke the locals into riots by throwing stones at them. He also became bodyguard to his unit’s intelligence officer, graduating to intelligence work, following the movements of suspected terrorists. But he sympathised with the Protestants and was caught selling weapons to the Ulster Volunteer Force (an extreme group), for this he received a 2-year prison sentence and a dishonourable discharge. His political convictions were on the very right and he hated Communism. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA being one of the first to arrive along with his old friends from the Parachute Regiment days (Costas Georgiou, Michael Wainwright and Charlie Christodoulou). Costas flew to Angola to make arrangements for them all to return and fight. Nick had been the one who first made contact with Don Belford and Colin Taylor, two representatives of Roberto in England. But Costas had pushed his way in and took over. Later Nick Became Holdern Robert’s English recruiter of Mercenaries in the UK, also being a paymaster and having dealings with John Banks. He was one of the last British Mercenaries to leave Zaire. He was penniless with only the shirt on his back, after having been promised a 132,000-acre coffee plantation for his services to Angola. At least he survived his two friends “Col Callan” and “Shot Gun Charlie” both died.
HALLON-QUIST PER Flew for Von Rosens in the Congo he was piloting the plane that mysteriously crashed, killing all on board including Dag Hammarskjold the United Nations Representative. Von Rosens should have been flying the plane but was on business at the time.
HAMMOND Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant and was wounded in action.
HARCLERODE H. M.P.D. Ran a Company called “Donne Holdings” and was the Training Director. Formerly a Lt. in the Irish Guards then in Civilian life became an Officer in the 21st Special Air Service Territorial Army Volunteers based in London. Has made claims that his Company trained Col Gaddafi’s Body Guards.
HARPER BRUCE Twin brother to Wally Harper went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC. Was shot in the arm, later it was removed in Hospital.
HARPER WALLY Twin brother to Bruce Harper went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
HARRIS fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA BUT he deserted with Jarman and was locked up in Zaire.
HARRISON TOM Sailed single handed from Australia in a 25-foot yacht “The Sundowner” to Durban South Africa where he docked along side Mike Hoare and struck up a friendship. Later in 1964 he went to the Congo where he fought under Mike for the ANC, he was made Quartermaster and later Sergeant in a Commando unit.
HART DAVE An explosive expert supposedly representative of a Geneva Based Intelligence operation. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
HASENFUS EUGENE From Marionette in the state of Wisconsin USA. A pilot recruited to fly and drop Arms to the Contras in Latin America. On the 5th October 1986 he was shot down by a ground launched missile, fired by Sandinistas troops in Southern Nicaragua and became the first American citizen to be captured by the Sandinistas in their war against the Contras. He was accused of being a CIA agent and also that he was a military adviser in El Salvador and had been assisting the government against left-wing guerrillas there. It was also claimed that scattered around the crash site the official Sandinistas communiqué spoke of 50,000 rounds of ammunition suitable for the AK-47, riffles carried by the Contras, (and also the Sandinistas as it happened), dozens of rifles, grenades and other sundry equipment. Though the details may perhaps be somewhat suspect, it is clear that the plane was indeed carrying arms and ammunition and that they were intended for the Contras. He was found guilty as charged but mysteriously released after ten weeks imprisonment and allowed to leave the country.
HEAN PETER Born approx.1949 a Major in the Rhodesian Light Infantry. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the Attempted coup of the Seychelles.
HEATON DAVID Born in 1946 in Plymouth England no Military experience, a civilian driver. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was one of those killed in the Maquela Massacre.
HENDERSON KEITH Born in Liverpool England and served in the British Army. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA, he was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team on 14.02.76.
HENDRIKS MARCEL Went to the Congo in early 1964 and became the first man from Major Protin’s Column to be Killed, shot in the groin, attended by Hans Germani the then Medic.
HENRICK PATRICK In 1979 was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
HERZ FRIEDRICH He was a pilot in the German Luftwaffe went to Biafra in 1967 as a pilot flying a B-25 assisting the Biafans. Flying on several raids over Nigeria he flew along side “Kamikaze” Johnny Brown, who had fought against him during the Second World War. Brown was a Polish pilot who flew for the Poles and later the RAF.
HIDER RALPH Went to the Congo in1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was made up to Sergeant.
HIGGINS FRANK English and an Arms dealer. One such deal saw him involved with the sale of aircraft to Biafra, in their breakaway struggle against Nigeria and because of this he was unable to return to the United Kingdom.
Frank was also the supplier for “The Hilton Assignment” Steve Reynolds (possible alias) had made contact with him in 1970. The weapons came from Omnipol based in Prague the Czechoslovakian arms sales agency.
HOARE THOMAS MICHAEL BERNARD Known as “Colonel Mad Mike” Born in Dublin in approx. 1919, he always kept his Irish Nationality and Passport. An Accountant by Profession he served in the London Irish and during the Second World War he went to the Far East on Earl Mountbattens Staff. He immigrated in 1947 at the age of 28 to Natal in South Africa. Where he became a sleeping partner (Jeremiah Puren was also a partner) in a used car business, an active safari organiser and secretary of the Royal Natal Yacht Club. In 1961 he left Durban and went to Katanga to help the Katangese army, but it seems he played a comparatively minor role. He had known Katanga from pre Independence safari expeditions days and the story goes that he was hired not as a Mercenary but as a freelance by a South African millionaire named Anderson who’s son had been reported missing in North Katanga, sometime in 1961. Hoare led an expedition of half a dozen Mercenaries out into the bush only to find that the missing son of a Scotsman had been ritually murdered by the Baluba. There upon Hoare ransacked and burnt the village of Kalamatadi. This seems to have been his only major exploit and he apparently left Katanga before the major battle that marked the end of the year 1961, the second battle of Katanga. In July 1964 after 4 years of uneasy independence, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was engulfed by an armed Rebellion, which spread through the Country with the speed and ferocity of a bush fire. The “Simbas,” the Rebel soldiers doped up with Heroin proceeded to strike terror into the hearts of civilians and national army alike, raping, looting and burning. Faced with this situation, Moise Tshombe on the advice of Jeremiah Puren (Puren had kept in touch with Tshombe during Tshombe’s exile in Spain) enlisted the aid of “Colonel Mike Hoare” and his National Army. Hoare flew into the Congo to Leo and was commissioned to raise a force of Mercenaries with himself as Commanding Officer. Before July 1964 he was virtually unknown, sixteen months later, when he retired he famous Mercenary leader in the world. The soldier who had swept the Congo clean of Savages, the man who made modern Mercenary soldiering briefly but confusingly respectable. Hoare became the ideal Mercenary leader, quiet-spoken, quietly confident, cool, collected, charming in manner, boyish in looks, dapper in uniform, every inch the English officer and a gentleman. In sixteen months Mike and his Army liberated “Stanleyville,” and freed hundreds of European hostages and finally restored law and order to the Congo. Mike led the 5th Commando from July 1964 to November 1965. Once called by an East Berlin broadcaster at the time, the “Mad Bloodhound Hoare” because of his persistence to pursue the enemy.
Mike was used as a Technical Advisor on the Film “Wild Geese” staring Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Roger Moore and a host of other top film stars. It is based on the Irish born Rhodesian-based Daniel Carneys novel. This film is very accurate in detail and well worth watching, the best mercenary film made to date. The name “White Geese’ comes from the Irish Mercenaries who used it years ago as there emblem. Hoare being of Irish decent also used it as his Emblem when he served in the Congo in 1964.
He recruited a band of men and attempted a coup of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, but it failed and he and most of his men escaped by hijacking an airliner back to South Africa. Where he was placed on trial along with his men and given a prison term. He was released from prison on 7th May 1985 having served over a quarter of his sentence.
HOBBINS BARRY Born approx. 1936 from Canada he went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, as a Lieutenant in the 55th Commando. Later being made up to Captain.
HOGAN GRAHAM Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was made up to lieutenant in 51st Commando.
HOLLAND ANDY He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed in an ambush along with 5 other mercenaries.
HOLLANDBY NORMAN TREVOR Born in 1954 having served in the Guards he went to Angola in 1976 to fight for the FNLA after being recruited by John Banks. Was arrested on his return for offences out standing when he fled the country, he later received a 9 month prison sentence.
HOLZAPFEL ALFONS Alias Lingen, ex Legionnaire of the 1er REP. In March 1977 he fought along side Bob Denard and was involved in the Assault on Cotonou.
HOPKINS THOMAS HARRY INNES Born 17th September 1919 in London (British) Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
HOWARD WILLIS Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare for the ANC, he was killed and buried at Buteembo.
HOY Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC was killed when a bullet hit him in the leg shattering his femur.
HOYT MICHAEL Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
HUDOVERNIK INGO From Kapfenberg Upper Steiermark in Austria. In 1964 he left his young wife and twins in South Africa and went to the Congo serving under the Belgian Major Protin and later the South Africa Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare. A mechanic by trade but with a genius to fix any thing, obtaining the rank of Lieutenant towards the end of the conflict he was killed when the Jeep he was travelling in was hit by a Bazooka rocket. He is buried at Albertville along with Leon de-Grouwe, who was also in the Jeep at the time.
HUSSEY JIM Known as “Fuzz” because of his tight curly hair. Served in the British Special Air Service for 12 years with tours that included the Trucial Oman States, Speaks fluent Arabic and Swahili, an experienced radio operator. In 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA.
HUYSHE CARLOS Born in Belgium went to the Congo in 1960 to assist Tshombe. Carlos was the man who first suggested to President Tshombe to start using Mercenaries and assisted in their recruitment. He was placed in charge of recruiting pilots for the newly formed Air Force. On arrival they had to sign for 6 months at $800 a month, seasoned combat pilots were offered $1000 per mission.
HUYSTEEN A Doctor in late1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. After the attempt failed he flew out with Mike Hoare on a hijacked Aircraft. But was put on trial in South Africa, he was acquitted being only a doctor on the raid and not carrying weapons.
IARANELLI ARMAND (“The Brave” as he was known in Biafra) A Corsican who served in the French Foreign legion where he first met the German Steiner. Fought in Biafra in 1968 under the French Mercenary Robert Faulques he became a Captain and known as “Captain Armand “ he was bitten by a Snake, finally leaving Biafra in the first months of 1969. He also spent a short time in the Sudan fighting along side his old friend Steiner, who he had met in Biafra, but leaving before Steiner’s arrest.
INGLE SUE An alias read Susan Sims.
JACQUES NOEL Served in the Belgium Army went to Katanga in 1961. During the second battle of Katanga between the 5th to the 21st of December 1961, he was put in charge of the town of Albertville. Returned to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary, Mike Hoare and the ANC, lieutenant Colonel in the 5th Commando.
JARMAN He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Deserted along with Harris and was locked up in Zaire.
JENKINSON ROGER No military experience a mechanic. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Believed to be in his 30’s at the time.
JIRSEK GREGOR A Slav University educated arms dealer and agent, involved in “The Hilton Assignment.”
JOHN Dr Nicknamed American, in 1983 he organised and led a coup attempt against the left wing government of Colonel Desire “Desi” Bouterse in the Latin American country of Surinam. However the centre of resistance later came from a former member of Bouterse bodyguard. Sergeant (now Captain) Ronnie Brunswijk who enjoyed some dramatic successes during 1986 thanks in no small measure it would seem to the presents of foreign mercenaries amongst his guerrilla, rebel force.
He has fought along side the Contras on more than one occasion, is also known to be a recruiter of Mercenaries.
JOHNSON JAME Served as an officer in the Guards. Was in partnership with David Walker owning and running KMS (Keeni Meeni Services) based in the Channel Islands as a Mercenary Training and Protection Agency. It is known that they sent military aid to Sri Lanka and Johnson himself fought against the Tamil Freedom Fighters. They are also reported to have picked up in excess a cool 12 million-pound a year contract with the Sultan of Oman. Given the closeness of the British Government with the Sultan it is easy to believe that all this was done with the co-operation of the British Government.
They also dispatched a small team to Honduras to train and fly missions for the Contras against the Sandinistas Government of Nicaragua. The leader of this small group was Michael Borlace. After a falling out with the Americans who were running the operation, the former accusing the later of having a Bay of Pigs mentality, they were soon to pull out.
JOHNSON JIM Lt. Col, Mercenary Organiser (recruiter) in September 1962.
JOHNSON MIKE Born in the UK, served in the Royal Marine Commandos obtained the rank of Sergeant. Also served in the French Foreign Legion as Warrant Officer special operations in Algeria, that included kidnapping and assassination of FLN terrorists. Also served with the Sultan of Oman’s private Army. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was killed in action, being shot in the back.
JOHNSON PETER A former British Army Major, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was made up to the rank of Major.
JONES ANDOVER Read Van der Schwartz
JONES “GEORDIE” Born on the Tyneside in the UK. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded.
JONES BEN Former 1st Lieutenant USMC and former 1st lieutenant US Army. Joined the Rhodesian Army and obtained the rank of Major in the African Riffles, with 24 combat jumps to his credit. An expert in anti- guerrilla and anti-terrorist operations. In 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
JONES FRED Born in Andover England. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA after being recruited by john Banks. Received serious cuts to his face from babbled wire stretched across a track. While driving a tank with his head out of the divers peephole. It tore off part of an ear and part of an eyelid.
JONES-DAVIES BOB In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
JOUBERT GERRY Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, served in the 52nd Commando made up mostly of Germany troops, a highly respected unit. He was killed in action.
