This is a fast-moving, action-packed account of Granger Korff's two years' service during 1980/81 with 1 Parachute Battalion at the height of the South African 'bush war' in South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola. Apart from the 'standard' counter-insurgency activities of Fireforce operations, ambushing and patrols, to contact and destroy SWAPO guerrillas, he was involved in several massive South African Defence Force (SADF) conventional cross-border operations, such as Protea, Daisy and Carnation, into Angola to take on FAPLA (Angolan MPLA troops) and their Cuban and Soviet allies. Having grown up as an East Rand rebel street-fighter, Korff's military 'career' is marred with controversy. He is always in trouble - going AWOL on the eve of battle in order to get to the front; facing a court martial for beating up, and reducing to tears, a sergeant-major in front of the troops; fist-fighting with Drug Squad agents; arrested at gunpoint after the gruelling seven-week, 700km Recce selection endurance march - are but some of the colourful anecdotes that lace this account of service in the SADF.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By DF McCleland
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Like most young South African males of his generation & mine, we all had to go to the Army & fight on the Border. The border in question was the Namibian/Angolan border. The enemy was Communism or more specifically SWAPO.
Granger Korff was one such South African male. In this autobiography, Granger elaborates what it was like growing up in apartheid South Africa. He was clearly a drop-out, a problem child being expelled from numerous schools due to delinquent behaviour.
As such he was attracted to the Army unlike the normal run-of-the-mill SA male who participated under duress. Being quick tempered & iconoclastic, he has numerous brushes with authority. All of these are covered in a clear, lucid no-nonsense style reminiscent of Andy NcNab of the SAS.
However the main part of the book is reserved for his various skirmishes & battles against SWAPO. Unlike the usual doctrine when attacking of having a numerical advantage of 3 to 1, the South Africans attacked with a numerical disadvantage of 1 to 3 normally without the requisite anti armour weaponry. This sometimes results in potentially difficult situations when confronted with tanks or BTRs.
But the results were impressive - with body counts normally of the order of 50 to 1.
Even with such light casualties, the horrors of war are quickly encountered not only from one's own casualties but from civilians inadvertently killed such a family of Bushmen amongst a SWAPO contingent.
From a pure military viewpoint, the details of the main operations in which Granger participated viz Ceiling; Protea & Daisy provide one with a vivid picture of what it was like to fight in this bush war.
For all those wanting a front-line troops view into what really happened on the Border, this is the book to purchase.
Granger Korff was one such South African male. In this autobiography, Granger elaborates what it was like growing up in apartheid South Africa. He was clearly a drop-out, a problem child being expelled from numerous schools due to delinquent behaviour.
As such he was attracted to the Army unlike the normal run-of-the-mill SA male who participated under duress. Being quick tempered & iconoclastic, he has numerous brushes with authority. All of these are covered in a clear, lucid no-nonsense style reminiscent of Andy NcNab of the SAS.
However the main part of the book is reserved for his various skirmishes & battles against SWAPO. Unlike the usual doctrine when attacking of having a numerical advantage of 3 to 1, the South Africans attacked with a numerical disadvantage of 1 to 3 normally without the requisite anti armour weaponry. This sometimes results in potentially difficult situations when confronted with tanks or BTRs.
But the results were impressive - with body counts normally of the order of 50 to 1.
Even with such light casualties, the horrors of war are quickly encountered not only from one's own casualties but from civilians inadvertently killed such a family of Bushmen amongst a SWAPO contingent.
From a pure military viewpoint, the details of the main operations in which Granger participated viz Ceiling; Protea & Daisy provide one with a vivid picture of what it was like to fight in this bush war.
For all those wanting a front-line troops view into what really happened on the Border, this is the book to purchase.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I left South Africa 15 years ago and blocked out all that I experienced in the war, on the border and then in Military Intelligence. I knew these men and served with them, they all dealt with the situation in the best way they could and I am sure, still finding them selves having to deal with ghosts of the past.
Reading this book has made me realise that I have a lot to come to terms with, but also that I have since, never experienced such a bond and friendships I made in the SADF.
The book is a excellent and truthful account of what it was like and the fact that being a English speaking South African had its own challenges, especially if you were raised in a liberal home.
I now find myself missing home as South Africa will always be home.
Reading this book has made me realise that I have a lot to come to terms with, but also that I have since, never experienced such a bond and friendships I made in the SADF.
The book is a excellent and truthful account of what it was like and the fact that being a English speaking South African had its own challenges, especially if you were raised in a liberal home.
I now find myself missing home as South Africa will always be home.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By J. Meyer
Format:Paperback
An excellent account of how the SA bush war affected a young South African. The wars in Angola and South West Africa (now Namibia) are today largely swept under the carpet and forgotten, but there is a generation of South African men alive today who experienced true hardship and horrors in bush insurgencies often lasting months. What sets this book apart from the usual war story accounts is his discussion of the aftermath of the war, how it affected him and how the SADF soldier was indoctrinated and brainwashed by the Apartheid regime. All this adds to the feeling of the futility of the war and how it robbed a generation of young South African men of their youth and left them haunted and broken. Korff's account of his experiences make harrowing reading and had me gripped throughout, surely this book is a movie waiting to happen?
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
And interesting story and told in easy simple way. Great read to get into. Certainly a book that reads like it sounds
Published 1 month ago by David Cockle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brings back memories...
An excellent book and a righteous real-life adventure read. Serving in the SADF on the SWA/Angolan border was an interesting experience for all concerned and left it's mark on many... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Robbo
5.0 out of 5 stars
"SADF IN ANGOLA WHAT A FIGHT"
I grew up in South Africa during this time in our lands history I remember it soo well seeing it on the television everyweek about our soldiers efforts deep into Angolan territory. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Winston Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read
Having served in the SADF in the same years depicted in the book, it brought back memories, both good and bad. Read more
Published 9 months ago by coolpenz
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you want to know about Border war read this.
If you want to read a book about the South African border wars then this is as good an account as it gets, from a human perspective. Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2010 by Braai
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