I felt a few interruptions were called for to explain the background of the conflict to the audience. His stories needed better historical context. Who the belligerents were, etc.
Great interview! I can relate to so much of his early life... I moved from the UK to South Africa in 1983 and we settled in Boksburg (a notoriously tough Afrikaaner stronghold in the 1980`s), my entire childhood and early teens was spent fighting the Afrikaaners, the Portuguese and the Lebanese...a proper gladiator academy...
Haven’t watched the video (yet) but I have listened to the full interview on the Team House podcast. I loved it! The stories are just amazing and it makes you realise how the reality in Southern Africa at the time was like nothing else. I’ve been waiting for another episode featuring the RLI since enjoying the Chris Cocks’ episode some time ago and this did not disappoint!!! Please get Mike back on soon as his generation won’t be around forever. It’s important that we get to hear first hand how things used to be. Thank you.
What a wonderful story. What a man with an advenutrious life. I want to shake his hand. What a sad and amazing life. Huge balls. He does have a concious
Listening to what Mike said about his early life as an English speaking kid in a South African school was what I experienced. We got hammered as “Rooinekke” had many fights, but it was par for the course. We survived , as we did in Rhodesia. Afrikaner’s are tough and I love them for who they are. We did the callups in the military like they did and the school kid nonsense faded away. As an ex-Rhodesian , I understand a bit of what Mike refers to as, his slang is a blast from the past…I had tears in my eyes listening to him while thinking of my dad during that time.
This is the person you want on your side if you want to try and win a war. I never heard a Vet say he "slaughtered" some enemies lol. I would also say hes a bit crazy. He has another interview on Fighting Men Of Rhodesia. The hard part is following his missions...he killed so many damn people it all kinda blurs together.
If you ever get Mike back, can you ask him something? Why did he join the Recces when returning to RSA? He would have been much suited for service in 32 Battalion like Willem Ratte.
Probably because he Rhodie contingent pretty much made up the enirety of 6 Recce. However I'm pretty certain that the Recce OC in Durban (1 Recce in those days) that he had a run in with that he named as "Andre" would have been Col Andre Bestbier who was CO around that time.
What makes you think he has no conscience? Is it his "matter of fact" way of describing how he killed the armed terrorist enemy he faced? He was a warrior, sir, fighting for his country against Communist trained, supplied and brainwashed "soldiers" that used Black nationalism as an excuse to kill civilians, shoot down civilian passenger jets and destroy the very infrastructure they themselves benefited from back then that to this day is still in disrepair and destroyed. Sure the man is a fighter, but most boys that grew up in poor areas MUST be tough or they wont make it. Ironically when I was a kid I was usually defending myself from groups of prejudice Black kids that NEVER fought fair. And still, at 50 years old, that hasn't changed. Mugabe and his veterans really did a great job in taking revenge on the white farmers producing most of the agricultural products for the country and his enemies. So the real question remains, is Zimbabwe better off now or 50 years ago? Keep in mind tribal conflicts have lead to more brutal atrocities upon their own people than Europeans ever committed in Rhodesia.
Must understand .. any and every south African has lived or has been exposed extreme violence within there family or circles of friends and have grown up with extreme violence against any of the colonial races… europeans are not welcome for the most part and at targets of extreme violence and brutality.. 😢his is not brain washing or social engineering this is living experience of close friends and family.. i quickly grow up hard and prepared..u might think this is abnormal or sociopathic… but its normal ..u need to remember Africa is not for the feinght hearted .. they still eat people here.. and pritty much every south african male has at least 2-3 years of military experience. And most are tough as nails.. I have seen things that would make yr gut turn.. brutality of the most extreme.. and if u cant make it u wont make it.. tough place africa..