JULES Possibly alias, born in France. In 1971 he was the 2nd in Command on the second and third attempts of the all-French “Hilton Assignment” campaign. An attempt to over throw Colonel Gadhaffi by breaking out of prison scores of his political prisoners who would then join in with an already in progress coup. The raid was stopped by strong pressure by the Americans on the Italian and British Governments.
JULIAN HUBERT FAUNTEROY COLONEL An American Negro pilot known as the “Black Eagle of Harlem”. An adventurer he had flown for Haile Selassie against the Italians in 1935. In 1967 or 68 he turned up in Lagos Nigeria and undaunted by his age, he was then in his early seventies, offered his services which were politely declined. Was reported to be putting together a multi- million dollar deal to release Moise Tshombe from an Algiers prison, but the whole deal fell flat with the attempt by Mercenary Bob Denard to break him out of prison. The attempt failed and shortly after Tshombe was killed.
JUNGELS Born in Belgium from Arlow in the Ardennes, a stubborn Luxemburgian who in his early years had been a member of an extreme right wing youth organisation. In 1964 he was in the Congo serving under the Belgian Major Protin and later the South African Mike Hoare.
KAKUJI Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, as a Colonel and Commander of Operations.
KAVAC Fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team.
KAY JEAN Born in France deserted the French Army in Algeria after only six months service to join the OAS. Later he turned up with other mercenaries in the Yemen and in Biafra where there was a heavy French commitment on the side of the secessionists. He then went to Jordan in an attempt to filtrate the PLO, but as it was known that he had previously offered his services to the Israeli secret service he was turned down. He promptly revealed his true colours again by turning up in Lebanon as an instructor for Gemayel’s Falangist militia. He attracted public attention for a moment in December 1971 when he seized a Pakistan Airlines plane at Paris Orly airport, demanding, in exchange for passengers and plane, twenty tons of medical supplies in Bangladesh. Arrested, he was given a nominal suspended sentence, because of the intervention of personalities like the late Malraux, who pleaded for his idealism and ‘defence of Christian values’! In November 1974 Kay was arrested by the Portuguese in Angola, fighting on the side of the Cabinda secessionists, backed by certain French interests avid to get their hands on such Western ‘Christian values’ as Cabinda oil.
The name of Jean Kay became more and more associated with the cross-fertilisation between ultra-sophistication crime and ultra-reactionary international politics; more specifically extortion and bank robberies and the financing of mercenary operations. On the night of 17th-18th July 1976, in what is known as the ‘sewer-rat robbery’, thieves broke into the vaults of the Societe Generale bank at Nice and got away with some fifty million francs (over ten million dollars) in one of the world’s biggest bank robberies. Later the police found a well-lit and ventilated tunnel had been built from the city’s sewer system it was even carpeted to deaden the noise and that the loot had been taken away in a small truck and inflatable rafts. On 26th October police arrested Albert Spaggiari, head of the band of some twenty ‘sewer rats’, all specialists in bank robberies, who had carried out the coup. Spaggiari admitted that he had planned the operation for some two years and that the tunnelling had taken two months to complete. Known for his extreme right wing views and described as the founder of a ‘militant underground anti-Communist movement’. The police stated that Spaggiari told them he had given his share of the loot to an international group of rightist militants identified as “La Catena” (the chain) based in Turin devoted to helping rightist extremists in trouble, notably in Italy and Yugoslavia.
The Italian police denied any knowledge of this group, as did Italian left wing journalists who were normally well informed about the activities of the right-wing Italian terrorists, organisations. Like Prevost, Spaggiari had claimed one of the assassination attempts against de Gaulle and actually claimed to have had the President in the telescopic sight of his rifle, but had not received the order to fire. Reuter sent a tantalising report from Nice on 31st October indicating what the French investigators really believed the ‘sewer rat’ gang was up to. It is also believed that Kay was part of a gang that blackmailed the French aircraft manufacture Dassault, for over 8 million francs. Getting clean away to Lebanon with his share.
The above summary of the life and activities of Jean Kay is based on an article in the French weekly Le Point of 13th September 1976, by journalists Jean-Marie Pontaut, Jacqes Duquesne and Maria- Therese Guichard.
KAY JOHN Born in 1949 he served as a trooper in the Dragoon Guards. Later he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed being a victim of the Maquela Massacre.
KAZIMIERZ TOPOR-STASZAK Served as an officer in the Polish army and was a veteran of the Second World War, with the rank of капи¬тана serving with the 12th regiment "Red Devils" катангской gendarmeries under the command of Shramma. In 1964 he became a member of VI Commando. That same year (1964) he was promoted to the rank of the captain and commanded XII Commando. In 1965 he was again promoted this time to the rank of the major. Later In 1965 he served at Chombe in the Congo.*1
KEKIE ALEXANDRA JAMES Born 7th August 1912 Boksburg (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
KELLER A French hating, ex-Bundeswehr Panzer driver trying to out do his fathers experiences in the Wehrmacht. Joined the French Foreign Legion in 1972 was trained on the island of Corsica seeing action in Djibouti in Africa.
KELLY “SPIDER” He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA after being recruited by John Banks.
KENNY DONALD Born approx 1924 English, was possibly in the Congo and served in the 5th Commando. Later serving in the Rhodesian Special Air Service and the Greys Scouts. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
KENT JAMES Possibly an alias, he had an office next door to David Sterling’s “Watchguard” in London. But he was not a member of Watchguard although he did undertake some of their more guarded off the record assignments. In 1970 after being approached by Steve Reynolds and in collusion with David Sterling he took part in “The Hilton Assignment”. This was an operation to help assist a Libyan attempt to remove Colonel Gadhaffi from power. A small group of Mercenaries were to attack a Libyan prison, releasing the inmates to take part in an uprising against Gadhaffi. John Banks claims to have been recruited by Kent as a radio operator and it is also believed that, the first attempt was a total failure, before it got started.
To many people knew what was happening and started talking outside the circle of friends that Watchguard had assembled for the raid. The rumours got right to the top of the British Government. So much so that the then British Foreign Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Hume called in his old friend David Sterling to the foreign office. To warn him off, not wanting any British citizens to be connected with the raid. The British Government was very worried in case Gadhaffi might retaliate against them. It was left to Kent to organise the whole raid, a task he was clearly not up to. It was also his failure to ensure that the weapons were delivered on time to a port in Italy, on the day the raid was about to leave. That coupled with the British Governments warning, was the final nail in the coffin and the first attempt was hastily called off. There were two other attempts made and James Kent was involved in both of them, but to a lesser degree. Steve Reynolds did all of the organising after witnessing Kents failures, but they to failed. Under strong pressure from the American Government to put a stop to the raid, the Italian and British Governments were forced to take action. The Italian Security Forces finally stormed the motor vessel "Conquistador X111” in Trieste Harbour as it tried to leave on the day of the raid.
KERRY VIC Served in the British Army. In 1976 he was recruited by John Banks and went to Angola to fight for the FNLA and was wounded.
KILLEN Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, he was killed in action.
KING SANDEMAM ‘SANDY’ Born in Scotland and served in the Cameron’s he played the bagpipes and became a Pipe Major. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare (becoming his Batman) and the ANC. Would wear his kilt and cap of his old regiment, when ever possible. (Was nearly sixty in 1964)
KIRK Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, promoted to Colonel.
KIRTON PAT Born in South Africa went to the South African Military Academy in Pretoria. In 1964 he went to the Congo and served under South African Mercenary Mike Hoare for the ANC, obtained the rank of Lieutenant.
KNOX PETER Recruited by John Peters as a pilot to fly for the Nigerians against the Biafra in 1967.
KOCHANOWSKY ‘COMMONDANT’ 50 years old in 1968, Pole who had fought with the British 8th Army in North Africa, and then in the Foreign Legion. In 1968 he was recruited and fought under Rolf Steiner for Biafra. He refused any pay and fought well by all accounts, for idealistic reasons. But left Biafra after 3 months as mysteriously as he had arrived.
KOEHLERT BERNARD Born in Germany a mechanic. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC and was killed on there first patrol. 20.08.64.
KOKLIS PETER G Born in the USA and served in the US Army in the technical intelligence branch, an expert on military automatic weapons. In 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
KOLIBIUS WERNER An alias Koli, in March 1977 along with bob Denard was involved in the Assault on Cotonou.
KOREA JOHNNY A West Indian of mixed racial origin who had ran a bar in Biafra before the war and ended up fighting along side Steiner for Biafra in 1968.
KOVACZ JOSEPH Born in Hungry he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
LABOUDIGUE French went to Katanga and fought under Faulques in the 6th Commando. Later following Faulques to the Yemen and Biafra.
LAMBRETTE EDWARD Born in Brussels Belgium. A Lieutenant in the foreign Legion. In 1964 he was a Sergeant commanding an independent Platoon under the Belgium Major Protin, known as Protin's Column. Later he was to serve under the South African Mike Hoare.
LAMOULINE A Belgian went to the Congo in the mid sixties and fought the ANC. as a Lieutenant, later becoming a Colonel leading the 6th Commando unit. He also led the “Column Lima 11” with Bob Denard as his right hand man.
LARSEN ROY Born in Sweden a member of the Army and served as a Major for the United Nations Peace keeping force. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC obtaining the rank of Captain in the 5th Commando unit.
L-ASSOMPTON Major and formerly Gabons Presidential Guard, appeared in Rhodesia at the end of 1977 leading a group of French Mercenaries recruited by Roger Bruin (now dead) all ex REP and ex Yemen men, one of Bob Denards right hand men.
LATZ JOHN Served in the British Parachute Regiment during World War 2 and was at the battle of Arnhem in Holland. In 1964 he went to the Congo and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC, obtained the rank of Captain.
LAWLOR JOHN Born in the UK. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA after being recruited by John banks. He was captured and sentenced to 24 years imprisonment. In March 1984 along with all the other white Mercenaries in Angola were released and returned to England.
LE BRAZ COLONEL Was a member of the 1st Battalion French Foreign Legion. Later in Gabon he became Commander of President Omar Bongo personal guard. A formidable force of 1200, armed with modern weapons, tanks and helicopters, manned by ex-legionaries.
LEGG DONALD ROBERT LOVELL Born 4 October 1934 Blunol Sand England (British). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
LELEUR Born approx 1942 a Belgian settlers son very much admired, fought under Jean Schramme in the Congo, was killed during a battle at Bukavu on Saturday the 4th November 1967.
LEMARCHAM PETER Former Captain in the Scots Guards. Founder member of “Falconstar” whose brochure advertises the company as being, “one which provide manpower and expertise to satisfy the requirements of government for up to date advice, training, assistance and equipment supply”. Operating from within England seems to show that it was with government co-operation.
Indeed some of the contracts that the company received from the Middle East Countries show signs that the government passed on the leads to Falconstar and in a couple of instances were persuaded by the British government not go ahead with contracts with countries that were not deemed friendly. Peter seems to have had contacts in the right places and knew how to make use of them. When he was approached to do a job, one of the first things that he would do was to seek approval from Whitehall.
LEON Possible alias, as a member of the French Army he saw action at Dien-Bien-Phy, also in Algeria with the 1st Parachute Division. Later he was to help the OAS against France.
When the political problems were over in Algeria instead of returning to France and a certain prison sentence, (for assisting the OAS). He became a Mercenary and went to the Congo and is believed to have served under the Frenchman Bob Dennard, later to Biafra and then to the Yemen where he worked for the royalists. In 1968 France offered an amnesty so he returned home.
In 1971 he was recruited by Steve Reynolds (possibly an alias and South African), for the second and third attempts of “The Hilton Assignment” and was put in command of an all French team, after the First attempt, by an all British team had failed to get off the ground. This was an attempt to over throw Colonel Gadhaffi, by breaking out of prison a large group of political prisoners, who would then take part in an already in progress coup. But it all came to an end, when the Americans forced the Italian and British Governments to stop it taking place. The Italian Security Forces stormed on board the motor vessel “Conquistador X111”, as it was about to leave Trieste Harbour on the day of the raid. Impounding the boat and imprisoning the four man crew.
LEROY PAUL An alias, read Maurice Lucien-Brun.
LEWIS BRIAN Born 1957, no military training but he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded.
LIEGOIS Went to the Congo in 1965 and fought under the South African Mike Hoare and the ANC as Lt Col.
Lima Sonny Fought in Angola under Col. Callan.
LOCKYEAR JOHN Rumoured to be a MI6 agent. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
LOPEZ Fought on both sides in Angola in 1976 “FNLA” and the “MPLA”.
LORD DOUGIE Former Corporal in the British Army was awarded medals during the Second World War. In 1964 he went to the Congo and served under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare.
LOTZ Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, received a spear wound in his side that left him paralysed for 14 months, it was assumed that the spear was tipped with poison.
LOUIS JEAN Possible alias. He was of dual nationality, Anglo and French, former British Grenadier Guardsman. In 1971 Steve Reynolds (possible alias) recruited him into “The Hilton Assignment” as an interpreter. The Assignment was called off after strong intervention by the American Government, forcing the Italians and British to put an end to it. The assignment was an attempt to over throw Colonel Gadhaffi by breaking out of a Libyan prison scores of his political prisoners who would then take part in an already in progress coup.
LOUW BEN Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC. Made up to Lieutenant and Commanded 52nd Commando after replacing Lt. Mueller. Mueller having lost the job, when his men ran amuck looting and killing innocent people.
