A very special thank you to General Sir David Richards GCB CBE DSO, for the Foreword to this book: suffice to say, no better commander could a soldier ever have wished for in the field.
Last but not least I wish to thank my wife Lisa whose unfaltering support and encouragement over the past twelve months has been incredible, and to my children Maisie and Miles who have wondered why their father has been locked away in a room for so long and unable to play as often as they would have liked.
Steve Heaney MC
April 2014,
the Middle East
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Steve Heaney joined the Parachute Regiment Juniors at sixteen, then passed Parachute Regiment selection and joined 3 PARA in 1987. Two years later, he successfully undertook selection into X Platoon - more formally known as Pathfinders. He went on to serve with that unit for over a decade, working with almost every Special Forces unit with which the British military has links.
In 1999, he was promoted to Platoon Sergeant. The following year, he was the first non-officer in the unit’s history to be awarded the Military Cross for his leadership and courage during Operation Mayhem. He was also awarded the Commanding Officer’s Commendation for finding arms caches in Northern Ireland.
Sergeant Heaney left the British military in 2001. He has spent the last decade working as a senior military adviser to one of Britain’s key allies.
Damien Lewis has worked as a war and conflict reporter for major broadcasters, reporting from across Africa, South America, the Middle and Far East, and has won numerous awards, for journalism. His first book was an international bestseller, translated into more than thirty languages, and made into a film and stage play.
His book Operation Certain Death, Apache Dawn and Zero Six Bravo were all Sunday Times bestsellers, as were his previous co-authored military books, Fire Strike 7/9, co-written with Sergeant Paul ‘Bommer’ Grahame, and It’s All About Treo, co-authored with Dave Hayhoe. Several of his elite-forces books are in the process of being made into movies or TV dramas.
PHOTOS, IMAGE AND QUOTE CREDITS:
The authors and publisher are grateful to the following for permission to reproduce photographs:
Andy Chittock, 1–6, 11–12, 16–21, 30–7, 44
Peter Russell, 7–10
Kadir van Lohuizen/Noor/eyevine, 28
David Rose/Panos, 29
AFP/Getty Images, 31, 40
Travis Lupick, 38
Pep Bonet/Noor/eyevine, 39, 42
Fredrik Naumann/Panos Pictures, 41
Francesco Zizola/Noor/eyevine, 43
Malcolm Fairman/Alamy, 45
INDEX
African pouched rats, ref1
air marker panels, ref1
Air Mounting Centre (AMC), South Cerney, ref1, ref2, ref3
airliners, civilian, ref1, ref2
AK47 assault rifles, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Al Qaeda, ref1, ref2
Aldershot Training Area, ref1
Allem, Captain Johnny, ref1
alligators, ref1
Altitude Decompression Sickness (ADS), ref1
Amphibious Readiness Group, ref1
‘Amps Camps’, ref1
AR15 assault rifles, ref1
Arctic Survival cadre, ref1
Army Air Corps, ref1, ref2
Army Dental Corps, ref1
Ashby, Major Phil, ref1
B-1B heavy bombers, ref1
bamboo, see punji sticks
Barnes, Bill ‘Basha’, ref1, ref2
‘battle-sighting’, ref1
battle trenches, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
‘bearing and pacing’, ref1
Belize, ref1, ref2
Bell, Corporal Nathan ‘Nathe’ and British withdrawal, ref1, ref2
defensive preparations, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and Donaldson, ref1, ref2, ref3
food preparation, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
and I-beds, ref1
joins Pathfinders, ref1
mentioned in dispatches, ref1
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
Ben (dog), ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Blair, Tony, ref1, ref2, ref3
body armour, lack of, ref1
Borneo, ref1
bread rolls, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Brecon Beacons, ref1, ref2, ref3
Brewster, Pete, ref1
British Army
and kit procurement, ref1
and personal weapons, ref1
Brown, Steve (Steve B), ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Browning machine guns, ref1
Browning pistols, ref1, ref2
Brunei, ref1, ref2
Bryant, Major Bob, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Budd, Bryan, ref1, ref2, ref3
buddy-buddy system, ref1, ref2
‘bullet mantles’, ref1
Caine, Michael, ref1
Cantrill, Captain Richard arrival in Lungi Lol, ref1
and decision to stay in Lungi Lol, ref1
departure from Lungi Lol, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13, ref14
Carson, Lewis, ref1, ref2
casevacs, ref1
Caveney, Joe, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
centipedes, ref1
child soldiers, ref1
China Lake, ref1, ref2, ref3
CIA Special Activities Division (SAD), ref1
Claymores, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
close quarter battle (CQB) terrain, ref1
Combat 95 uniform, ref1
common weapon sights (CWSs), ref1
