Book Condition: good.
1st Edition 1967. no dust jacket.
This book has been inscribed by Lt. Col. John Peters who took over command of 5 Commando from Mike Hoare. The dedication is to Dave, who I presume to be Dave Braham, as the inscription refers to their time together in the Congo 1965-1967 (see photo).
Hardcover with green boards.
318 Pages.
Published - Robert Hale.
Michael Hoare, better known as "Colonel Mad Mike" was born around 1919 in India. He spent his early days in Ireland. In 1947 he immigrated to Natal in South Africa. He became a sleeping partner in a used car business. In 1961 he left Durban for Katanga to assist the Katangese army, where he played a minor role. The story goes that he was initially hired not as a mercenary, but by a South African millionaire, Anderson who's son had been reported missing in north Katanga sometime in 1961. Hoare led some mercenaries on a rescue mission, only to find that the son had been ritually murdered by the Baluba. He then ransacked and burnt the village of Kalamatadi. In July of 1964 after 4 years of uneasy independence, the Democratic Republic of the Congo was engulfed in an armed rebellion, which spread quickly through the country. The rebel soldiers known as the "Simbas", proceeded to strike terror in the hearts of civilians and national army alike, raping, looting and burning. Moise Tshombe enlisted Colonel Mike Hoare and his National Army. Hoare flew to the Congo to Leo and was commissioned to raise a force of mercenaries with himself as Commanding Officer. Before 1964 Hoare was virtually unknown, sixteen months later, when he retired he was one of the most famous mercenary leaders in the world. He was the soldier who swept the Congo clean, the man who made modern mercenary soldiering briefly, but confusingly respectable. In sixteen months Mike and his army liberated "Stanleyville", and freed hundreds of European hostages and finally restored law and order in the Congo. "CONGO MERCENARY", is his story.
**John Peters: born 1922 in Leeds, England.
- Sept. 1964 Sgt in 57 Commando under Capt. Ian Gordon.
- 20th Nov 1964 2/Lt.
- 26th Dec 1964 Capt./ Commander of 54 &57 Cdo.
- 16th March 1965 Capt. / Commander of "Force John".
- 12th April 1965 Capt. / District Commissioner in Niangara.
- 6th May 1965 Commandant / Commander of "Force John".
- 10th May 1965 Forced to leave the Congo.
- Aug 1965 Commandant / Commander of "Force John".
- 28th Sept 1965 Wounded in the leg at Baraka.
- 13th Oct 1965 Wounded in the leg again.
- 1st Dec 1965 Maj.
- 9th Dec 1965 Maj. / Commander-in-Chief of 5 Cdo when Hoare leaves Congo.
- 1st Jan 1966 Lt. Colonel / Commander-in-Chief of 5 Cdo.
- 26th March 1967 Retires as head of 5 Cdo.
- 1975 Peters was arrested by Thai customs officials in a drug smuggling operation in which Peters tried to fly opium in a C-46. Peters was killed by a vigilante or by the Thai police.
** Info from www.mercenary-wars.net
Postage in SA R48. We combine items. Door-to-door courier option to most SA areas.
I HAVE LISTED SEVERAL INTERESTING ITEMS ON BID OR BUY. SINCE ITEMS ARE COMBINED FOR SHIPPING IT COSTS MUCH LESS PER ITEM TO SHIP MORE THAN ONE. CLICK ON THE BID OR BUY ICON BELOW IF YOU WANT TO SEE THEM.