LUCAS Was a pilot hired to fly in supplies to Biafra in 1968 by John Peters, but departed after a few months because of being taunted by call sign ‘Genocide’ the Nigerian fighter pilot (read Genocide). Who was baiting him up with things like, “The rest of the planes can come in, but you I’m goner get, I’m waiting for you”. Genocide even started calling his registration number and calling him by name. So much so that Lucas got psyched out and left.
LUCIEN-BRUN MAURICE French ex-cavalry Officer and Foreign Legion served in Algeria. In 1964 sailed his 38ft Ketch “Sinbad” from Brittany via Seychelles to Durban South Africa. Where he met up with Mike Hoare on Leave from the Congo. Later he went to the Congo and fought under Hoare and was put in Command of 53rd Commando. Early in 1965 he survived a bullet wound over the right eye. He then went on to fight under Denard in the 6th Commando, at the time of the 1966 Katanga revolt. In May 1966 he left the Congo and next appeared as one of Robert Faulques 53 Mercenaries in the attack on Calabar. In early 1968 he was wounded and honourably evacuated. In July he appeared briefly in Biafra using the alias Paul Leroy, fighting under the French Mercenary Robert Faulques's and still limping from the wounds he had received in the backs of both legs during the Calabar disaster attack. He left in mid August, but was back 2 weeks later on 1st September with a group of 15 French Mercenaries, ready to fly into Biafra from Libreville and backed by friends. But his ideas of a Vietcong style commando unit striking anywhere in Nigeria was not welcomed by Senior Biafrian Officers, plus he quarrelled with Steiner and an intense rivalry sprang up between them. This was the second French intervention that failed.
LOVE JOHN British, arrived in Surinam in March 1967 along with Carl Finch and Charlie Mosley.
LUMBIC RENCO Jewish, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, as a sergeant later being made up to a Lieutenant.
MACARTHUR WILLIAM B. Born 20 Feb 1926 Bridge of Allon (British). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals to go to the Congo in 1961.
MACKENZIE BOB American was killed in the Malal Hills in February 1995 while commanding Gurkha Security Guards (GSG) in Sierra Leone. GSG pulled out soon afterwards and was replaced by Executive Outcomes. Both were employed by the Sierra Leone government as military advisers and to train the government soldiers. It has been alleged that the firms provided solders who took an active part in the fighting against the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
MACKINTOSH Went to the Congo in 1964 to fight under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC.
MACINTOSH DEREK DONALD Born 19th August 1932 Durban (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
MAIDEN JACK S/Sgt initially served with the UMR (South African) who was involved in the Siege and eventual Battle of Tobruk. He was reported MIA but eventually manage to escape Rommel’s Army and arrived in Cairo a few days later, one of very few South Africans to have escaped and made it back. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare.
MADDISON BARRY Born in the UK, served in the Royal Green Jackets and the Special Air Service with the rank of Sergeant. Was a semi professional boxer and held a Brown belt in Karate. Also under took bodyguard work for an African head of state. He was recruited by John Banks to fight in Angola in 1976 but after arriving in Kinshasa and having a look at the situation in Angola along with John Banks he returned to England.
MADEIRA Born approx 1950 ex boxer possibly Portuguese, white mercenary fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Fought along side Colonel Callan from the very first day that Callan set foot in Angola. He was killed along side Callan, in the battle that wounded Callan and eventually lead to his capture.
MAIDEN JACK Came from Durban South Africa, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, made up to Lieutenant and ended up commanding the 53rd Commando.
MALLOCK JACK Born approx.1919 an ex Spitfire Ace, a Rhodesian ex Mercenary known to his friends as ‘Minnesota fats’ or alternatively ‘Twiggy’. Along with Alistair Wicks he piloted a plane out of Biafra with a large cargo of bank notes destination unknown. They landed in the country of Togo to refuel where Wicks was arrested and spent 84 days in detention, after this horrific ordeal he was to disappear never to be seen again. The money was confiscated and was possibly returned back to Biafra to assist with Biafras breakaway independence struggle.
Mallock was secretly working for the French so with France supporting the Biafrian struggle it is safe to say that Mallock was part of the plan to hijack the money. He later reappeared when the Libreville-Uli arms airlift was in full swing and did well out of it. Some of his pilots were making $750.00 a night at its peak but bad luck continued to dog him. His chief pilot, a Canadian, disappeared one night after returning from Uli with the pilot’s pay packets and the airlines expenses. In his pocket was $250,000. Neither he nor the money was seen again.
MALLOY Fought in Angola in 1976 was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team on the 15.02.76.
MALONE JOHN Born in Glasgow Scotland. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
MARANGONI PEDRO He was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1949. (1968-1971). He joined the Brazilian Air Force and attended the Military Pilot Training Centre. (1972-1973). He served in the French Foreign Legion . (1973-1974). He lived in Mozambique. In June 1975 he arrived in Angola and fought along side Colonel Santos e Castro for the FNLA. He participated in the Battle of Quifangondo (October 23 - November 10, 1975). He abandoned the fight in February 1976. (1976 - 1977). He moved to Rhodesia. Later he joined the Mozambican National Resistance group who were operating in the border region of Inyanga, Umtali. In 1979-1980 he served in the Spanish Legion and spent some time in Africa. In 1980 he returned to Brazil and worked in Amazonia (Brazil), Bolivia and Peru, as a helicopter pilot for about 20 years. He is a helicopter Pilot with 9,000 hours of flight to his credit. Pedro now lives in Brazil and has published four book. 1) "Angola-Special commands against Cubans”. 2) "The option by the sword" (Brazil, 2 editions). 3) "Maria da Silva and the era of not" (Brazil). 4) "The big herd / infinity is not in a hurry" (Brazil).
MANSFIELD Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant and was killed in action at Kavumbwe.
MARCHANT KEVIN Born 1951 in Borehamwood in England. Served in the British Army as a PT instructor. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was captured and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. In March 1984 along with all the remaining white Mercenaries was released and returned to England.
MARCUS DAVID DANIEL “MICKEY” Mickey Marcus was born on George Washington’s birthday in 1902 as the fifth child of an immigrant Jewish couple from Romania. He started life in the poverty stricken lower eastside of New York. Soon his father was making money and they moved to the better neighbour hood of Brooklyn.
He was growing up in a time when hoodlums delighted in tormenting Jews. He soon learned to fight and stand up for himself. He attended public school 109 the start of a good education. Later he entered boys high. It was here that he shone as an athlete and prize-fighter.
Upon release he soon entered the US Military Academy at West Point. It was June 1920 and the academy superintendent at the time was Brigadier General Douglas Mac Arthur.
1924 saw his graduation amongst the top third of his class and showed good “Leadership Potential”.
July 3rd 1927 saw him marrying Emma, now being moved around to an army of different posts, but always-studying law. Finally ending up as first Deputy Commissioner of Correction. Under years of Tammany Hall Rule, the prisons of New York had become cesspools of corruption. Mickey set about cleaning up this problem with a large broom. The smashing of a big racket on Welfare Island Penitentiary won him acclaim through out New York. His name in the law circles was spreading fast.
At the outbreak of war in Europe Mickey decided to join up again. Back in uniform Mickey was sent to a training camp in Alabama 1940. With the Federally Activated National Guard Unit to which he was attached. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and his post was that of judge advocate of the 27th Infantry Division.
Deskwork was very boring for Mickey and he always yearned for action, but he was never allowed to Command. His work took him on some very important meetings as legal advisor to the Roosevelt-Churchill-Chiang meetings in Cairo in November 1943 then to Teheran for the Roosevelt-Churchill-Stalin meeting.
Mickey finally managed to get a move to England to improve communications between the civil affairs division and supreme headquarters allied expeditionary forces, (SHAEF). It was here Mickey discovered that the US 101st Airborne Division would take part in the D-Day Landings, so he wangled a seat on the drop. Being one of the only two men present who had never parachuted before. Upon landing he soon took charge, leading his men in some heroic deeds. But word soon spread back to the USA and Mickey was with drawn back to the States.
After the War Mickey had to supervise most of the legal activity concerning the Nuremberg Trials, hand picking the judges, prosecutors, etc.
His collection of medals now read the “Distinguished Service Medal”, “The Bronze Star”, and “The Army Commendation Ribbon”. He was nominated three times for the “Legion of Merit” and six times for the rank of “Brigadier General”.
January 1948 saw Mickey landing in Palestine to help the Jews hang onto the so-called New State of Israel. It had been a long hard decision for Mickey, but always wanting action and favouring the underdog he had finally decided to help.
Mickey was the only man who could help the Jews his military knowledge was the best they could buy. He surveyed the troops in all parts of the country and started to mould them into an Army. He ordered all the equipment and even wrote a complete manual to train the new Israel Army.
On May 8th 1948 the British Army fed up of being in the middle of the Jews and Arabs quit, leaving a vacuum. The forces of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Trans Jordan invaded Israel. Jerusalem became under siege Mickey masterminded the building of a road to relieve the city, called the Marcus Way. For this he was appointed Commander of the Jerusalem Front. At this point Mickey had achieved the Rank of Brigadier General. He was the first Jew to command what amounted to an Army division. He was the highest-ranking Jewish Battle Commander since the Maccabeuses, of the second century before Christ. Ironically an American soldier of fortune was now in command of troops fighting troops led by a British soldier of fortune, (Mayor General Bagot Glubb) leading the Jordanian Forces.
A truce was worked out to take place on June 11th 1948. During the evening of June 10th, around 3am Mickey took a walk in the evening air thinking about what he’d achieved. He spoke to a sentry and carried on walking. At 3.35am the sentries changed guard. Not knowing Mickey was walking around the sentry heard a noise and upon seeing a figure opened fire.
Mickey died immediately with bullet in his heart. He was the last person to die in the conflict. His body was flown home and Mickey was buried at West Point. He’s the only American buried there who served in a Foreign Army.
Extract from, “Merc” by Jay Mallin and Robert K Brown.
MARCZNSKI JAMES TABEUSZ Born 1951 in Bradford in England. Served in the Coldstream Guards. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. Was killed being one of the victims of the Maquela Massacre.
MASY CHARLES He was Commander of the Belgian Mercenary Force in the Congo in 1966.
MATIC A Slav he only reached the 8th grade at school, then became a self taught intellectual, had a working knowledge of 10 languages including old and New Greek. He joined the French Foreign Legion in 1972, being trained on the island of Corsica. Later serving in Africa at Djibouti where he saw active service.
McALEESE PETER Born in Scotland (cousin to Tommy McAleese) served in the British Army. He also did a tour of duty with the SAS, as a combat instructor with the rank of Sergeant. Peter was involved in the Hilton Assignment project, being recruited by James Kent and David Sterling of Watchguard, as team leader. This was an attempt to overthrow Colonel Gadhaffi, by raiding one of his prisons in Libya and releasing a large group of political prisoners who would then join in with an already in progress coup. But it was stopped by the American CIA after they applied pressure on the Italian and British Governments. At that time it was thought that Gadhaffi was anti communist and would be friendly to the west. How wrong they were.
Then John Banks recruited him and he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA He took over command of all the remaining Mercenaries after the capture of the infamous Colonel Callan, just getting out of Angola before being captured himself.
Peter next went to Rhodesia, now in his 40s, but managed to pass a selection course and joined the Special Air Service.
McALEESE TOMMY Born in Scotland (cousin to Peter McAleese), served in the Parachute Regiment. It is rumoured that he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
McCABE EDWARD BRIAN Born in Pietermaritzburg South Africa in 1944. Served in the Congo under "Mad Mike" Hoare in 1965 being known as Scribe. Fought in 2 of 4 campaigns, and has a Citation from Mike Hoare confirming his service in the Congo. Can be seen at <www.thegallowglass.com>*2
McCANDLESS JAMIE Born in 1935, served in the British Army for 18 years, was a member of the British Special Air Service, Special Details unit ending up as a Sergeant. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. Listed as missing and believed to be the first mercenary killed in the Angola conflicted, of the men that fought under Col Callan.
McCARTHY TOM He was a boy soldier in England. Later joining the Rhodesian forces.
McCARTNEY “JOCK” Born in Scotland in 1924 and with no military experience but speaks fluent Russian. Went to Angola in 1976 for the FNLA as a Russian interpreter. Was one of those Killed in the Maquela Massacre, shot by Sammy Copeland. Himself being executed for the crime on the direct orders of Holdern Roberto.
McCOLL ALEXANDER M S Born in the USA. Obtained the rank of Colonel in the Special Forces USAR with eleven years active serves duty, including two tours in Vietnam, was a graduate of the Army War College. Later he fought in El Salvador.
McFARSON Could have been in Angola in 1976.
McGRADY DAVID American, his mercenary career began in Rhodesia as a bodyguard for the Rhodesian Ministry of Health. Three months later he was bored by the lack of action and so he headed to Matabeleland where he found more interesting work protecting ranchers and bounty hunting.
He proved good enough at the latter to have a price put on his own head by the terrorist and so he moved on again. He then signed a contract with the Somoza government in Nicaragua just before it fell and when he returned to Africa, his hopes of a successful bounty hunting in the southwest went for a burton when drought ensured that the ranchers would have no need of his protection. So he went back to the United States and after hanging round for a while at last he got his chance of a ‘real’ war. Fighting for the Christian Lebanese Forces of Free Lebanon for the princely monthly wage of 480 Lebanese Livres, less than 100 pounds sterling a month, or as he put it, just enough to cover the cost of cigarettes and beer until the next pay-day. Not quite the big bucks he must have hoped for.
