Masodja: The History of the Rhodesian African Rifles and its Forerunner, the Rhodesia Native Regiment - Tapa dura

Originally formed as The Rhodesia Native Regiment during World War I, this fine regiment first saw action in East Africa, pitted against the wily von Lettow-Vorbeck and his army of German askaris. Disbanded and later re-formed, the regiment was to distinguish itself during World War II in the North African and Burma campaigns. Using the counter-insurgency experience gleaned from the Malayan Campaign of the 1950s, the RAR provided the frontline troops in the battle for Rhodesia during that country's bitter civil war of the 1960s and 1970s. The contents include the formation of the Rhodesia Native Regiment, RNR operations in East Africa during WWI, armistice and the disbandment of the RNR, the formation of the RAR, the RAR in the Burma campaign, the RAR in the Malayan Emergency, the Nyasaland Emergency and the RAR in the Rhodesian bush war. Also included with the book is the award-winning BBC documentary DVD, Frontline Rhodesia. About the Author Alexandre Binda was born in Beira, Mozambique in 1945, and joined the Rhodesian Army in 1965. Between 1968 and 1972 he took part in a dozen or so deployments with RLI and SAS combat-tracker teams in support of the Portuguese Army in the Tete Province of Mozambique, countering Frelimo and ZANLA guerrilla incursions from the north. He was awarded a Military Forces Commendation. Alex is a keen student of African military history and has written several articles for Lion& Tusk, the magazine of the Rhodesian Army Association. He is also co-author of The Saints-The Rhodesian Light Infantry.

Alexandre Binda was born in Beira, Mozambique in 1945. He joined the Rhodesian Army in 1965. Although he had attested into the Pay Corps, he was to get more operational and combat experience than any of his colleagues. Between 1968 and 1972 he took part in a dozen or so deployments with RLI and SAS combat-tracker teams in support of the Portuguese Army in the Tete Province of Mozambique, countering Frelimo and ZANLA guerrilla incursions from the north. During his 15 years in the Rhodesian Army, he did a four-year tour of duty with the Selous Scouts and was paymaster for the Grey's Scouts and other units such as POU (Psychological Operations Unit). He was awarded a Military Forces Commendation and was commissioned in 1979. Alex is a keen student of African military history and has written several articles for "Lion & Tusk", the magazine of the Rhodesian Army Association. In addition, he has undertaken a number of significant military history projects including "Masodja - A History of the Rhodesian African Rifles", "The Saints - A History of the Rhodesian Light Infantry" and most recently, his acclaimed work "The Rhodesia Regiment - From Boer War to Bush War: 1899-1980. " Married to Jane, Alex now resides in scenic Northumberland's Cheviot Hills near the Scottish border in the UK.