compassionate leave, ref1
Dakar, ref1, ref2
defensive perimeter posts (DPPs), ref1
dehydration, ref1, ref2
Delta Force, ref1
detcord, ref1
diamonds, conflict, ref1, ref2
Dick, Neil ‘Tricky’
and Brigadier Richards’ arrival, ref1
and British withdrawal, ref1, ref2, ref3
and Cantrill’s arrival, ref1
defensive preparations, ref1, ref2
and Donaldson, ref1, ref2
establishes communications, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
and fighting patrol, ref1, ref2, ref3
and Ibrahim, ref1, ref2
Pathfinders’ brew-master, ref1, ref2, ref3
and QRF, ref1, ref2, ref3
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and RMPs, ref1
Donaldson, Captain Robert
appointed OC, ref1
and arrival of Mojo, ref1
and E&E issue, ref1, ref2, ref3
and forward patrol, ref1
granted compassionate leave, ref1, ref2
and Pathfinder ‘prayers’, ref1
and Pathfinders’ deployment, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
withdraws to airport, ref1, ref2, ref3
drinking water, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
drug-runners, ref1
drugs, RUF and, ref1, ref2, ref3
DShK machine guns, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
escape and evasion (E&E), ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
issue with Donaldson, ref1, ref2, ref3
F-15 Eagle fighter pilots, ref1
Falklands War, ref1
Final Protective Fire (FPF), ref1
FN assault rifles, ref1, ref2
‘follow-on’ bags, ref1
‘forced air’ mixture, ref1
Freetown, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
British Embassy evacuation, ref1, ref2
capture of rebel leader in, ref1
Mammy Yoko Hotel, ref1
rebel advance on, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
Freetown Estuary, ref1, ref2, ref3
> general purpose machine guns (GPMGs), ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
barrel-changes, ref1
use against rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13
use by fighting patrol, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Gibson, Colonel Paul ‘Gibbo’
briefs Pathfinders, ref1
and Donaldson, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and Kosovo mission, ref1
and Pathfinders’ deployment, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11
and QRF, ref1, ref2, ref3
visits Lungi Lol, ref1, ref2, ref3
Gow, Company Sergeant Major Andy, ref1
Guatemala, ref1, ref2
Gurkhas, ref1
hammocks, ref1
Hansen, Morgan Taff, ref1
HAPLSS (High Altitude Parachutist Life Support System), ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
hard tack biscuits, ref1
Harris, Captain Grant
and Brigadier Richards’ arrival, ref1
and British withdrawal, ref1, ref2
and Cantrill’s arrival, ref1
defensive preparations, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and Donaldson, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
and fighting patrol, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and forward patrol, ref1, ref2
and Gibson’s arrival, ref1
meetings with village chief, ref1, ref2, ref3
and Mojo’s arrival, ref1
and Pathfinders’ deployment, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and Pathfinders’ ethos, ref1
and Pathfinders’ humour, ref1, ref2
pre-battle briefing, ref1
and QRF, ref1, ref2, ref3
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
and RMPs, ref1
and snail stew, ref1
Harrison, Lance Corporal Joe ‘H’
and British withdrawal, ref1
defensive preparations, ref1, ref2
friendship with Nathe Bell, ref1
known as the ‘Death Dealer’, ref1, ref2
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12
retrieves rebel weapons, ref1
and snail stew, ref1
Harrison, Major Andy, ref1
‘hexy’ stoves, ref1
HIP helicopters, ref1, ref2
HMS Ocean, ref1
Holt, Roger, ref1
HOOK helicopters, ref1
human shields, RUF use of, ref1, ref2
Ibrahim, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
and I-beds, ref1
and makeshift gym, ref1
Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), ref1
Iraq War, ref1
Jackson, Captain Mark ‘Jacko’, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Jackson, General Sir Mike, ref1
James, Captain Chris, ref1
Joint Air Transport Establishment (JTE), ref1
jungle boots, US Army, ref1
Jungle Tracker Courses, ref1
Kabbah, President Ahmad, ref1, ref2
kidnappings, by RUF, ref1
Kosovo, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
L2 fragmentation grenades, ref1
L96 AW sniper rifles, ref1
Lariam antimalarial pills, ref1
LAW light anti-armour weapons, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
Lewis, Mark ‘Marky’, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
‘light order’, ref1
live fire exercises, ref1
Long Range Recce Patrols (LRRPs), ref1
Low’s Gully, ref1
Lungi Airport
British arrive at, ref1, ref2
and British withdrawal, ref1
Donaldson returns to, ref1, ref2
rebel advance on, ref1, ref2
weapons dump, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Lungi Lol
British withdrawal from, ref1