McINTYRE MALCOLM Believed to have changed his name from WRIGHT Born 1950 in Basildon in England. Served in the British Army. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. Was captured and sentence to 16 years imprisonment. In March 1984 along with all the remaining Mercenaries in Angola was released and returned to England.
McKAY “PADDY” Born in the UK and served in the Parachute Regiment. In 1969 along with Brummie Barker flew to Tel Aviv for John Banks Security Company to guard wealthy businessmen from being kidnapped by Arabs. But was arrested by MOSSAD for carrying out snatch raids on Arabs from Lebanon and Jordan. Served a short time in Jail before being deported.
McKENZIE ANDY Born in 1952. Served in the British Parachute Regiment. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. He was the first Mercenary casualty, shooting himself threw the finger with an accidental discharge from a Soviet TOZ Pistol. He was captured and ordered to be executed by firing squad. McKenzie was one of the firing squad that under Col Callans orders shot 14 British mercenaries at a place known as the Manuela Massacre.
McKEOWN MIKE He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
McPHERSON PAT He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA, and was wounded.
McPHERSON STUART He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was killed in action.
MENZIES Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
MILLER JOHN BROOKS Retired early from the Regular British Army were he was an Officer, he also became acting Major in the Special Air Service. In 1970 then in his early thirties he was recruited by David Sterling’s Watchguard, as a member of “The Hilton Assignment” and made its the team leader. This was an attempt to over throw Colonel Gadhaffi, by breaking out of a Libyan prison, scores of political prisoners who would then join in an already staged and in progress uprising against Gadhaffi. After three attempts to carry out the attack “The Hilton Assignment” was called off. The American Government put great pressure on the Italian and British Governments to put a stop to attack.
MILLS RAUL Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare for the ANC.
MINSK A German ex Congo Mercenary having served in the 5th Commando. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and was on the Attempted Coup of the Seychelles.
MOELLER Son of a World War 11 German Paratrooper. He joined the French Foreign Legion in 1972 being trained on the island of Corsica. Saw active service in Djibouti in Africa.
MONETA TULLIO Born in Yugoslavia but basically an Italian, reported to have been in the Congo and served in the 5th Commando as a cook immigrated to South Africa and became a well-known TV actor and Karate expert. He won himself a staring role in the film “Wild Geese”. Along side Richard Burton and Richard Harris, a film about Mercenary Fighting in Africa. After this film he liked the life so much that he became a Mercenary taking part in a few under cover operations launched from South Africa. In 1979 Tullio was involved with Mike Hoare in the attempted Coup of the Seychelles, being made Commander of Group III. After the failed attempt he fled along with Hoare and most of the other Mercenaries on a hijacked Aircraft back to South Africa where they were all put on trial. He received 5 years and was released in May 1984 having served under half his sentence.
MORENO ALFREDO MALIBRAN Spanish mercenary, involved in the "Trujillo Conspiracy" plot against Castro.*3
MORGAN WILLIAM Born 18th April 1928, in Cleveland Ohio USA. He had a troubled early up bringing, always running away from home and getting into trouble with the police. Finally he ran away from school at the age of 15.
At 18 he joined the Army and after training was sent to serve with the Occupations Forces in Japan. He picked up the nickname of “Gabby”, because he talked a lot.
In November 1947 he was arrested for being AWOL and was sentenced to three months of hard labour with forfeited of pay. He then escaped over powering a guard, taking his pistol and uniform. But was recaptured and court marshalled and found guilty of escape and armed robbery. For this he was dishonourably discharged from the Army and received five years hard labour.
In 1957 Morgan made contact with the, “Directorio Revolucionario” leader, Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo, a rival group to Castro’s 26th July Movement, in the Escambray Mountains bisecting central Cuba. After a short time his military experience began to show. Remembering his army training he taught the troops discipline. While in these early days with a small section of men, they encountered and ambushed a five-man Cuban army patrol killing all five. This was believed to have been Morgan first combat.
He steadily worked his way through the ranks of the local Guerrillas, training more and more revolutionaries in the light infantry, weapons, tactics, unarmed combat and knife fighting, to become commander of a column and later on to a commander of a zone. By now he was speaking Spanish fluently.
There was friction between the D.R and Castro’s 26 July Movement. But the move was always on to join the two forces. Castro dispatched Ernesto “Che” Guevara with a column of 200 men, ostensibly to join Morgan’s forces in the Escambray Mountain area. Morgan caught and disarmed the whole Column and sent them back. Castro never forgave him for this. By now there was a $20.000 price on his head dead or alive by the Batista Government.
On December 22nd 1958 Morgan planned and led an attack on a fortified area protecting one of Cuba’s largest cities. After six days it fell. This was to signal the end of Bastisa’s reign.
At 8am on January 2nd 1959 Morgan led a column of 3000 men into the city. Bastista had fled the country the night before. Morgan was proclaimed “Mayor”. Castro soon emerged as the dominant figure of all the revolutionaries. All the guerrilla units joined forces the struggle was over.
But Morgan knew that Castro intended to run a communist state and publicly announced that he wanted no part of it and retired to the Escambray Mountains to run a fish and frog farm. But he and Menoyo kept in contact.
It was around this time he contacted the CIA in America, claiming he could get rid of Castro in three days if he was given arms. Unfortunately once again the CIA read the wrong signs and thinking Castro would be sympathetic turned him down.
Morgan and Menoyo joined up with Arturo Hernandez Tellaheche a former Cuban Senator to over throw Castro, with Tellaheche to become President upon success. But for some reason Morgan and Menoyo changed sides and reported them to Castro. Some say that Castro was already onto them.
By now Castro could not trust Morgan not knowing what he might do next.
By March 1960 Morgan concentrated on his frog farm and was earning valuable foreign exchange for Cuba.
Finally after the “Bay of Pigs Raid”, Morgan was arrested and sent to the dreaded La Cabafia prison across the bay from Havana. Morgan was found guilty of being involved with the Bay of Pigs raid and sentenced to death.
Even in prison Castro was scared of Morgan and would not enter his cell to talk to him, but exchanged conversation through his door. At a later date a raid on the cell found a pistol. Many say Morgan tried to goad Castro to enter his cell to kill him.
On March 11th 1960 Morgan was marched out of his cell at La Cabana and stood against a dry moat. Fidel Castro and his brother Raul Castro were present. At 2.30am, lights were beamed on and a voice shouted out. “Kneel and beg for your life”. Morgan replied, “I kneel and beg for no man”. A single marksman was used. First he shot away one knee, then the other. “There, we can make you kneel”. The rifleman then shot out one shoulder, then the other. Finally a merciful Captain walked up and emptied a Tommy gun into the Americans chest. He was only 32.
Extracts from “Merc,” by Jay Mallin and Robert K Brown.
MORRISON ALISTAIR Former Army and Special Air Service Officer with a fine track record. Owner of “Defence Systems Ltd” a private military company operating from London. In 1985 it was involved with Uganda, where it signed a contract with President Milton Obote to teach Ugandans the low-level tactical flying of helicopters. At a time when his position was growing more and more insecure in the face of increasing guerrilla activity and the decreasing popularity of the regime.
MORRISON HUGH Served in the British Army and also the French Foreign Legend. Was one of John Bank's second wave of mercenaries he delivered to the FNLA in Angola in late January 1976. Was hospitalised after an open topped vehicle he was traveling in flipped over on a wet road. The driver Uzio's and Callan both survived unscathed. The weight of the Land Drover would have crushed him had it not pivoted on the machine gun mount. The crash drove his femur through his pelvis.
MOSCHINI DANIEL Known as Danny the Mercenary an Italian linked with rightist terrorist movements in Italy and Spain, also a former member of the OAS and a Mercenary who had served in Angola.
MOSLEY CHARLIE British, arrived in Surinam in March 1987 along with Carl Finch and John Love.
MOSS C Fought in Angola in 1976. Believed to have been a member of, “Canada” Newbys last stand team on the 15.02.76.
MOTT MALCOLM Born in 1957 no military training, a civilian mechanic. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
MUELLER SIEGFRIED Born approx. 1922 to Prussian parents became a Sergeant in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War and won an Iron Cross. He went to the Congo in 1964 and served under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC, obtained the rank of Lieutenant and led the 52nd Commando unit. Hoare gave him permission to wear his Iron Cross and he was never seen without it.
Was later replaced as commander of the 52nd Commando by Ben Louw, because his men ran amuck looting and even killing innocent people it was thought that he could not control his own men.
MURRY SIMON Went to Paris and joined the French Foreign Legion on 22.02.60. In 1964 he went to the Congo and fought under the South African Mike Hoare.
NAMMOCK JOHN Born in the UK believed to be Irish (parents emigrated from Ireland). He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. He was wounded and later captured on 14.02.76. Being sentenced to 16 years imprisonment at San Paolo Luanda. In March 1984 he was released along with all the other British Mercenaries and returned to England to live with his Irish mother in North Kensington London.
NEAL DAVID Major in the Special Air Service having served in the Trucial Oman Scouts. In 1969 he joined Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammed Al Quassimi of the Gulf State of Ras-Al-Khainah and became the head of a 300 man mobile striking force.
NEL Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was killed at Bikili, but not before he had machine gunned down almost 100 of the enemy.
NESTLER Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC was killed on Mike Hoare’s first patrol. 29.08.64.
NEWBY DOUGLAS “CANADA” Born in Canada. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was killed along with 5 other Mercenaries in an Ambush on 14.02.76. Once while talking to Dave Thomkins he claimed he was a photojournalist first and a mercenary second, and that he was going to write a book about the 1975/76 Angolan conflict. A very friendly and well liked guy.
NILSSON (This name was taken from the book Fire Power written by Dave Thomkins and Chris Dempster) However, fellow merc Pedro Marangoni believes this is his friend, his first name was Nelson) Born in Portugal Nelson was a member of a Portuguese elite commando unit. After Portugal's withdrawal from Angola he stayed behind and joined the FNLA in late 1975. He was killed along with 5 other Mercenaries in an Ambush on 14.02.76 being a member of Canada Newbys last stand team. (The dead included Douglas 'Canada' Newby, George Bacon, Malcolm Dimmock, John Cashmore, Dickens and Nelson)
NODYN 1967 he was an Officer serving under Jean Schramme.
NORBIATO GIORGIO Italian Frog man went to Biafra and fought under Robert Faulques and later Rolf Steiner who respected him as a fighter. Made a lone stand and was killed in the first week of May1968.
NORTHEDGE CLIFFORD ALAN Joined a Rifle Brigade reached the rank of Drill Sargent, then he put an add somewhere and joined 5 Commando in the Congo 1962-64.
OATS TOM Born in the USA he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
O’BRIAN DENNIS ANDREW Born in Camberly England in 1949. No military training. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded. On his return he was arrested and imprisoned for 12 months for burglary, a crime he had committed before he fled the country to Angola.
O’BRIAN JERRY Born in the UK, served in the French Foreign Legion and was a member of the Rhodesian Army in 1980.
O’CONNOR JOHN Recruited by John Banks to go to Angola but on arrival in Kinshasa he suffered a suspected heart attack, after a few days in Hospital he was flown back to England.
OGLETHORPE VIC Served in Katanga in 1961 returning in 1964 to serve under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare.
O’MALLEY PATRICK An old Harrovian became a recruiter along with Alistair Wicks (an old friend) for the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare in recruiting for Tshombe in the Congo.
OOSTHUIZEN Went to the Congo in1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC. While serving in the 5th Commando was killed in an ambush at Kindu where he is buried. He was the first killed in the attack he was a very well like guy by all who knew him.
ORAM CLIFFORD Born in 1947 in Yorkshire in England. Served with the British Parachute Regiment. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. Was killed being a victim of the Maquela Massacre.
ORSMOND GILBERT JOHN VICTOR Born 3rd October 1916 Krugersdorf (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
OSBORN NIGEL Born 19 October 1937 London England (British) Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals who went to the Congo in 1961. He was captured along with 30 of his Mercenary friends near the town of Manono by a United Nation Force made up of Ethiopian troops, after the UN broke an agreement made earlier, that they would divide the town, and each would look after their half. He and his friends were imprisoned for a month and then ordered to leave the country.
O’SHEA FRANK He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
PADEN DAVE Served with the British Parachute Regiment. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA.
PADGETT JOHN Born in the USA a certified physician’s assistant. Spent three and a half years as Special Forces medic in Vietnam and one year in Thailand. One year each in rural health clinics in Nicaragua, Micronesia and Alaska, fluent Spanish linguist. In 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
PARKINSON He was from Lanceshire in the UK. Went to Angola in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC, was made up to sergeant.
PATAY LAZLO Born in Hungry he later fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
PATTERSON JOHN He was from Durban in South Africa. In 1964 he went to the Congo and fought under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare in the 5th Commando as a radioman.
PAUL WILLIAM DUNLOP In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the Attempted coup of the Seychelles.
PEDDLE Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant.
PENSON A translator and French expatriate spent 10 years in Scotland. Running away from an unfaithful wife he joined the French Foreign Legion in 1972. He under took all his training on the island of Corsica, later being stationed in Djibouti in Africa where he saw active service.
PERDUE MICHAEL In 1981 along with 10 other Mercenaries he led a plot to topple Eugenia Charles and his the right wing regime on the tiny Caribbean Island of Dominica and reinstall ex Prime Minister Patrick John. The American CIA and the FBI stopped the attempt on route.
PERRIN FRANK Born in the UK, served in the Royal Marine Commandos, was with the Special Boat Service for three years. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
PETERS A Finnish seamen, joined the French Foreign Legion in 1972 for 5 years being trained on the island of Corsica, he served in Djibouti in Africa where he saw action.
