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(Above) Two
Selous Scouts on patrol some were along the Zambezi River. Scouts
are armed with the R4 (FN FAL), wearing the traditional "bush
shorts" and webbing. Note that these scouts are cleanly
shaven, quite rare.
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In
1967 during Operation Nickel and Operation Cauldron, the two initial
terrorist incursions into Rhodesia, the need became apparent in the Army
for the services of skilled, aggressive trackers.
To fill this need, a small team of instructors under the aegis of
the School of Infantry, set up a tracking school at Kariba.
With the commencement of Op Hurricane in December 1971 the
requirement for even more trackers was forcibly revealed and to overcome
the shortage it was decided to form a tracking unit.
The Tracking School, or “Takkie Wing” as it was known formed
the nucleus of the new unit and was named the “Selous Scout’s”.
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The
Selous Scouts is an entirely integrated multiracial unit comprised
of African Regular and both Territorial and Regular European
Soldiers, all of whom are volunteers required to pass a selection
course to gain entry. The
members of the Unit enjoy a special and possibly unique
relationship, which has resulted in the Unit’s numerous
successes, many of which will never be officially chronicled.
Where possible the customs of both races are incorporated
into the Unit life and parade procedures.
For example the normal Infantry colors are dispensed with
and a Standard is carried in lieu.
The Standard fits the African custom of totems and its
symbolic significance is more easily understood.
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(Above) Osprey
bird of prey, in its stylized "striking" pose. This was
the adopted insignia for the scouts, it was most recognized when
worn on their brown beret, it could also be found on the stable
belt when in garrison or parade.
(Below
Left) A scout
"blackened-up" with a black knit watch cap, from a
distance this gave the impression that he was a African and not
from the "White Tribe". This scout wears a pair of
"Takkies", modified pro-hockey shoes.
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Unit Barracks at Inkomo, near Salisbury is named after the founder
member of the Unit, Sergeant Andre Rabie who was an outstanding
soldier and a particularly skilled tracker.
He pioneered many new techniques in terrorist hunting with
outstanding success. He
was killed on operations. The
Regimental colours are green and brown which are the basic and
dominant colours of the Rhodesian bush.
The Unit badge is a stylized Osprey, noted bird of prey ~
swift and courageous.
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The
African soldiers have difficulty pronouncing the words Selous
Scouts and have abbreviated this to “Selousie”.
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(above) A
pair of the famous Selous Scout wings.
(Left) The
Standard of the scouts, this was taken by the scouts in 1980 to
South Africa were the RECCEs have adopted it, in respect to the
the Regiment.
(Below) A
Selous Scout stops on the follow-up to confirm ground spoor. The
scouts were all superb in bushcraft and combat tracking.
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