Mike went to town with the so-called division between the Afrikaners and the English. That's exaggeration on steroids. Otherwise, it was exclusively in the circles he moved
@dirkrenierswart6947 My impression is that the divide between Rhodesians and South Africans was always large. To this day I hear Rhodies of that generation refer to South Africans as "slopies" - when I asked my father why he said "the Dutchmen have sloping foreheads like Neanderthals"
@@princemishkin1601 SAs call them "When we s", coming from "When we were in Rhodesia---"The help that was given to Rhodesia and their war effort" is underestimated. SA pilots and special forces went there in numbers. And to suggest that the SAS trained SA special forces, is stretching it. SA was fighting in Angola and was not short of experience. Both forces exchanged information
@dirkrenierswart6947 what you say is all true but rather a separate question as to whether there were cultural differences between the nations at that time. Given the shortage of numbers on the Rhodesian side, I doubt they could have held on for the last 5 years without huge backup from SA.
Dirk as a Soutie who came down south in 1980 from Rhodesia l can honestly say that Mike didn't exaggerate that division. Played rugby for Pirates in Joburg & us & Jeppe Old Boys were hated for being mainly English speaking. Ex Rhodesian rugby player ( Pete Chalmers) who was manager of The United Building Society in Hillbrow told by Piet Badenhorst ( the MD) that he wouldn't go too far as he didn't speak Afrikaans. Funnily enough us When We's were generally looked down upon because ' we had given up our country & that SA would never give in to the ANC!'. That didn't age well did it?. I was well aware of what SA did to help Rhodesia but also aware how John Vorster also shafted us. Make of that what you will
@@calummackenzie1797 There will always be exceptions, especially in certain parts of SA. But, after all, the 35 000 women, children and the aged who died in British concentration camps, were still fresh in the minds of many. In other parts., like the EC where I come from, marriage between Afrikaans/ Eng, is common. Im from such a family. I attended a dual medium school where the relationship between different language and cultural groups, was excellent
When will you guys start to admit that most of your “brave” deeds against garden boys with AK’s was done by black Rhodesian soldiers. Selous Scouts were 90% black, yet I haven’t se en one single black SS shoot off his mouth in your programm. Why is that? At least the Portuguese admit that their best soldiers were the Comandos Africanos from Guinea or even the Flechas of Angola. Most decorated Portuguese soldier, Marcelino da Mata, was a black soldier from Guinea Bissau. A well trained black soldier in the African jungle, was by far and by nature a better soldier. And if backed by a competent air force, even better.
I knew a Selous Scout, he said the best solders met were black Portuguese soldiers. It’s not exactly in these guys interests to come out and speak, if they weren’t already killed.
@@toemas8 Surprises me since Selous Scouts were formed after Portuguese left Africa. One cannot claim who was best because it depends on so many factors like terrain, leadership, logistics, enemy evaluation etc. What I can say is that the Portuguese Flechas, Comandos Africanos of Portuguese Guinea, Selous Scouts and Three Two Battalion of the SADF were majority black troops who were outstanding soldiers that deserve more recognition.
@@TimSerras he said they were former parra cadesh (spelling not correct of course). 32 battalion had plenty of Portuguese speaking black troops from Angola so don’t think it’s far fetched. He mentioned how disciplined they were would hardly say a word. ‘The best’ probably isn’t the best term but definitely impressed by them.
@@toemas8 Paraquedista! I’ ll tell you the story of one of them. Jose Ribeiro, born in Portuguese Guinea. He was mulatto (coloured in SA). Joined the Comandos Africanos. His performance impressed his unit’s commander, Colonel Costa Campos. When the Colonel was transfered to Moçambique to form a black elite parachute comando, known as GEPs, Ribeiro was invited to join him. He again performed brillantly, specially in operation Mandioca, a pseudo ops similar to the ones Selous Scouts did. When Portuguese left Africa, Ribeiro fled Moçambique and wanted to join the Rhodesians bu t w a s refused because he couldn’t speak English. So he joined SADF Bravo Group. Colonel Breytenbach speaks highly of him in his book, “Forged in Battle”. Calls him Robbie. Even recommended he get a Honoris Cross but Pretoria rejected. A pity. Jose Ribeiro was killed by a South African Army truck that broke military convoy procedure and smashed the Land Rover he was in. A fine soldier with the wrong skin colour.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Hit that LIKE & SUBSCRIBE it helps us big time!!!