PETERS JOHN From Leeds in Yorkshire England He served in the British Army as an NCO (Sergeant) also did a tour with the Special Air Service with “C” Squadron. Deserted from the West Yorkshire Regiment and emigrated to Rhodesia. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, where he was made up to sergeant and then to Lieutenant and later Captain, He was wounded in action, a very noticeable and violent character. He had a reputation as a killer and a very cold man, he was however equally respected and even more feared.
In 1967 Peters flew into Lagos Nigeria and signed a lucrative contract with the federal government to recruit pilots to fly converted DC-35 on bombing raids over Biafra. There were rumours that he had been engaged by the Nigerians on the advice of the British? But this seems unlikely since, like most good Mercenary leaders, he had an excellent nose of his own for a market and was not the kind of man to need prompting about the possibilities of business in Nigeria. (At this stage Nigeria had no answer to Biafra’s air force) However it is more than probable that the British did nothing to stop his enterprise. In deed they would have found it difficult even if they had wanted to since British subjects can quite legally serve in Commonwealth but not foreign armed forces.
PETERSON Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, as a Captain.
PICOT Ex Legionnaire fought in Biafra under the Frenchman Robert Faulques.
PIERCE MICHAEL “REB” Born in the USA and served in the Rhodesian Army in 1980.
PILGRIM JOHN He was from Southend-on-Sea in England. On the 13.11.83 was charged along with two others in Perth Western Australia with offences under the War Crimes (Foreign Incursion and Recruitment) Act. He is thought a have connections with Bob Denard.
PIRET Fought in the Congo in 1967 under the Mercenary Bob Denard and was at the Battle of Bukavu.
POLLEY CAPTAIN VERNON Believed to be an Australian pilot and working for the American CIA in Africa, Biafra, Angola and possibly the Congo in the 60s and 70s.
POSEY TOM American former member of the National Guard, he was head of Civilian Military Assistance, an organisation that exists for the purpose of sending men to fight against Communist’s in Central America. By and large it is American citizens, whom the CIA despatches on anti-red crusades, though it does on occasions extend its net further a field. In 1985 he admitted to having put out feelers in Britain where he persuaded some thirty to fifty ex-servicemen to cross the Atlantic and join the right wing Contra rebels in their war against the elected, but left wing Sandinista government of Nicaragua.
PREVOST JACQUES Born in France a prominent member of the underground OAS in Algeria, one of those so infuriated by De Gaulle’s ‘treachery in bowing to the inevitable and acknowledging the Independence of Algeria. That he took part in an almost successful assassination attempt against the French president in the Paris suburb of Le Petit Clamart on 22.08.62.
PRIEFEAT KURT A German living in South Africa thought to have served in the Congo. Became the South African Crossbow Champion. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
PRINSLOO VERNON Was a Captain in the Rhodesian Air Force. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. After the failed attempt he, along with Hoare and most of the Mercenaries escaped on a hijacked Aircraft back to South Africa where they all went on trial. Vernon received a one years imprisonment, but only served 8 months of his sentence being released in April 1983.
PROETTI ALFREDO Italian, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was in 55th Commando.
PROTIN Born in Belgium went to Katanga in the Congo in 1961. During the second battle of Katanga he was put in charge of the town of Monono and became “Commandant Protin”.
Later he was to lead all the Mercenary units before the South African Mike Hoare arrived, was know as “Protin’s Column.”
PUREN JEREMIAH An obscure Afrikaner, but Aclose friend of Tshombe. Upon his instalment as Prime Minister, Puren, Wicks and Hoare were called to the Congo to help in 1961 was appointed Commander of the Katangese Air Force. (A close friend of Mike Hoare). Was made up to the Administration Officer in Leo and because of his tightness with money became known as “10% Man” At the end of the fighting in Katanga 21.01.63. Puren along with Schramme and Denard and just fewer than 100 other Mercenaries retreated over the border into Portuguese Angola, where the Authorities were always denying that Mercenaries had ever set foot on Portuguese soil. He was at the Battle of Bukavu in November 1967, fighting along side Jean Schramme, after Bukavu fell he crossed the border into Rwanda along with Schramme and several 100 Mercenaries, they were all interned into camps while the world courts argued there fate. On the 03.04.68 he was released and deported along with all of the white Mercenaries out of the Country with their Passport stamped Not Valid in Africa. After several months the black Mercenaries were allowed back into the Congo and over a period of time Mabutu had then all executed.
At the age of 57 along with Mike Hoare he took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles but was captured when Mike Hoare left him behind when he and his men hijacked a plane and fled. He was put on trial and received the death penalty (by hanging) later this was commuted to 20 years imprisonment. During a mutiny at the prison (17.08.82), he along with his fellow Mercenaries stayed loyal to the guards, they were rewarded by being moved to Platte Island where they were only locked up at nights, being allowed to wander around during the daytime. He was released in the summer of 1983 and allowed to return home to South Africa.
QUINN NICHOLAS JOHNNOS Born 1st Oct ?? South Africa (British/South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
RADEMEYER Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought for the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC was killed in action near Bendera.
RALL Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC was killed in action at Baraka.
RAMPONO MANNY From Durban in South Africa went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mike Hoare and the ANC.
RANDALL BARRY Born in 1953 in Hemal Hemstead in the UK. Served in the British Parachute Regiment. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. Was killed being a victim of the Maquela Massacre.
RAWE Was a Briton who became a Commander in the Nigerian Navy in 1976, and took an active part in planning and executing the sea-borne assault on Biafra and the mid west. Rawe lived up to the swashbuckling image of his trade and used to walk around with a heavy cavalry pistol strapped to his thigh.
REID-DALY RONALD Commander of the Rhodesian Sellous Scouts, just before the fall of Rhodesia, Ron went to South Africa and became Commander of the Transkei Defence Force.
REISINGER THOMAS D Born in the USA. President of “Relief International, Inc.” Director of “Parachute Medical Rescue Services” (PMRS). In 1983 he fought in El Salvador.
RENNIE MIKE Born in London and served in the British Parachute Regiment. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA.
REYNOLDS STEVE Possibly an alias but born in South Africa, Ex Navy man with over 20 years at sea to his credit. Left the Navy in the mid 60s and became a freelance Mariner in the Mediterranean area. Making a lot of contacts over the years. One such contact led to him to being asked to help set up an attempt to over throw Colonel Gadhaffi from Libya. This venture was to become known as “The Hilton Assignment”. Reynolds first made contact with James Kent who was connected with “Watchguard” an organisation run by David Sterling, the man who founded the Special Air Service in North Africa during the Second World War and who was now running “Watchguard” from the Channel Islands. Mainly recruiting military personnel (specially ex SAS members) to guard and train heads of state and their Army’s around the world and possibly a few discrete jobs when required.
At their first meeting Reynolds was introduced to Sterling by James Kent (possibly an alias). Kent had an office next to “Watchguard” but officially he was not on there books although he did under take work from them, the under cover stuff. Kent was given the task of organising the whole raid. But it was not long before it became evident that he was not up to the task and it was Kent's bad handling and bad organisation that was one of the main reasons why this first attempt failed. The final straw came when the weapon’s failed to turn up on the day that the raid was about to leave, by boat from an Italian port. This coupled to the fact that too many people had big mouths within the plan. So much so that Sir Alec Douglas-Hume the then British foreign minister called on his old friend David Sterling and ordered him to drop the whole operation. He insisted that no British subjects would be allowed to take part. Up until then the whole operation had been made up of just over 25 personnel and all were British.
But Reynolds persisted and set up a second and even a third attempt. This time he did all the organising, not trusting anybody. But all the attempts were doomed to failure because word had got out during the first attempt. Reynolds now had a few enemies and had to keep a watch over his shoulder. Finally it was the pressure from the American Government in forcing the Italian and British governments to put a stop to this operation. On Sunday 21.03.71. The Italian police stormed aboard the motor vessel “Conquistador X111” as it was about to leave and impounded it in Triste Harbour, imprisoning the English Captain Jock Fraser and a three man French crew. Upon their release after a couple of weeks, it just left Reynolds to tidy up all the loose ends and pay everybody off. It is thought that Reynolds paymasters were the Royal families that Colonel Gadhaffi had over thrown. Reynolds had a short stay in the neighbouring country of Morocco, where he was still trying to put his plan into operation. But nothing seems to have happened and his whereabouts over the last few years is not known.
RICHARDS JOHN British, was in Surinam in September 1986 along with Carl Finch. Both left in mid November the same year.
RICHARDSON GEOFF English he ran away to sea at the age of fifteen and for three years he was a merchant seaman. Returning home he and his father did not get on, so he went to France and joined the Foreign Legion during the mid 30s. Richardson and a number of his comrades in the 11th Regiment were captured after mounting a rearguard action in a forest near Verdun in June 1940. He escaped to Paris but after a couple of months he was recaptured and tortured. After the war he was honourably discharged by the legion and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. In 1960s he along with a close friend and comrade, a Brazilian named Albert, made plans to go to the Congo to fight under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare, after his friend developed bowel cancer and died, Geoff decided not to go.
RISBRIDGER MAX Born in 1956 in Hove in England. Served in the French Foreign Legion. Later in 1976 he fought in Angola for the FNLA. Was killed being a victim of the Maquela Massacre.
RIVERS GAYLE Born in New Zealand in 1945 to an Irish father and an English mother having emigrated from Birmingham UK. He left home at the age of 16, having had a big row with his father. He then spent his adolescence dedicated to motor bikes, flying and rebellion. In1967 he joined the New Zealand First Infantry battalion, and at the age of 20 he volunteered for the Special Air Service, being trained at the Wairora camp. But it was in Vietnam and attached to the Green Berets that he received the grounding in Special warfare that was to carry him through to a lifetime of Special covert operations as an elite professional.
In April 1969 Rivers claims that a seven man, crack Special Forces operational team, was assembled at Ben Hoa air base north of Saigon and given a mission. To infiltrate China and assassinate eleven top ranking Chinese and north Vietnamese leaders, including General Nguyen Van Giap, North Vietnams Chief of Staff. The seven were given the code name the “Five Fingers”. The Five Fingers were to have no Military support, no radio contact with their dispatchers, nothing to rely on but their own considerable expertise in small arms and explosives. There was to be no capture, no surrender. They were alone in the jungles of Laos and Vietnam. Once in China their mission had no closure. There would be no rescue operation.
Rivers then claims that once the targets were in their sights, a coded message was sent to them cancelling the operation. Knowing that the Chinese would pick up the signal. This was done just to let the Chinese Government know that they could assassinate their leaders if the US government wanted to and hoping that the Chinese Government would then come to the negotiation table. It was then thought that the seven-man team would be killed off while trying to return to Vietnam, so the story would never become public. Rivers claims he was the only one to return but suffered seriously injuries. The Americans have always denied that the incident ever happened.
More experience came in South Africa where he worked with the feared Sellous Scouts in Rhodesia. He also worked for the South Africans, once on a snatch raid into Mozambique after a KGB agent.
He now has a highly successful aviation business that he started in South Africa but is based in Switzerland and whilst he specialises in arms and armaments, he under takes missions for the worlds Governments at his own discretion.
Working for the British tracking the IRA in Northern Ireland and across Europe, the Middle East and Northern America. For the Spanish he has assassinated Basque terrorists. He has led commando raids against the Iranian oil installations and international shipping while training the Iraqis Special Forces. For the Americans he has carried out covert missions in the Lebanon to assassinate Syrian intelligence officers and help protect US marines.
ROBERTS Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, as a Sergeant.
ROBERTSON GEORGE Believed to be an American in 1966-68 he was a Co-pilot, flying into Biafra for Hank Whanton (Or Wanton) along with a youth full young pilot named Mark.
ROBINSON Danish joined the French Foreign Legion and saw active service in Djibouti in Africa.
RODEN FRANK From Coventry in the UK served in the British Army. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
RODRIGUES Served under Schramme in the Congo in 1967. The Mercenary who it is claimed finished off Maurice Quintin a Planter and very close friend to President Mabutu. Schramme gave the order after shooting Quintin and then telling Rodrigues to finish him off and dump his body into the Lowa River. (Read Schramme for more detail).
ROETS From Kenya, speaks Swahili, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
ROGERS BOB Born in the USA, served as an Officer in the US Army. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary mike Hoare and the ANC.
ROHWEIN PETER Ex Congo Mercenary having served in the 5th Commando under Peters. In 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted Coup of the Seychelles.
ROSS-JOHNSON Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
ROSS-SMITH PETER Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC was made up to Lieutenant.
ROXO DANIEL FRANCISCO Known as the White Devil of Mozambique, he was born in Northern Portugal in 1933, and immigrated to Mozambique in the early 50s. Working first as a Civil Servant, he then helped to construct a railway line, finally becoming a big game hunter in Northwest Mozambique in the Niassa Province. In the early 60s he offered his services to the Portuguese Army to fight the Frelimo, a Communist backed Liberation Front. At first he was a tracker but later he led an irregular band of 90 men, being the only white man in the unit. He refused to operate outside his own Province, an area he knew every inch of the terrain He had a ruthless reputation, only taking prisoners for interrogation and expected a high standard of discipline from his own men. He and his men are reported to have killed more Frelimo soldiers than the entire 60,000 strong Portuguese Colonial Army. He was awarded the (Wreathed) “Cross of War” twice, Portugal’s highest bravery award. At one time he had a price of 100,000 thousand dollars on his head. In late 1976 he died after stepping onto a landmine.
