We Dared to Win: The SAS in Rhodesia

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Andre Scheepers grew up on a farm in Rhodesia, learning about the bush from his African childhood friends, before joining the army. A quiet, introspective thinker, Andre started out as a trooper in the SAS before being commissioned into the Rhodesian Light Infantry Commandos, where he was engaged in fireforce combat operations. He then rejoined the SAS. Wounded 13 times, his operational record is exceptional even by the tough standards that existed at the time. He emerged as the SAS officer par excellence; beloved by his men, displaying extraordinary calmness, courage, and audacious cunning during a host of extremely dangerous operations. Andre writes vividly about his experiences, his emotions, and his state of mind during the war, and reflects candidly on what he learned and how war has shaped his life since.

In addition to Andre’s personal story, this book reveals more about some of the other men who were distinguished operators in SAS operations during the Rhodesian War.

[This author is an Afrikaans Rhodesian (like my own family was. He was born in Rhodesia and fought in the SAS which was a Whites Only unit. Jan]

Price for Hardcover: $25.00

Editorial Reviews
“It is a book that left me breathless, angered and saddened. It is a book about soldiers fighting a war they were not allowed to win; a war to save a country from itself. It is a book of immense bravery and sacrifice against incredible odds. It is a book that proves that some men are born to become warriors, others to become heroes. Only a select few are born to be both.”
Lt. Colonel Eeben Barlow, ex-32nd Battalion and Chairman of Executive Outcomes

“Andre was the best of the best and the bravest of the brave.”
Captain Darrell Watt, ex-SAS

“If you have read Hannes Wessels’s A Handful of Hard Men – among the best books to emerge on guerilla warfare in South Africa in recent times, then We Dared to Win will not disappoint. Working with Andre Scheepers – an outstanding SAS operator during the Rhodesian War – they have pulled together another remarkable panoply of events that ultimately changed history throughout South Africa. Indeed, these events are gripping, incisive and very well done!”
Al J. Venter, author and war correspondent
About the Author
Hannes Wessels was born in 1956 in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) but grew up in Umtali on the Mozambican border. As a boy, holidays were spent with Game Department rangers; time on safari in Mozambique with the late Wally Johnson was a big influence on him. Wessels also grew to know Robert Ruark whose love of Africa, its people, politics and the written word left a lasting impression. He saw action in the Rhodesian bush war before acquiring a law degree which he chose not to use. He has hunted big game in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania in a 20-year career. In 1994 he was severely gored by a wounded buffalo which almost cost him his life. While no longer directly involved in hunting, he is part-owner of a lodge and game ranch in Zambia on the Zambezi and remains keenly interested in all matters relating to African wildlife and conservation. He has published Strange Tales from Africa in the USA, a collection of anecdotes from his hunting days. He is also a syndicated writer for Outdoor Life in the United States and is currently writing a history on the Rhodesian SAS. He is married to Mandy and has two daughters, Hope and Jana, and lives in Darling in the Western Cape of South Africa.

After a childhood on a farm in the Rhodesian bush, Andre Scheepers joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry commandos, followed by the SAS in 1974. In the thick of the action during the Rhodesian Bush War he was wounded on 12 occasions. Turning down an opportunity to go into the British SAS, he elected instead to join a seminary and later became a priest. A true leader, beloved by his men, his calmness in extreme danger coupled with his ability to think his way out of tight corners made him the quintessential SAS officer.

Some Customer Reviews:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brutally True and Sad
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2021
Wonderful book that is so sad how soldiers that gave beyond everything was stitched up by the Politicians in the end and all for nothing. All that served in those times like myself gave up a lot to do what had to be done and all for nothing.

The worst part in South Africa, as was the case in Rhodesia was the actual winners – the Communists, aided by their British allies within Intelligence. Percy Sillitoe who blundered through the Guy Burgess and Maclean blunders as head of MI5 before working for Oppenheimer in South Africa.

The Rhodesians had their nemesis with Ken Flower and off course Genl. Walls was so impressed with tea with the Queen Mother that he ended off doing bugger all when he could.
Good men, Professional Soldiers, sold down the drain like dogs. Shame on this new world establishment.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2019
This was an excellent collection of experiences from the SAS operators in Rhodesia during the Bush War of the 1970s. I think it gave a good picture of what the soldiers were going through during that war. These were men who were doing what they could to defend their country.

I recommend this if you want to get an understanding of what those soldiers were experiencing. It is not a full military history of the war but a collection of memories from several soldiers during the conflict.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hats off, great accounts
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2021
As a retired soldier, I have always had an interest in the Rhodesian bush war and was a firm supporter for Ian Smith and its people’s fighting to keep a country. I’m reminded of a couple of close friends who left our Battalion in the early 70s, they almost convinced me to go with them and a part of me still regrets not taking on that great adventure. I saw one of the guys on a news report after a notable fire-fight which saw 34 T’s killed; so I’m glad they got the adventure they were after while the rest of us staged on in NI. I have read several books and accounts, this one is first class and I take my hat off to the courage and daring do of those who fought this war.

Finally, I am massively embarrassed to this day about the back stabbing and subterfuge of the British Government who jumped into bed with Mugabe and sold out the country, it was shameful, the bread basket of Africa reduced to dust and utter corruption while lost souls of its white tribe were scapegoats for the despot, slaughtered and scattered to the winds. My heart goes out to you all and best wishes to the Rhodesian military veterans one and all. A dam good read – thanks

5.0 out of 5 stars Forgotten History
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2024
A great firsthand account of a period of history mostly ignored by the media.