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Review
"By so eloquently telling the story of Fred Marafono and his kinship with the principal defender of Sierra Leone, Sam Hinga Norman, Hamish Ross has told our story and the story of the “Land that we love, our Sierra Leone”. It may well be the first and perhaps only detailed account of the war from the points of view of those who fought on the side of the people and government of Sierra Leone. The book is as inspiring as it is informative. It leaves us with the question we have all asked ourselves over and over: What if? What if there had been no Fred Marafono, no Peter Penfold, no Hinga Norman? Would there be today a place called Sierra Leone?" -- Alfred Munda SamForay, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Review
"Hamish Ross’s excellent book, ‘From SAS to Blood Diamond Wars’, reveals the exploits of Kauata ‘Fred’ Marafono, the Fijian ex-SAS soldier who became involved in the 11year rebel war in Sierra Leone. In the SAS one talks of ‘crossing the river’ for someone. Throughout his time in Sierra Leone, Fred Marafono established a close bond with Sam Hinga Norman. He was someone Fred crossed the river for and Hamish Ross’s book is as much about Sam Norman as it is about Fred Marafono." -- Peter Penfold Former British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the only book in the world about SAS legend Fred Marafono. Fred worked with the original founder of the SAS David Stirling and has a incredible amount of operational experience. After the forces he worked in Sierra Leone for Simon Manns Executive Outcomes and supported his old regiment as the prime helicopter gunship gunner when the SAS launched their incredible hostage rescue operation deep in the jungle. I have read a number of Hamish Ross's books. His research and precision is always second to none. I know for a fact that his biography on Paddy Mayne was extremely well received by the SAS who invited Hamish Ross to their base after publication. I recommend 'Freedom in the Air' which remains my favourite of Ross's books.
Format:Hardcover
Having not expected too much from this tome when it dropped out of my Xmas goodie bag I ended up being pleasantly surprised by it. It wasn't what I had expected. I expected a one sided commentary style narrative by an ex-soldier turned mercenary who was only in Sierra Leone for 6 months or so but instead got the inside story from a man who was there pre and post coup as well as being an individual who, having outgrown and surpassed his original role as a paid member of a private security firm, stayed and played his part admirably, together with amazing characters like Juba the South African chopper pilot, during the toughest fighting the country saw. And who proved himself to be an invaluable cog in the slim mechanism that helped to prevent the collapse of Freetown and, God only know what, apocalyptic scenes that that would have brought. The testament of men like Chief Hinga Norman, Sir Peter Penfold and many others to Fred's courage and dedication is impressive. Equally impressive is his honesty and candour which seems to be without ego. I have found that that rare quality is almost always one held by members of the Special Forces rather than those who never quite made the grade. Easy to understand why the British Military hierarchy specifically requested Fred and his colleagues assistance with the UK government sanctioned Op Barras in 2000, the joint Special Forces and Para operation to rescue the Royal Irish Regiment soldiers captured by the West Side Boys, an operation which brought the belated intervention of the British government and helped finally restore lasting stability to the region.
Fred's ridiculously impressive memory, aided by what appear to be meticulous contemporary diary notes means that although, as with any, it is story told through his eyes, via the clean and insightful pen of the excellent Hamish Ross, his recollections are backed up by an impressive regurgitation of facts in the form of dates, timings and cross references that make the mind boggle. In fact, my only real criticism is that for a good old fashioned military tale sucker like me the book is almost too factual at times.
Often I have wondered if important global conflicts hinged on the decisions individuals made by virtue of their character and whims rather than through the weight of a popular consensus or reasonable deductive thought. Reading Fred's recollections I realise it happens more often than one might believe, especially in the developing world. Did anyone outside of Sierra Leone for example even realise that the coup (against an elected government) actually started initially as a junior officer's revolt against rice rationing and was not in the slightest bit political or idealist? What is truly shameful though was the failure of Western powers to act until the situation in this part of West Africa threatened not just an innocent population but their own interests. Thank God for men like Fred Marafono who bridged that gap in the meantime and prevented total chaos and bloodshed. Don't expect Bravo Two Zero but if you want what must be as close to an account of what 'real war' must be like, buy this book. It is a book historians will turn to in years to come when they want to make sense of the mess that was Sierra Leone during that period.
Fred's ridiculously impressive memory, aided by what appear to be meticulous contemporary diary notes means that although, as with any, it is story told through his eyes, via the clean and insightful pen of the excellent Hamish Ross, his recollections are backed up by an impressive regurgitation of facts in the form of dates, timings and cross references that make the mind boggle. In fact, my only real criticism is that for a good old fashioned military tale sucker like me the book is almost too factual at times.
Often I have wondered if important global conflicts hinged on the decisions individuals made by virtue of their character and whims rather than through the weight of a popular consensus or reasonable deductive thought. Reading Fred's recollections I realise it happens more often than one might believe, especially in the developing world. Did anyone outside of Sierra Leone for example even realise that the coup (against an elected government) actually started initially as a junior officer's revolt against rice rationing and was not in the slightest bit political or idealist? What is truly shameful though was the failure of Western powers to act until the situation in this part of West Africa threatened not just an innocent population but their own interests. Thank God for men like Fred Marafono who bridged that gap in the meantime and prevented total chaos and bloodshed. Don't expect Bravo Two Zero but if you want what must be as close to an account of what 'real war' must be like, buy this book. It is a book historians will turn to in years to come when they want to make sense of the mess that was Sierra Leone during that period.
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I did not enjoy this book. It is purported to be the story of Fred Marafono MBE, ex SAS, yet reads like a glossy prospectus for Executive Operations and how it was not really all their fault. I feel that Fred has been used here to paint EO in a good light and make them all look as though they were saints.
It is not a good read. The best parts of the story were the, almost biographical, chapters on Chief Hingis Norman.
I would recommend that people read it as the book does show what war on the African continent is like, but to bear in mind that this was a nasty, vicious war which no side came out of with any form of honour, despite what this book seems to be trying to do.
Whatever the intro to the books says, in my opinion this is not Fred Marafono's story, he is incidental.
It is not a good read. The best parts of the story were the, almost biographical, chapters on Chief Hingis Norman.
I would recommend that people read it as the book does show what war on the African continent is like, but to bear in mind that this was a nasty, vicious war which no side came out of with any form of honour, despite what this book seems to be trying to do.
Whatever the intro to the books says, in my opinion this is not Fred Marafono's story, he is incidental.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
DILIGENT AND FACTUAL
I have read a number of books by Hamish Ross and found them all to be factual and well written. I have also been a guest at the Special Forces Club in London when he spoke about... Read more
Published 5 months ago by T HOOD
Stop Waffling
An excellent, well researched and enlightening book which draws a thread between the exhilarating life of the mercenary on the side of right and the strategic games and goings on... Read more
Published 5 months ago by RWG
Brilliantly written, a fascinating read.
This is a fascinating look at one of the darkest periods of time that Sierra Leone, and indeed West Africa, had to go through in recent history. Read more
Published 5 months ago by K. Steiner
I knew some of the companies.
As my title suggests. There are various security outfits mentioned that I have been on the outer sphere of with my work in Central and East Africa. Read more
Published 5 months ago by limni
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