RUYS A Mercenary fighting in the Congo in 1960, Ruys is the man reported to have finished off the Former Prime Minister Pattice Lumumba on the 17.01.60. Lumumba was taken from the Airport to a Villa where President Tshombe and Godefroid Munongo were waiting for him. After a few taunts Munongo (Tshombe’s Minister of Interior) seized a bayonet from a rifle of one of his own soldiers and drove it into Lumumba’s breast. Then Ruys is reported to have administered the Coup de Grace, with one shot to the head.
RYAN FRED Born in Wakefield Yorkshire in the UK. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded.
SANDERS CHARLES “CHUCK” Born in Ontario. Joined the Army and went to Officers Candidate School, then switched to the Special Forces.
Served 4 years and won Soldiers medal for bravery. He risked his life to save an officer during a dangerous mountain climbing exercise. Then moved to Fort Bragg. Here he met up with an old school chum Mike Echanis.
Finishing his time the two set off for Nicaragua around August 1977. Echanis set about training General Somosa’s bodyguard. Sanders was always Echanis No 2 and right hand man.
He died on September 8 1978 in an airline crash with Enchanis. He was buried with full Military Honours in the United States of America.
SAUNDERS He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA, there where two Saunders in this conflict both recruited in the UK by John Banks, but they were not related.
SAUNDERS DOUGLAS “DOUGIE” He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
SCHAMME JEAN Born in Belgium the son of a highly respectable Bruges lawyer, at the age of eighteen he went out to the Congo to run a family plantation near Bafwasende to the north-east of Stanlyville. He fled like so many other Belgian colonials, during the troubles following Independence and in early 1961 and ended up in Katanga after having taken refuge in Uganda. There he was enrolled as a training Officer at Kamina base and after taking part in the fighting at E’ville as one of Robert Faulques junior commanders. He was sent to Kansimba in North Katanga where he recruited fifteen to eighteen year olds from the local tribes and formed his own “leopard Group” officered by himself and a couple of other Belgian Ex Planters. In Katanga he did not cut much of a figure, he was reputed to be shy and rather nervous, rather eager to please.
The end of the Katanga fighting on 21.01.63, Schramme along with Denard and Puren retreated with just under 100 Mercenaries across the border into Portuguese Angola. The authorities always denying, as they always did, that no Mercenaries had ever set foot on Portuguese soil. In 1964 Schramme was back in Angola where his Katangese Gendarmes force had now swollen to over 8000 exiles, crossing over the border in to Katanga he joined up, at least nominally with the ANC as Commando’s. But Denard was not with them. He had followed his former leader Faulques to the Yemen.
Schramme then established himself at Fizi-Baraka to the East of the province of Maniema, an area where he had owned a plantation. He also renamed his unit, to 10 Commando. He was arrested on 27th June 1968 shortly after his return to Belgian, on the charge of having murdered a Belgian planter Maurice Quintin in the Congo the year before (in May1967). In court Schramme claimed that Quintin was trying to de-stabilise the area by putting one Mercenary up against the other, also his aim was to stay loyal to Mabutu by trying to find out if a coup was being hatched against him. Quintin suspected it was, so in order to find out for Mabutu, he flew to Schrammes camp with the idea of asking him to take part in a coup against Mabutu hoping that Schramme would agree thus proving him right in the eyes of Mabutu. In his defence Schramme claimed that it was his duty to kill Quintin, because he could not run the risk of reprisals against himself and his men. “It was my duty to prevent him from putting his plan into action, I then shot him and ordered Rodrigues (a Mercenary barman) to finish him off and dump his body into the Lowa River”. But a little twist in the story, it is rumoured that Schramme was part of the “ Kyrellis Plan”, a plan to return Moise Tshombe back from exile in Spain and once again President of the Congo, by over throwing Mabutu. This plan was thrown in to turmoil when, Francois Bodenan (age 33) hijacked Tshombe off he coast of Spain 1967. Tshombe was flown to Algiers where he spent two years in prison before being killed after an unsuccessful attempt by Denard to break him out. Denard lost six or seven Mercenaries in the attempt, but escaped safely from Algiers. Francois Bodenan, 15 years later in 1982 was brought before a Spanish Court Martial at Palma De Majorca, accused of infringing Tshombe’s human rights, he received 24 years in prison.
Tshombe’s death was announced on 30th of June 1969, 2 years to the day after his kidnapping, 5 years to the day after his appointment as Prime Minister to the Congo and 9 years to the day after the Congo’s independence.
In the spring of 1969 while still on bail and awaiting trial for the murder of Maurice Quintin, he applied for and acquired permission to fly to Brazil to buy a plantation. But he did not arrive, it is thought that he changed his name Passport and destination, he has not been heard of since. It is thought that he is in Bolivia working with the State Security Force. He was also reported to have been in Spain working for a publishing house with US connections, he also played a role as technical adviser to ELP in Angola.
SCHROEDER GEORGE Served in the South African Defence Force and Army Parachute Regiment. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC. Became a Captain and Second in Command. Described by Mike Hoare as the finest soldier who ever served in the Congo.
SCHROT Fought under Jean Schramme and Bob Denard in the Congo in 1967 and was at the Battle of Bakavu (Nov 67). He fled over the border into Rwanda after the towns surrender where he was interned in a camp, along with several100 other Mercenaries, while they waited the World Courts to decide there fate. On 04.04.68. He was flown out of the country along with all of the other White Mercenaries with their Passports stamped “Not Valid in Africa”.
SCHUTT Born in Germany served in the French foreign Legion and saw Active service in Djibouti in Africa.
SCOTT BARNEY Born in Barnsley served in the Parachute Regiment in A Company, along with his friend John Banks. Is thought to have been killed fighting for the Israeli’s against the Arabs in 1970.
SERGEANARO Portuguese fought in Angola in 1976 at one time along side the infamous Col Callan.
SESSARAGO PHILIP Born in approx 1952 and served in the Special Air Service.
SHARPLEY MICHAEL T Born in the UK. Served in the British Parachute Regiment and with 4 years in the Territorial Reserve, and Rhodesian Army. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. He was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team on the 14.02.76.
SHIRE TONY Born in Wales. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. At the end of the conflict, when every body was retreating to Zaire. Tony was cut off from his men and walked out of Angola, taking 12 days to reach the Zaire border. From Kinshasa he managed to get a flight home.
SIMANIN Fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA as a medic he was a member of “Canada” Newbys last stand team.
SIMS BOB Born approx 1930 a professional jockey and trainer living in South Africa, husband to Sue Sims (alias Susan Ingle). Both were involved in the attempted coup of the Seychelles by Mike Hoare. Bob was captured after the coup failed and put on trial receiving 10 years imprisonment for importing Arms. After an attempted Mutiny at the prison (17.08.82) he was moved along with the other Mercenaries to Platte Island, where he was only locked up at nights being allowed to roam around during the day time. He was released in the summer of 1983 and allowed to fly home to South Africa.
SIMS SUE Alias Sue Ingle, South African female Mercenary married to Bob Sims, brother to Phyllis Hoare (nee Sims) Mike Hoares Wife.
In Late 1979 was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the Seychelles Coup. She was captured and was to have gone on trial, but being a white haired older lady it was thought that the world would laugh at the sight of this lady trying to take over the Seychelles Island (and almost succeeding). So to save the government embarrassment she was released and allowed to fly home to South Africa.
SKORZENY OTTO Born in Germany became an officer in the SS during the Second World War. Went on to command and train a Commando style unit based on the British Commandos and the Special Air Service. Skorzeny was one of Hitler’s most trusted and most efficient muscle men. His most famous exploit was a glider-borne raid against a hotel on the tip of the Gran Sasso Mountain on 12.09.43. To free Mussolini after the later had been over thrown and arrested by his top soldier Marshal Pietro Badoglio, six weeks earlier in an abortive attempt to take Italy out of the war. Tried by an American military tribunal for having shot 300 unarmed American prisoners of war. Skorzeny was acquitted and went to work in the Historical Department of the US Occupation Army. A favourite American formula for recruiting top Nazis into there intelligence organisation, or at least of extracting the maximum amount of information from them. From 1949 he headed an import-export business in Madrid, considered as a cover for the counter-revolutionary Paladin Organisation.
Read “Commando Extraordinary” by Charles Foley published by Pan 1956.
SMALLMAN Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Sergeant.
SMALLWOOD SAMMY Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a Lieutenant.
SMILEY DAVID Colonel, in 1958/61 he commanded the Sultans Troops during the Oman Green Mountain Campaign, returning to the UK in 1961. He then returned to the Area and fought in the Yemen assisting the Saudi’s, later he changed sides and fought for the Yemeni’s, becoming a Commanding Officer.
SMITH BRIAN Born in 1950 in Warrington in the UK. Served in the Green Jackets. Went AWOL, to go to Angola to fight in 1976 for the FNLA. Was killed being a victim of the Maquela Massacre.
SMITH DAVID Born in England approx 1959 recruited by John Banks to fight for the FNLA in Angola in 1976.
SMITH ROSS Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was made up to Sergeant.
SPENCER JEREMY Born in the UK, an old Etonian he served in the Coldstream Guards. Went to Angola in 1964 to fight under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC, was made up to rank of Lieutenant. He was killed defending the Elila Bridge just north of Kindu on the 14.11.64. Being shot threw the temple by a sniper and died instantly. He was the first officer killed from 5 Commando.
STANNARD RICHARD Born approx 1951 and was a Captain in the Rhodesian Sellous Scouts, became a very highly Decorated hero of the Rhodesian war. Then as an Officer with the South African forces in Angola he Received the “Honoris Crux” the republic’s “Victoria Cross”. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
STEINER ROLF Born 03.01.33 in Munich, twenty-seven days before Hitler came to power. His father had been a flyer with the famous Richthofen squadron, during the First World War and shot down twenty-six enemy aircraft for which he was highly decorated. But he died before Rolf reached the age of four. He joined the Hitler youth at the age of 16 was only 20 years old when World War II finished having seen active service in the last few months. He joined the French Foreign Legion by signing on in the West German French zone obtaining the rank of Sergeant. He saw active service in Indo-China, but did not take part in the battle of Dien Bien Phu, his Battalion at that time was stationed in Hanoi. He was a member of the foreign Legion that Parachuted into the Suez in 1956 during the French, British and Israel attempted seizure of the Canal from Egyptian control. Later he went to Algeria with the Legion, fighting the unrest there. But he became involved in the anti-de Gaulle OAS terrorist movement. Becoming a member of the abortive Generals rebellion against the French President Charles de Gaulle. He had twice been demoted from the rank of Sergeant in Indo-China for unruly behaviour but was never the less, a first-class soldier.
In 1959 he was found to be suffering from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Having to have a quarter of one lung removed, but making a full recovery.1961 not wanting to return to France in case of recriminations he went to the Congo and was a member of Robert Faulques 1st REP in Katanga, after a time he returned to France. Later he became Tshombe's personal bodyguard after the latter’s exile to Spain. But lucky for him he was not on board the light aircraft with Tshombe, when it was hijacked to Algeria, where Tshombe was imprisoned. Later Steiner fought in Biafra again under Robert Faulques and in 1968 leading some of the mercenaries and making a name for him self. He was made up to the rank of Major and later to Lt. Colonel, in charge of planning and in rank was above Taffy Williams who was the field Commander. (After 10 months he was suffering the symptoms of a nervous breakdown). Thinking that all his close friends were against him. His fall from grace came when he was ordered to present himself at the State House in Umuahia to answer questions on why he had commandeered three Swedish Red Cross Land Rovers. He arrived drunk and belligerent. Refusing to hand over his weapon at the gate, he demanded a beer but rejected it when a glass was offered saying it was too warm. Cursing and swearing he got into an argument with General Ojuku’s body guards, assaulting one and sparking off a free for all brawl. Hearing the noise Ojukwu came rushing out and personally saved Steiner from being shot. Far from being grateful, Steiner turned round and directed his insults against his saviour. Together with five other Mercenaries he was arrested and bundled out of the country the following night. General Ojukwu the Biafrian Leader was forced to expel him. After his ignominious hand cuffed expulsion from Biafra to Gabon. He next turned up in the Sudan in November 1969 (for 11months). Becoming a Field Commander of the Conventional Army of the Anya-Nya. But he was wounded and evacuated to Kampala. But his political views change very rapid in Africa, he was arrested and put on trial for being a Mercenary and fighting in the Sudan, for waging war against the Sudanese people. On the 20th September he was given the death sentence later commuted to 20 years in prison, eventually after 3years in prison he was quietly released, after pressure from the German Government threatening to withdraw Aid to the Sudan. Steiner retired to West Germany where he wrote a book. “The Last Adventurer”. Well worth a read.