civilian influx, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
defensive preparations, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Fern Gully, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
fighting patrol around, ref1
latrines, ref1, ref2
meetings with village chief, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Pathfinders’ deployment to, ref1, ref2
Pathfinders’ relations with villagers, ref1, ref2, ref3
railway line, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
rebel advance on, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
rebel assault begins, ref1
villagers and forced labour, ref1, ref2
villagers singing, ref1
weapons captured at, ref1, ref2
M16 assault rifles, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
Malaysia, ref1, ref2
Mangham, Major Mark, ref1
maps, operational, ref1
MI6, ref1
Middlesbrough, ref1, ref2
Military Cross, ref1
Minimi light machine guns, ref1, ref2
Ministry of Defence (MOD), ref1, ref2, ref3
‘mission command’, ref1
Mogadishu, ref1, ref2
‘Mojo, Lieutenant’, see Obasanjo, Lieutenant Oronto
morphine, ref1
mortars, 51 mm, ref1
illuminate rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10, ref11, ref12, ref13
mortars, 81 mm, ref1, ref2, ref3
motion sensors, ref1, ref2
Mountain Leaders, ref1
mushrooms, ref1
named areas of interest (NAIs), ref1
NATO ammunition, ref1
negligent discharge (ND), ref1
net explosive quantity (NEQ), ref1
New Zealand SAS, ref1
Newell, Colour Sergeant Eddie ‘The White Rabbit’, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
arrives in Lungi Lol, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and Donaldson, ref1, ref2, ref3
Nigerian military, hierarchical nature of, ref1
‘night routine’, ref1
night vision goggles (NVGs), ref1, ref2
night-time air-markers, ref1
non-combat evacuation operation (NEO), ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
Northern Ireland, ref1, ref2
Obasanjo, Lieutenant Oronto (‘Lieutenant Mojo’), ref1, ref2
and bread deliveries, ref1, ref2, ref3
and British withdrawal, ref1, ref2
and defensive preparations, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
and influx of villagers, ref1
and latrines, ref1
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6
and rebel dead, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
and villagers’ gratitude, ref1, ref2
observation post (OP) kit, ref1
‘Operation Blind’, ref1
Operations Other Than War (OOTWs), ref1, ref2
parachute jumps
high-altitude, ref1, ref2, ref3
tandem, ref1, ref2
see also HAPLSS
Parachute Regiment
author and 3 PARA, ref1, ref2
deployment, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
hatred of RMPs, ref1
Junior PARA, ref1
Kosovo deployment, ref1
medical provisions, ref1
numbers, ref1
P Company, ref1
Quick Reaction Force (QRF), ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
Support Company, ref1
withdrawal from Lungi Lol, ref1, ref2
Parsons, Andy, ref1
Parton, Corporal Sam ‘Dolly’
and bread rolls, ref1, ref2
and British withdrawal, ref1, ref2
defensive preparations, ref1, ref2, ref3, re
f4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
and Donaldson, ref1, ref2
and fighting patrol, ref1, ref2
and I-beds, ref1
joins Pathfinders, ref1
and QRF, ref1
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9
and snail stew, ref1
Pathfinders
and bad decision-making, ref1
‘black’ identity, ref1, ref2, ref3
call signs, ref1
decision-making, ref1, ref2, ref3
deniable operations, ref1
esprit de corps, ref1, ref2
first seek-and-destroy mission, ref1
formal role of, ref1
formation of, ref1
identity markers, ref1
Interest Room, ref1, ref2
medical training, ref1
navigational skills, ref1
nickname, ref1
Pathfinder Selection, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
pay and conditions, ref1, ref2
personal kit, ref1
‘prayers’, ref1
self-reliance, ref1
Patrol Lanes, ref1
Patrols Medics cadre, ref1
PE4 plastic explosive, ref1, ref2, ref3
ponchos, US Army, ref1
Port Stanley, ref1
‘prickly heat’, ref1
punji sticks, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8
and rebel assault, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
radios, Clansman 319 HF, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7
radios, Clansman 349 VHF, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5
RAF Brize Norton, ref1
RAF Odiham, ref1
range cards, ref1
rape, by RUF, ref1, ref2
Ready Status One, ref1
Revolutionary United Front (RUF)
Al Qaeda links, ref1
and animal cries, ref1, ref2
battle chant, ref1
final defeat of, ref1
ideology and tactics, ref1
noms de guerre, ref1
numbers, ref1
Operation Kill British, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4, ref5, ref6, ref7, ref8, ref9, ref10
Sex The Child ‘game’, ref1
Richards, Brigadier David, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Robson, Mick, ref1, ref2, ref3, ref4
Operation Mayhem Page 33