Preview
  • Bush War Operator

  • Memoirs of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, Selous Scouts and Beyond
  • By: A.J. Balaam
  • Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman
  • Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (426 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Bush War Operator

By: A.J. Balaam
Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Anyone living in Rhodesia during the 1960s and 1970s would have had a father, husband, brother, or son called up in the defense of the war-torn, landlocked little country. A few of these brave men would have been members of the elite and secretive unit that struck terror into the hearts of the ZANLA and ZIPRA guerrillas infiltrating the country at that time - the Selous Scouts.

Twice decorated - with the Member of the Legion of Merit (MLM) and the Military Forces' Commendation (MFC) - Andrew Balaam was a member of the Rhodesian Light Infantry and later the Selous Scouts for a period spanning 12 years. This is his honest and insightful account of his time as a pseudo operator.

In later years, after Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, he was involved with a number of other former Selous Scouts in the attempted coups in the Ciskei, a South African homeland, and Lesotho, an independent nation, whose only crimes were supporting the African National Congress. Training terrorists, or as they preferred to be called, "liberation armies", to conduct a war of terror on innocent civilians, was the very thing he had spent the last 10 years in Rhodesia fighting against. This is the true, untold story of these failed attempts at governmental overthrows.

©2014 A.J. Balaam (P)2020 Tantor
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Bush War Operator

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    306
  • 4 Stars
    84
  • 3 Stars
    30
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    297
  • 4 Stars
    54
  • 3 Stars
    19
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    268
  • 4 Stars
    71
  • 3 Stars
    23
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    4

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

From an operator’s perspective - the day to day of the bush war

The author takes you through his life, from a young man to the RLI to the Selous Scouts to the SA Security Service. The heat, the flies, the wounds, the fear and introspection.

Great read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A true story of a hard war.

I have enjoyed the story of the hell that Andy went through and ended up in a bad spot anyway. You can never trust a politician, something that his life proves true. America is headed down the same path now, and unless God saves us, we will endure a similar situation.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I expected so much more from a Scout.

No wonder his comrades didnt like him much. Half the trouble he got into was his own doing. I'm genuinely disappointed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining

This book kept my interest. The author has many great stories and is adept at conveying them. Narrator was excellent also

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Rhodesians Never Die

wow just amazing
very good look into the Bush war and it's operations WOW

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A difficult story

This story is a semi-disjointed collection of excerpts from the authors life. He does not shy away from the ugly, confusing suffering of his time in service. This is an interesting counter balance to A Handful of Hard Men. Where that story is exciting and full of rah rah wave the flag excitement. Bush War Operator is upfront about the unpleasant side of war. Not what I expected but very good none the less.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A wild ride if nothing else

A very frank account of many experiences that seemed to stick out for the author. It can feel at little disorganized at times but not distractingly so. It is not a complete guide to the bush war and it is not a play by play of all interesting events. The book feels like the stories are being told to you by the author over some beers.
I totally recommend if you want an unconventional look at an often overlooked period of history by someone who was there.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting

Interesting insight of actions and adventures of the author, and tactics of the Selous Scouts. But felt like he bounced around and left gaps in the story after giving teasing pieces of information.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

In the sprite of the SAS

If you are a fan of physical and mental toughness, fortitude and adrenaline this needs a listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story about a little known time in history

Great story about a little known time in history. The narration and production of the audiobook brings everything together well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!