STERLING DAVID Born in Scotland the man responsible for forming the Special Air Service in North Africa during the Second World War. He led lots of raids behind enemy lines. Finally hurting his back when he parachuted from an unsuitable plane into the desert. In 1967 he formed a Security Company called “Watchguard Organisation” based in Guernsey, it was described as a civilian branch of the SAS, it was to become a Mercenary Recruitment Agency specialising in protection work and training of troops. Watchguard was linked with the very first attempt of the “The Hilton Assignment” in October 1970, a raid that was to have taken place against Colonel Gadhaffi or at least against one of his prisons. Releasing the prisoners to join in a revolt that was planned against Colonel Gadhaffi and to coincide with the raid. It is believed that James Kent for Watchguard, recruited John Banks as a radio operator for the raid. David was very friendly with a lot of very high-ranking British government members including the then Foreign Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Hume. The British government stopped this attempt, worried that any British involvement might bring retaliations from Colonel Gadhaffi. A second and third attempt was also made, but on these attempts the force was made up of mainly French Mercenaries. These were finally stopped by CIA intervention in March 1971. Forcing the Italian and British governments to take action. The boat carrying the Captain and three crewmembers were arrested by the Italian Security forces, which stormed on board the, “The Conquistador X111” in Trieste Harbour as it was about to leave on the raid. John Banks claims to have been among those arrested but there is no evidence to support this. Although it is believed that the Captain was English and using the name of Jock Fraser, the other three-crew members were French. It was thought in high places that Gadhaffi could be brought around to a western way of thinking and remain friendly, how wrong they were.
Sterling withdrew from Watchguard in 1972.
STEVEN’S ALAN Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was made up to Lieutenant.
STRIJDOM A tall young Boer from the Transvaal in South Africa, he followed and fought under Mike Hoare to the Congo in 1964.
STUBBE PIETER German served under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare in 1964 for the ANC.
STURGIS FRANK A Real name Frank Fiorini fought along side Fidel Castro in his fight against the Cuban Dictator General Fulgencio Batista. In 1959 after Batista had fled the country and Castro appointed himself Prime Minister, Sturgis grew disenchanted that Castro was going down the path of Communism, so he played a key role in a CIA sponsored plot to kill the bearded Cuban Leader. In June 1972 Sturgis was one of five men (three of them Cuban Exiles) caught bugging the offices of the Democratic National Committee in Washington’s Watergate Complex, an incident that brought down the American President Richard Nixon, for this he received a short prison sentence.
Upon his release five years later in 1977 he contacted the FNLA via Stan Taylor and his brother Colin Taylor both representatives of Holdern Reberto.
Marita Lorenz signed a statement that Sturgis was with Lee Harvey Oswald and four other Cubans on November 16th 1963 three days before the Assassination of President Kennedy and that they drove from Miami to Dallas. In fact she went on to claim that Sturgis was the second gunman along with Lee Harvey Oswald in the Assassination of President Kennedy, he was the gunman who supposedly fired from behind the grassy knoll. But the Rockerfeller Commission cleared him of this when they looked into the Kennedy Assassination in 1975.
SURMA THADEUS Of Polish origin Ex Legionnaire and friend of French Mercenary Bob Denard.
SYDON The Swede in late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
SYLVESTER Was Greek, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
TAVERNIER From Belgium he went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, as a lieutenant he was later made Commander of one of the fighting units.
TAYLOR COLIN English recruiter for the Angolan FNLA.
TAYLOR JACK US mercenary, captured and killed by Batista regime after being caught supplying guns to rebels. Taylor wasn't a combatant, and was a civilian, as far as I know, but he was running guns to the rebels, so I think that qualifies him!*3
THACKER ROBERT Born in 1948 in the USA, he served with the Australians in Vietnam and with the Special Air Service in Rhodesia as well as in Angola. He then went to the Lebanon and joined the Lebanese Christians. Attacking Palestine positions anywhere in the Middle East. On 12.08.076 it was reported from Beirut that he had been shot leading a squad of Christians in to battle.
THOMPSON JEFF An ex warrant officer with 18 years in the British Army, from the West Country in England. In 1970 then in his late thirties he was recruited by Watchguard as a member of “The Hilton Assignment” and became its number two team leader to John Brooke-Miller. Jeff was a good deal tougher and more ruthless than his quiet manner suggested, having seen active service in Aden. He had also under taken training contracts in Africa for Watchguard, but he was not a permanent member of its organisation. “The Hilton Assignment” was an attempt to overthrow Colonel Gadhaffi, by breaking out of a Libyan Prison most of his political prisoners, who would then have joined in with an already in progress uprising against him. But strong pressure from the Americans on to the Italian and British Governments put a stop to the whole thing.
THORPE BARRY Went to Angola in 1976 to fight for the FNLA recruited by John Banks believed to have been an M16 agent.
TILSEY JOHN He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
TOMBBINI PAUL Born in France claimed to have fought in Angola in 1976, was implicated in the kidnapping in France of Louis Hazan, also involved with Jean Kay and the blackmailing of Marcel Dassault the French Aircraft Manufacturer for 8 million Francs.
TOMKINS DAVE Born in 1940 in London England, with no military training. An ex Con and Professional safe blower, one time bodyguard. And one time partner of John Banks (read John Banks) He was expelled from school at the age of thirteen but went on to successfully teach himself chemistry and to make his own explosives, becoming an expert in his field, even making Nitro-glycerine at home.
At the age of 16 he joined the British Merchant Navy later sailing in the merchant navies of Norway and Yugoslavia. By 1974 he had spent eight of his 34 years in Prison. It is rumoured that British Special Branch Officers approached him to entrap IRA suspects into buying explosives from him, in return for lighter prison terms. At the time he was considered one of the best explosives people around.
He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded taking some shrapnel in his buttocks from his own explosives, ending up in hospital in Kinshasa. Back in England in 1977 along with Leslie Aspin he was contacted for an assassination attempt on the Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, this was later stopped.
TOZZI GINO Born in Italy and a Neo-Fascist, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC in the 5th Commando.
TREVELYAN Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC. Mike Hoare made the comment that if medals had been presented to his men for this campaign, Trevelyan would have received the highest medal available.
TRINQUIER ROGER A Colonel in the French Army, fought in the Congo in 1960. Returning to France after the fall of the Congo, to reappear as a Mercenary Leader in the Yemen and briefly in Biafra. The most obscure of the well-known mercenary leaders and one of the most respected, by those Mercenaries who served under him.
TURLO ARISH Major and Squadron Commander in the Special Air Service, decorated during the Dhofar Campaign. Part owner of “Controlled Risk” a security firm. Along with Simon Adams-dale. They spent 8 months in Colombia negotiating with the Kidnappers of Mr. George Curtis Vice President of Beatrice foods of America, he was released for 240,000 pounds carried in 4 suitcases. Both were arrested for being involved in the crime but released after 6 weeks.
VAN-DE-HOEK Born in Holland went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC.
VAN-DEN-BERGE Alias Van. Belgian served in the Congo where he met up with bob Denard. In March 1977 he fought along side Denard again, in the assault on Cotonou in Benin.
VAN-DER-SCHWARTZ Alias Andover Jones claimed to have worked for Israeli Intelligence was recruited by John Banks and went to Angola to fight for the FNLA in 1976.
VAN-DER-VEUKEN Was at the battle of Bukavu fighting under Jean Schramme in November 1967.
VAN-DER-WESTHUIZEN A Boer went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC became a cook with the 5th Commando was killed at the Tshopo Bridge.
VANERWALLE Born approx 1909 in Belgium attended the Belgian Staff College. Moving to the Congo where he was later known, as “Richelisu of Katanga” was military adviser to the Belgian Consulate in Elizabethville in 1961 where he met up with South African Mike Hoare. He had a distinguished record in the Congo as head of security. In 1964 he was put in overall command of all Mercenaries. When Mike Hoare returned to help build up the mercenaries force he reported direct Vanerwalle.
VAN-HUYSTEEN THEODORUS In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
VANNE A young Belgian or possibly a Dutchman, probably there fore a flem. An ex legionary and the Mercenary who is reported to be the guy who murdered President Ali Soilih in the Comores in 1976. It is also possible that this name is an alias. It was announced in the time honoured way that Ali Soilih had been shot while trying to escape.
VAN-NGUYEN NGUYEN “BOBBY” Friend of Michael D Echanis. Died mysteriously in an Aircraft crash along with Echanis when it plunged in to Lake Nicaragua, 08.09.78. Also on board was Charles (Chuck) Sanders and General Perez the pilot, who was also the chief of Nicaragua National Guard.
VAN-OPPENS HUGH English despite his name, a British Army Officer he served in Korea. Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC. He became a close friend of Mike Hoare. Killed on the 13.05.66 his death has always been suspicious. His name has been linked to a later counter plot to over throw the Government.
VAREY Major in the Special Air Service.
VELLALEY JOHN BARRY Born approx. 1948 and served in the Special Air Service.
VERWAEKE JACKY Born in Belgium a tall thin handsome officer. Had been a commissioned officer in the Congo police force before its breakaway independence. In 1964 he joined up with the rank of Captain and served under the Belgian Major Protin and later the South African Mike Hoare assisting the Mabutu regime.
VICEK STEFAN A Slav arms dealer and agent involved in “The Hilton Assignment”.
VON-BLOTTNITZ Born in Germany, went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC.
VON-BRANIS Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, as a sergeant in 56th Commando, was killed in action.
VON-GROUVE Fought in the Congo in 1964 along side Hans Germani and under the Belgian Major Protin and later the South African Mike Hoare.
VON-LIERES HANS From Germany he went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC as a 2nd Lieutenant, was badly wounded twice in two separate incidents, but died in hospital after having a bullet removed from his head. Being buried at Albertville.
VON ROSEN COUNT CARL GUSTAV Born in 1907 at Rockelstad a turreted 17th century lakeside castle 60 miles south of Stockholm in the province of Sormland in Sweden from an aristocratic family. His Aunt Karin married Lufwaffe Field Marshal Hermann Goring, who later in life would help him.
Expelled from a proper private school, had a fistfight with his father and left home. Became interested in flying and was one of Sweden’s first certified flying instructors, later joining a flying circus.
He was always interested in the underdog, after reading of the plight of the Ethiopians. In 1935 he went to Ethiopia to fight the Italians and the dictator Benito Mussolini’s assisting the British, flying in from Egypt medicines and supplies.
After about 3 years, having done what he could for the country, he then returned to Europe and married a Dutch Airline hostess and took a job flying for KLM the Dutch Airline.
In 1939 with his underdog thoughts in mind he flew for Finland against the Soviets, but this only lasted a short time before the country was over run. He then called in to Berlin to see Hermann Goring on his way to Holland and to reunite with his wife. Goring Advised him not to go but would not tell him the reason was that the Blitzieg was about to start against the Lowlands. Von Rosens did not heed his advice carrying on his journey to Holland.
Four days after his arrival the Blitzieg started, he raced to Schipol Airport where a battle was raging and with the help of a Dutch radio operator managed to get a DC-3 out of its hanger and away from the field. After loading the plane with vital Dutch military and State papers Von Rosens and KLM’s chief pilot flew the DC-3 out to England though a hail of German antiaircraft fire as Holland fell.
For the rest of the war he flew for the Swedish National Airline. His wife stayed in Holland and became a member of the Dutch Resistance’s. She was caught by the Gestapo and sent to Dachau concentration camp, where she later committed Suicide.
After the war Von Rosens went back to Ethiopia for 10 years, a country he loved. He was to assist the Emperor Haile Salassie in building a modern Air force. He was rewarded by the Emperor with the gift of a coffee plantation in the mountains bordering Somalia.
In 1966 he went back to Sweden as a charter pilot for International Charters” Transair” flying out of Malmo.
He then stared flying for the Church groups that were trying to get aid and food into Biafra after the uprising there. He was the first Pilot to beat the Nigerian Blockade, running his own company at the time, he the showed his pilots how to successfully fly into Biafra. Von Rosens died 13.07.77. Aged 70 at his farm in Ethiopia being shot by Somali gunmen in an across the border attack. He had been married three times and had five children.
VON WILLKENS BALT JOACHIM From the Baltic area. In 1964 he became a member of the 5th Commando unit serving under the South African Mike Hoare, becoming one of the units finest soldiers.
WAGEMUELLER HANS JOSEF Born in Germany. During world war two he became a Oberstrurmfuherein the 21st Special Partisanlaeger Commando unit, in the Waffen SS (the fighting SS). A hard fighting force undertaking all the hardest of tasks, he soon became known as a man to get the job done.
At the end of the war his unit was trapped deep in the Czechoslovakian Mountains cut off by local partisans and knowing that his men faced certain death they refused to surrender. So the unit fought their way back to the fatherland, Germany. Here they had to disband and singly try to fit themselves back into life, in a demoralised defeated Germany. This was very hard as the Allies were hunting down all war criminals and SS troops to bring to trial.
A couple of years later Wagernueller turned up in the French Foreign Legion and soon rose to the top. But he could only make it to the top of the non-commissioned ranks. The Legion will take any nationality into its ranks, but stipulates that the officers are always French. After about a year the whole unit was completely made up of Wagernuellers ex Waffen SS men, who had all made it safely though war torn Europe to France to enlist. This unit soon became an elite force and good at its job, being commanded by a French officer. But the French Government got worried by stories of the units passed deeds and what if they mutinied and were commanded by Wagernueller, so in desperation the unit was moved to Indochina, (later to be known as Vietnam).
Here Wagernueller came into his own as the officers usually stayed in the barracks so Wagernueller lead all the missions to destroy the Viet Minh. His methods were brutal but very effective, so much so that his area soon became the quietest and the Viet Minh stayed clear. After five years of fighting through pressure of world opinion and the Viet Minhs dirty tricks campaign, of printed stories with headlines like, “Hitler’s Scum at large in Indochina”. Or “SS Marauders strike again” and at one time digging up bodies that Wagernueller had buried, cutting off all the limbs and taking photos, then sending copies to the UN. So the unit was disbanded with most of the personnel going there own way with French citizenship, that they had earned serving in the French services.
