This all new work by accomplished military historian Alexandre
Binda, former paymaster to the Grey's Scouts, tables the remarkable
story of Rhodesia's mounted infantry, the Grey's Scouts. Working
closely with the last commanding officer, squadron commanders and a
whole host of regimental personalities, all of whom have given The
Equus Men their unequivocal support, Binda has enjoyed unparalled
access to thousands of pages of archival documents and many
hundreds of previously unpublished photographs. Here, he has traced
the Grey's from their early origins in the Matabele Rebellion of
1896, where an 'unassuming Englishman, the Honourable George Grey',
found himself originating a body of horseman named the 'Bulawayo
Field Force', through to the formation of the Animal Transport Unit
(ATU) which went on to become the Mounted Infantry Unit (MIU). With
the skill of a practiced narrator, Binda takes the reader through
these early days to the establishment of the Grey's Scouts in the
Rhodesian Army order of battle in 1976. Deployed to great effect
during the bitter Rhodesian Bush War of the late 1960s - 1970s, the
mounted operations conducted by the Grey's are succinctly and
clearly detailed. Some of the contacts related make for astonishing
reads and with the lively, vibrant, text one can almost feel the
steaming sweat of rider and mount; sense the pounding adrenaline;
hear the thundering hooves as a fearful enemy is pursued to
battle's inevitable conclusion. Suffice to say, The Equus Men makes
for an engaging read. Trained and utilised as mounted infantry as
opposed to cavalry, the Grey's Scouts saw exceptional success in
the field. Lightly equipped, they were able to cover great
distances at speed, live off the veldt with minimal support and
through 'shock action', quickly engage and destroy insurgent
forces. Originally a regular formation, the Grey's Scouts were
augmented by Territorial and National Service soldiers as the
conflict progressed and by 1980, when hostilities ceased, the
Regiment numbered some 600 soldiers, both men and women, black and
white. With its informative text and rich profusion of photographs,
The Equus Men is a stunning tribute to the equestrian and fighting
prowess of the Grey's Scouts. It is a remarkable story and one that
is ever more relevant, given recent mounted and pack horse
operations conducted by British and US special forces in
Afghanistan.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
