A Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia

A biography of Captain Darrell Watt of the Rhodesian SAS, a Special Forces soldier who fought against the forces of Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo during Rhodesia's conflict in the 1970s. As the country resisted what it viewed as Communist-supported elements during the post-colonial transition, Watt distinguished himself through extensive combat experience and tactical skill across multiple roles: airborne operations, long-range reconnaissance, urban covert work, sniping, sabotage, and combat tracking. He also played a key role in mobilizing allied forces in neighboring Mozambique. Watt's record of resilience and valor under severe resource constraints was exceptional even by SAS standards. Known for his bush-lore expertise and combat-tracking abilities, he spent twelve years in active warfare. Despite winning his individual battles, Watt's cause ultimately failed when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. In his later years, he devoted himself to wildlife conservation and supporting African communities.