Ronald Reid-Daly: Difference between revisions
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Born in [[ |
Born in [[South Africa]], Reid-Daly entered military service in 1951 and served with the [[Rhodesian Special Air Service|C (Rhodesia) Squadron]] of the British [[Special Air Service]] (SAS) in operations against insurgents in [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]]. Rising to the rank of [[Regimental Sergeant Major]] in the [[Rhodesian Light Infantry]], he was later commissioned and achieved the rank of Captain. He retired from the Army in 1973. |
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In late 1973 he was persuaded by General [[Peter Walls]], then chief of the Rhodesian Army, to return to active duty in order to form the [[Selous Scouts]], an elite special forces unit to combat the growing threat posed by nationalist guerrillas. Drawing on his Malayan experiences, Lieutenant Colonel Reid-Daly built up a skilled and highly professional regiment from scratch. Although the [[Selous Scouts]] achieved many of their military objectives, their unorthodox methods created tensions within the military hierarchy. Reid-Daly had several brushes with the Rhodesian authorities. |
In late 1973 he was persuaded by General [[Peter Walls]], then chief of the Rhodesian Army, to return to active duty in order to form the [[Selous Scouts]], an elite special forces unit to combat the growing threat posed by nationalist guerrillas. Drawing on his Malayan experiences, Lieutenant Colonel Reid-Daly built up a skilled and highly professional regiment from scratch. Although the [[Selous Scouts]] achieved many of their military objectives, their unorthodox methods created tensions within the military hierarchy. Reid-Daly had several brushes with the Rhodesian authorities. |
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In 1979 |
In 1979 rumours surfaced in Salisbury that that the Scouts were poaching ivory along the Zambezi valley. These were never proved and the colonel, as a well-known conservationist, dismissed the allegations as ridiculous.<ref>Reid-Daly (1982), p. 421</ref> In the process of defending himself against them Reid-Daly verbally attacked Major General John Hickman.<ref name="hickman">Beckett, I. F. W. (Ian Frederick William). ''Modern Insurgencies and Counter-Insurgencies: Guerrillas and Their Opponents Since 1750'', 2001. Page 140.</ref> For this he was charged with insubordination and sentenced with a reprimand. Disgusted, he resigned as the commander of the Scouts in August, but continue to fight a legal battle against the judgement, proclaiming his innocence. This continued even after Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, and only stopped after Reid-Daily moved to South Africa in 1982.<ref>Reid-Daly (1982), p. 422-423</ref> |
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In South Africa, Reid-Daly became commander of the [[Transkei]] Defence Force, and later was the leader of the private security firm Security Services Transkei Pty Ltd. He currently lives in [[ |
In South Africa, Reid-Daly became commander of the [[Transkei]] Defence Force, and later was the leader of the private security firm Security Services Transkei Pty Ltd. He currently lives in [[Cape Town]]. |
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The following message was sent out to many former Rhodesians on May 19, 2010: |
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RON REID DALY |
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'Give people roses while they can still enjoy the scent!" |
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So sorry to bring such sad news, but this time it has a tiny positive spin. |
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Ron is nearing his end very rapidly, and sadly it is too late now for |
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visitors or phone calls, but he gets such strength from "the Manne" |
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as always, so as we did with Mr Smith - if any of you would like to |
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send a positive message to Ron, (he doesn't 'do computers') please |
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would you email them to me, before Friday, and I will put them into |
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a binder and he can read them during his stronger moments. |
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It always amazes me how chuffed he gets when he hears what he meant to |
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the men, and while he still has the strength, let's do this |
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wonderful thing for him. |
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Bless you all, Annie Bishop |
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To send your message to Ron, reply [to] rzww [at] shaw.ca and we will submit all into one email to Annie Bishop to forward on. |
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==Publications by Reid-Daly== |
==Publications by Reid-Daly== |
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Revision as of 06:30, 18 June 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald "Ron" Francis Reid-Daly (born in 1926) founded and commanded the elite Selous Scouts special forces unit that fought during the Rhodesian Bush War.
Career
Born in South Africa, Reid-Daly entered military service in 1951 and served with the C (Rhodesia) Squadron of the British Special Air Service (SAS) in operations against insurgents in Malaya. Rising to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major in the Rhodesian Light Infantry, he was later commissioned and achieved the rank of Captain. He retired from the Army in 1973.
In late 1973 he was persuaded by General Peter Walls, then chief of the Rhodesian Army, to return to active duty in order to form the Selous Scouts, an elite special forces unit to combat the growing threat posed by nationalist guerrillas. Drawing on his Malayan experiences, Lieutenant Colonel Reid-Daly built up a skilled and highly professional regiment from scratch. Although the Selous Scouts achieved many of their military objectives, their unorthodox methods created tensions within the military hierarchy. Reid-Daly had several brushes with the Rhodesian authorities.
In 1979 rumours surfaced in Salisbury that that the Scouts were poaching ivory along the Zambezi valley. These were never proved and the colonel, as a well-known conservationist, dismissed the allegations as ridiculous.[1] In the process of defending himself against them Reid-Daly verbally attacked Major General John Hickman.[2] For this he was charged with insubordination and sentenced with a reprimand. Disgusted, he resigned as the commander of the Scouts in August, but continue to fight a legal battle against the judgement, proclaiming his innocence. This continued even after Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, and only stopped after Reid-Daily moved to South Africa in 1982.[3]
In South Africa, Reid-Daly became commander of the Transkei Defence Force, and later was the leader of the private security firm Security Services Transkei Pty Ltd. He currently lives in Cape Town.
Publications by Reid-Daly
- Selous Scouts: Top Secret War by Ron Reid-Daly and Peter Stiff; Galago Publishing (1982)
- Staying Alive: A Southern African Survival Handbook by Ron Reid-Daly; Ashanti Publications (1990)
- Pamwe Chete: The Legend of the Selous Scouts by Ron Reid-Daly; Covos-Day Books (2001)