The “Battalion of the Damned” had ceased to exist. It lived exactly 1,243 days, during which it destroyed, 7,466 guerrillas by body count, 221 Viet Minh bases, supply dumps and camps. It liberated 311 military and civilian prisoners from terrorist captivity and covered roughly 11,000 Kilometres on foot. With a loss of only 515 men but that for Wagernueller was considered a heavy loss.
Wagernueller then under took work for a number of Asian Countries connected with security. One such country in return gave him citizenship. He married a local girl and became a Hindu. It is also reported that he wrote a long and detailed letter to the American Government offering to assist with advise, on the subject of Vietnam once the Americans got involved, but sadly he received no answer. After five years of fighting in that country his experience would have been invaluable to the Americans. Instead it was all won and lost in the hotels of Paris, instead of by the soldiers on the battlefield, the man on the battlefield knows what is going on.
WAGNER ISTVAN In March 1977 fought along side Bob Denard in the assault on Cotonou.
WAINHOUSE MICHAEL Served in the Parachute Regiment 1st battalion went to Northern Ireland and with Costas Georgiou robbed a post office of 93 pounds sterling received a 5-year prison sentence and a dishonourable discharge. He fought in Angola for the FNLA. Known as Captain Mick. One of the first four British Mercenaries to arrive in Angola (05.01.76) after Costas Georgiou had made contact with Holdern Reberto and made all the arrangements for them.
WAINWRIGHT Recruited by John Banks and went to Angola in 1976 confessed to Brummie Barker on the flight to Angola that he had no military experience and that he was wanted by the English police, he volunteered to escape capture.
WALKER DAVID An ex Special Air Service trained soldier, was in partnership with David Walker owning and running KMS (Keeni Meeni Services) based in the Channel Islands as a Mercenary, Training and Protection Agency. It is known that they sent military aid to Sri Lanka and Johnson himself fought against the Tamil Freedom Fighters. They are also reported to have picked up in excess a cool 12 million-pound a year contract with the Sultan of Oman. Given the closeness of the British Government with the Sultan it is easy to believe that all this was done with the co-operation of the British Government.
They also dispatched a small team to Honduras to train and fly missions for the Contras against the Sandinistas Government of Nicaragua. The leader of this small group was Michael Borlace. After a falling out with the Americans who were running the operation, the former accusing the later of having a Bay of Pigs mentality, they were soon to pull out.
WALLS PETER He Commanded C Squadron of the Malayan Scouts during the emergency in the1950s. Later becoming General Peter Walls, Commander in Chief of the Rhodesian Special Air Service, he modelled the SAS on the successful Malayan Scouts.
WARD ANDREW Born 1956 at Copthorne in the UK. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Was killed being a victim of the Maquela Massacre.
WARD WILLY Joined Mike Hoare in a Coup attempt against the Seychelles was made Commander of two Group, but pulled out after finding out that there was no plans to withdraw in the event of the operation failing.
WAUGH BILL Canadian pilot in 1985 he was the personal driver for General Tito Okello in Uganda. As Yoweri Museveni and his troops advanced victoriously on Kampala, Bill flew the General out of the country to safely.
WAUTHIER Born in Belgium in civilian life he was an Officer of the Belgium Secret Service. In 1964 he was in the Congo with the rank of Major Serving under the South African Lt. Colonel Mike Hoare. At one time he tried to take over Command of the 6th Commando unit and was murdered by another Mercenary.
WEBB HARRY Born in 1940 in Leeds in the UK. Served in the Territorial Army. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA being recruited by John Banks. Was killed being a victim of the Maquela Massacre that was ordered by Col Callan.
WEBB MIKE From England he joined the British Army and was commissioned into 15th/19th The Kings Royal Hussars for 5 years. He then resigned his Commission and joined with the rank of Captain the Trucial Oman Scouts for Sultan Qaboos. After only one year in March 1975 he again resigned his commission and became a fully fledge Mercenary by joining the Rhodesian Light Infantry. In 1978 he switched over to the Rhodesian Special Forces on 4th March as Mugabe was being installed as Prime Minister. Webb headed south to South Africa. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles. After the failed attempt he fled along with Mike Hoare and most of the other Mercenaries on a hijacked Aircraft back to South Africa, were they were all put on trial. Webb received 5 years imprisonment, but was released in November 1983 after serving just over half of his sentence.
WEBER GUY Served in the Belgian Parachute Brigade as a Colonel and went to the Belgium Congo arriving on 10.07.60. But when the Belgian Government pulled out of the country, Guy stayed behind to act as Military Adviser to Tshombe, picking up the nickname of the Shadow.
WEPENER Born in Rhodesia, went to Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC, was made up to Sergeant.
WHARTON (OR WANTON) HANK ARTHUR Claimed to come from Miami Florida in the USA, but was born in Gratz in Poland in 1916, his family moved to the States in the 1930s. He fought for America during the Second World War. After the War he was a pastry cook till 1947, when he obtained a pilots license. In 1961 he started flying chartered cargo into the Congo for the Swiss Airline “Balair” He then started gunrunning. His first flight in 1966 was a disaster crashing in the Cameroon’s destroying the Cargo on its way to the Nigeria. Whanton was imprisoned for a short time but was soon back in the air, flying any thing for anybody. In 1967-8 flying his Lockheed Super Constellation known as “The old grey Ghost” because of its lack of identification painted on its fuselage. He was flying direct flights from Lisbon, Portugal, into Biafra with food and medical supplies running the Nigerian blockade of the country for the church groups, in 1968 he owned 3 Super Constellation aircraft. It is said that he was the first person who supplied Russian Llyushin Bombers and Mig Fighters to Nigeria. He was flying in supplies and guns to the Biafans as well as dealing with the Nigerians if the price was right he would fly it. But he made a lot of enemies along the way.
WHIRITY KEVIN Born approx 1946. Served in the British Parachute Regiment 3rd Para as a Sergeant for 7 years. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
WHITE (REG) REGINALD Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under the South African Mercenary Mike Hoare and the ANC, was killed in action.*2
WHITE TERENCE No military experience, civilian pilot. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Receiving a broken jaw. (Believed to be in his thirties in Angola). One of the first to return to the UK but he was arrested by the police at the Airport for unlawful possession of a pistol and ammunition. A charge that was outstanding, when he skipped the country illegally to go to Angola.
WHITEHORN LESLIE HAROLD Born 14th January 1938 Johannesburg (South African). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
WICKS ALASTAIR A slim elegant nobleman from the same family as the Dukes of Livingstone and Gawdor. The title was removed from his branch of the expelled Scottish Royal Family, of the Stuart's and Bonnie Prince Charles, the pretender to the throne. He emigrated after the Second World War to Rhodesia and certainly fought in the Bulba war. He then went to Rhodesia and became an administrator with the Rhodesian Air Service.
In 1964 he was summoned to the Congo along with Puren and Hoare to assist Tshombe in stabilising his country from war. He was later to become Mike Hoares Second in Command a position for which he was ideally suited. In 1968 Wicks along with the Rhodesian Mercenary pilot Jack Mallock were flying a very large cargo of Bank notes out of Biafra, to a destination unknown, they landed in the country of Togo to refuel. Wicks was detained and held in detention for 84 days. When released after this horrific ordeal, he was to disappear never to be seen again. The money was confiscated and is thought to have been returned to assist the Biafrian Break away fight for independence. Mallock had been secretly working for the French had been part of the plan to hijack the money.
WILBOR BARRY Served in the Rhodesian Special Air Service. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA and was wounded.
WILEMAN MICHAEL (DAVID ?) Born in 1957 at Peckham, Rye in the UK. Recruited by John bank he fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. He was a victim of the Maquela massacre, (recruited on Wednesday dead by Sunday).
WILHELM A Bavarian Deputy German Ex- Mountain-Trooper went to the Congo in 1965 and fought under South African Mike Hoare and the ANC obtaining the rank of Captain. He died mysteriously in a power struggle within the 6th Commando unit, at the town Paulis in August in 1966. Major Wauthier was also murdered in the same incident.
WILLAR SIMON Born in Scotland, his father being Colonel McWillar Senior Intelligence Officer in Rhodesia. He became a Captain in the Rhodesian Sellous Scouts. In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
WILLIAMS “TAFFY” Born in Wales living in South Africa went to the Congo. Later in 1968 he served in Biafra, becoming a Major and commanding his own Commando unit, he was the only white Mercenary to stand by Biafra for the full duration of the conflict and over twelve months in combat, but leaving in 1969. Some people believe that Taffy Williams is thought to be the Mercenary that Frederick Forsyth based his character Carlo Channon on, in his now famous book “The Dogs of War”. Well worth a read if only for its detail in the setting up of the operation, it is thought to be very accurate. But other people believe that it was possibly Alexandra Gay that Forsyth based his character on.
WILLIAMS LH “MIKE” Mike joined the US Army in 1942 and saw combat as an Infantryman with the 88th Division in Italy. In 1948 he was commissioned to a second Lieutenant at Fort Benning.
He was one of the first officers assigned to the 10th Special Forces, when this unit was activated in 1952. In 1953 he was ordered to Korea. Where he commanded a Special Battalion composed of some twelve hundred Chinese and North Korean defectors. Upon returning to the States he found life boring, Mike went to the Congo and served with the Mercenaries led by famed Briton Michael “Mad Mike” Hoare.
Operating out of Kamina Base in Katanga, (Congo Africa.) When the USA decided it did not want Americans fighting in Katanga. Mike had to leave.
In December 1975 Mike headed back to Africa, his intention was to join up with the U.N.I.T.A. Guerrillas, fighting the Cuban Forces in Angola. This did not work out however. So after a stop in Zambia, Mike travelled to Rhodesia to try and join up with the Rhodesian Army. He was offered and completed a task for the Special Branch outside the country. Upon his return he was offered, and accepted a direct commission in the grade of Captain, later to become a Major.
He was first posted to the 3-protection company at Mount Darwin, about a two-hour drive from the Mozambique border. Which was one of the Black Guerrillas training and staging areas. All the men under his command where black. Mike soon earned respect from these people and with them had many successful patrols along the border.
After a month he was transferred to Llewellin Barracks in Bulawayo to assume Command of 5-protection company. This company was assigned to guard an 80-kilometer segment of railroad, which carried petroleum and ammunition from South Africa to Rhodesia. The rail line was being blown up regularly and Mike had a hard job trying to police the 80 kilometres, once again his command where all blacks.
The job was too much for foot soldiers. So mike bought a load of horses and trained his men to ride and shoot. This was no mean task as Africans are scared to death of an animal. Coloured troops in the Rhodesian Army are known as “Goffles”, Mike’s strange unit became known as the “Galloping Goffles”, this unit became very successful and after a short time the area became very quiet.
Early in July 1977 Mike was transferred to the Greys Scout, where he was second in Command. Named after a Rhodesian Pioneer the Scout mounted troops, where one of the best known units in the Rhodesian Army. He continued to serve in the bush patrols in search of elusive Guerrillas.
On February 28th 1978 Mike left the Rhodesian Army and returned to the USA and retirement.
Extracts from “Merc”, by Jay Mallin and Robert Brown.
WILSON A Sandhurst man went to the Congo in 1964 and served under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC.
WILSON GARY A South Africa served in the House Hold Cavalry, went to Angola in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC, he was made up to 2nd Lieutenant and lead 51st Commando. He attacked the Simba’s at Gemena leaving 160 dead, with only one of his own men injured with a bullet graze that parted his hair. Most of his unit was made up of ANC soldiers. Was responsible for the recapture of Albertville, later he accidentally shot off his thumb.
WILSON NICK In late 1979 he was recruited by Mike Hoare and took part in the attempted coup of the Seychelles.
WILSON TERRY “PINKY” Served in the Rhodesian Special Air Service later he claimed to be an assassin. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA, and was wounded.
WINKLER DARREL Born in Ohio USA, he served in the US Army, undertaking three tours of duty in Germany and three tours of duty in Vietnam. Upon his discharge (by retirement) he had obtained the rank of field Officer. He was disgusted by the decision of the US Government to desert the South Vietnamese people. Winkler then travelled the world ending up in Rhodesia, he was Commissioned into the Rhodesian Army on 12.08.77 and assigned to a Military Studies Course, the equivalent of the US Army Command and General Staff College. Later being appointed as an instructor to lecture on mechanised infantry and armour operations. The Rhodesians were looking for somebody to reorganise their armoured units and who was highly qualified and school trained. Winkler was made up to the rank of Major and then went on to Command the Rhodesian Armoured Corp, nick named the Black Devils. Finally obtaining the rank of OC Rhodesian African riffles.
WISEMAN MICHAEL Born in the UK. He fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. He was captured and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment. In March 1984 along with all the remaining white Mercenaries was released and returned to England.
WOOD GERALD EDWARD Born 3rd july 1941 Stockton On-Tees (British). Recruited by Russell Cargill as one of the originals and went to the Congo in 1961.
WRIGHT MALCOM Alias read Malcom McIntyre
WRIGHT MICK Served in the Rhodesian Special Air Service. Assisted the Ulster Defence Regiment in Northern Ireland gun running and combat training.
WRIGHT ROBIN An American reporter from the 'Christian Science Monitor' fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA. Later he was to write an account of how he spent four days serving under Col.Callan.
YOUNG Served in the Parachute Regiment and fought in Angola in 1976 for the FNLA.
YOUNG Went to the Congo in 1964 and fought under South African Mike Hoare for the ANC, was killed at Lisala.
ZUMBACH JEAN Alias read Johnny “Kamikaze” Brown.
© Copyright Terrance Aspinall All rights reserved. 1990