😮😮😮😮
Kudos to the interviewers for letting this man speak uninterrupted. I really enjoyed this episode. Keep it up with more Rhodesian stories please
Yeah
Crazy mo fo
Thanks for this Team House.Well done on getting Mike West. Really Good. More Rhodesian interviews please.
I felt a few interruptions were called for to explain the background of the conflict to the audience. His stories needed better historical context. Who the belligerents were, etc.
Jack and Dave are great at letting the guests speak but I also like when they follow up on some thing
The rhodesian light infantry and the rhodesian sas did so much with so little. True tactical masters. Much respect
Thanks Team House for this great interview.More Rhodesian interviews please.
This guy's attitude towards combat reminds me more of my actual readings from medieval knights than modern people.
Rhodesians never die.
He's South African
@@penzancegunner857maybe by birth but more Rhodesian than a South African . Mike is our Rhodesian brother as we adopted him as one of ours !
Rhodesian history is fascinating
Great interview!
I can relate to so much of his early life...
I moved from the UK to South Africa in 1983 and we settled in Boksburg (a notoriously tough Afrikaaner stronghold in the 1980`s), my entire childhood and early teens was spent fighting the Afrikaaners, the Portuguese and the Lebanese...a proper gladiator academy...
Mike is a warrior, seen a few of his podcasts, one hard man, like many Rhodies/Saffas , he takes no shit 🏴☠️
What a pleasure to listen again to Mike. I really recommend the book on him, as well as the RUclips series Fighting Men of Rhodesia.
Just finished listening to it on audible. The best audiobook I've heard tbh completely blew me away Darrell watt deserves way more recognition
UNBELIEVABLE. THE BEST I'VE EVER HEARD.
This dude has got the opposite of PTSD
Truth
Post traumatic hard-on
😅😂😅
He has nostalgia
He seriously misses war as a professional soldier. PTSD does not stick to him. PTSD gets PTSD from Mike.
Mike was born too late, should have been a Spartan back in the day.
I’ll never not click on a Team House RLI interview
Haven’t watched the video (yet) but I have listened to the full interview on the Team House podcast. I loved it! The stories are just amazing and it makes you realise how the reality in Southern Africa at the time was like nothing else. I’ve been waiting for another episode featuring the RLI since enjoying the Chris Cocks’ episode some time ago and this did not disappoint!!! Please get Mike back on soon as his generation won’t be around forever. It’s important that we get to hear first hand how things used to be. Thank you.
Thank you Team House. Dankie Oom Mike. OXV
Jack and Daves giggles only enhanced these stories, and made me feel like a kid reading SOF mag in the 1980's again!
Im always happy to see my region get some international attention
Thank you all, Gentlemen, for this fascinating interview! Truly outstanding!!
One of the best stories iv heard on the Team House, Really enjoyed it
What a wonderful story. What a man with an advenutrious life. I want to shake his hand. What a sad and amazing life. Huge balls. He does have a concious
what a life this man had!!
Thanks Mike and The Team House for your life story 👍
Listening to what Mike said about his early life as an English speaking kid in a South African school was what I experienced. We got hammered as “Rooinekke” had many fights, but it was par for the course. We survived , as we did in Rhodesia. Afrikaner’s are tough and I love them for who they are. We did the callups in the military like they did and the school kid nonsense faded away. As an ex-Rhodesian , I understand a bit of what Mike refers to as, his slang is a blast from the past…I had tears in my eyes listening to him while thinking of my dad during that time.
This is the person you want on your side if you want to try and win a war. I never heard a Vet say he "slaughtered" some enemies lol. I would also say hes a bit crazy. He has another interview on Fighting Men Of Rhodesia. The hard part is following his missions...he killed so many damn people it all kinda blurs together.
He is saying slotted not slaughtered
Determination, GUTS and hard as nails.
Africa is a tough place .. has no rules in warfare
GREAT SHOW GUYS ONE OF MY FAVS .JUST WENT ON AMAZON AND GOT MIKE BOOK . GREAT GUY : ))
😂😂😂The landmine really motivated me, crazy story
A man with titanium balls. Great interview 👍🏻
Amazing war stories.
The book about him is insane
Jack and Dave, what this man says is true. He has his feet flat on the ground. This is Mike lol! You want him as a friend. 👍🏻💪🏻
Unbelievable life, Mike! 💪🏻 The book about the albino was called The Whispering Death, written by Daniel Carney.
That still sends cold shivers down my spin.. they made a movie based on that book..
I lost mates in Operation Firewood of which he mentions. took place in 1987.
Respect Mike
I hope "We Defy" is released in book format!
Great Listening to Mike talk about his personal life an military career, his book is excellent and I would highly recommend getting a copy.
a proper legend
Yea jumped at 400 FEET (130 meters) became a standard even in the Parabats in SA combat jump altitude
Have a sneaking suspicion that he may have been a taxi driver
😂
Yeah every time he brought that up I’m like here we go again.
My absolute favorite accent in the world
Where in South Africa can I obtain this book and for how much? Please!!
If you ever get Mike back, can you ask him something? Why did he join the Recces when returning to RSA? He would have been much suited for service in 32 Battalion like Willem Ratte.
Probably because he Rhodie contingent pretty much made up the enirety of 6 Recce. However I'm pretty certain that the Recce OC in Durban (1 Recce in those days) that he had a run in with that he named as "Andre" would have been Col Andre Bestbier who was CO around that time.
Legend
I could tell you a story about growing up in South Africa around these times similar to this from era 1970-1997 Mandela era...
Uncle Mike, you did take not those 2+ spoor fietse reiers. Kudos Vir jou.
What about CCB of SAP....
this guy's bloodlust is comical.
He a warrior
👍
Not exactly the sanitised version of soldiering that most prefer to dwell on...a nation uses these types, but they're damaged people
What Happened to Dave Berry ...
I used to love dungeons n dragons. Gary Gygax
Pamberi ne hondo, pamwe chete.
A man without conscience. In one era people like this are put in prison, and in another they are made war heroes.
What makes you think he has no conscience? Is it his "matter of fact" way of describing how he killed the armed terrorist enemy he faced? He was a warrior, sir, fighting for his country against Communist trained, supplied and brainwashed "soldiers" that used Black nationalism as an excuse to kill civilians, shoot down civilian passenger jets and destroy the very infrastructure they themselves benefited from back then that to this day is still in disrepair and destroyed. Sure the man is a fighter, but most boys that grew up in poor areas MUST be tough or they wont make it. Ironically when I was a kid I was usually defending myself from groups of prejudice Black kids that NEVER fought fair. And still, at 50 years old, that hasn't changed. Mugabe and his veterans really did a great job in taking revenge on the white farmers producing most of the agricultural products for the country and his enemies. So the real question remains, is Zimbabwe better off now or 50 years ago? Keep in mind tribal conflicts have lead to more brutal atrocities upon their own people than Europeans ever committed in Rhodesia.
Crazy guy. Don't go to war if you're not!
Love the normies now a days and your labels, no conscious? 😂😂😂
@@10MM-MAGAMAN-420 conscience versus conscious - you don't appear to know the difference
Must understand .. any and every south African has lived or has been exposed extreme violence within there family or circles of friends and have grown up with extreme violence against any of the colonial races… europeans are not welcome for the most part and at targets of extreme violence and brutality.. 😢his is not brain washing or social engineering this is living experience of close friends and family.. i quickly grow up hard and prepared..u might think this is abnormal or sociopathic… but its normal ..u need to remember Africa is not for the feinght hearted .. they still eat people here.. and pritty much every south african male has at least 2-3 years of military experience. And most are tough as nails..
I have seen things that would make yr gut turn.. brutality of the most extreme.. and if u cant make it u wont make it.. tough place africa..
Mike went to town with the so-called division between the Afrikaners and the English. That's exaggeration on steroids. Otherwise, it was exclusively in the circles he moved
@dirkrenierswart6947 My impression is that the divide between Rhodesians and South Africans was always large. To this day I hear Rhodies of that generation refer to South Africans as "slopies" - when I asked my father why he said "the Dutchmen have sloping foreheads like Neanderthals"
@@princemishkin1601 SAs call them "When we s", coming from "When we were in Rhodesia---"The help that was given to Rhodesia and their war effort" is underestimated. SA pilots and special forces went there in numbers. And to suggest that the SAS trained SA special forces, is stretching it. SA was fighting in Angola and was not short of experience. Both forces exchanged information
@dirkrenierswart6947 what you say is all true but rather a separate question as to whether there were cultural differences between the nations at that time. Given the shortage of numbers on the Rhodesian side, I doubt they could have held on for the last 5 years without huge backup from SA.
Dirk as a Soutie who came down south in 1980 from Rhodesia l can honestly say that Mike didn't exaggerate that division. Played rugby for Pirates in Joburg & us & Jeppe Old Boys were hated for being mainly English speaking. Ex Rhodesian rugby player ( Pete Chalmers) who was manager of The United Building Society in Hillbrow told by Piet Badenhorst ( the MD) that he wouldn't go too far as he didn't speak Afrikaans. Funnily enough us When We's were generally looked down upon because ' we had given up our country & that SA would never give in to the ANC!'. That didn't age well did it?. I was well aware of what SA did to help Rhodesia but also aware how John Vorster also shafted us. Make of that what you will
@@calummackenzie1797 There will always be exceptions, especially in certain parts of SA. But, after all, the 35 000 women, children and the aged who died in British concentration camps, were still fresh in the minds of many. In other parts., like the EC where I come from, marriage between Afrikaans/ Eng, is common. Im from such a family. I attended a dual medium school where the relationship between different language and cultural groups, was excellent
When will you guys start to admit that most of your “brave” deeds against garden boys with AK’s was done by black Rhodesian soldiers. Selous Scouts were 90% black, yet I haven’t se en one single black SS shoot off his mouth in your programm. Why is that? At least the Portuguese admit that their best soldiers were the Comandos Africanos from Guinea or even the Flechas of Angola. Most decorated Portuguese soldier, Marcelino da Mata, was a black soldier from Guinea Bissau. A well trained black soldier in the African jungle, was by far and by nature a better soldier. And if backed by a competent air force, even better.
Huh
I knew a Selous Scout, he said the best solders met were black Portuguese soldiers.
It’s not exactly in these guys interests to come out and speak, if they weren’t already killed.
@@toemas8 Surprises me since Selous Scouts were formed after Portuguese left Africa. One cannot claim who was best because it depends on so many factors like terrain, leadership, logistics, enemy evaluation etc. What I can say is that the Portuguese Flechas, Comandos Africanos of Portuguese Guinea, Selous Scouts and Three Two Battalion of the SADF were majority black troops who were outstanding soldiers that deserve more recognition.
@@TimSerras he said they were former parra cadesh (spelling not correct of course). 32 battalion had plenty of Portuguese speaking black troops from
Angola so don’t think it’s far fetched.
He mentioned how disciplined they were would hardly say a word. ‘The best’ probably isn’t the best term but definitely impressed by them.
@@toemas8 Paraquedista! I’ ll tell you the story of one of them. Jose Ribeiro, born in Portuguese Guinea. He was mulatto (coloured in SA). Joined the Comandos Africanos. His performance impressed his unit’s commander, Colonel Costa Campos. When the Colonel was transfered to Moçambique to form a black elite parachute comando, known as GEPs, Ribeiro was invited to join him. He again performed brillantly, specially in operation Mandioca, a pseudo ops similar to the ones Selous Scouts did. When Portuguese left Africa, Ribeiro fled Moçambique and wanted to join the Rhodesians bu t w a s refused because he couldn’t speak English. So he joined SADF Bravo Group. Colonel Breytenbach speaks highly of him in his book, “Forged in Battle”. Calls him Robbie. Even recommended he get a Honoris Cross but Pretoria rejected. A pity. Jose Ribeiro was killed by a South African Army truck that broke military convoy procedure and smashed the Land Rover he was in. A fine soldier with the wrong skin colour.
Yayy, an apartheid supporter!! Guys like this are on the right side of history!
Take the anti-white bigotry elsewhere