We Dared to Win

Action-packed account of a member of the celebrated Rhodesian SAS, who fought with incredible tenacity and ingenuity against overwhelming odds in the Rhodesian Bush War of the 1970s.

In his own words Andre Scheepers describes his childhood on a farm, learning about the bush from his African friends, and becoming a soldier. The family had to leave the farm after being ambushed by terrorists.

A quiet, introspective deep thinker, Andre started out as a trooper in the Rhodesian Light Infantry commandos and was hectically engaged in Fire-Force combat operations before leaving for the SAS. Wounded 13 times, his operational record is exceptional even by the high standards that existed at the time and he really emerges as the quintessential SAS officer displaying extraordinary calmness and audacious cunning in the course of a host of extremely dangerous operations.

Loved by his men, Andre writes very eruditely about his mental and emotional condition during the war and reflects very candidly on what he learned and how war has shaped his life since. Offered a commission in the British SAS after the conflict, he decided to stop soldiering and entered the seminary whereupon he became a minister.

In addition to Andre's personal story the book also reveals more about the other men who were distinguished operators in other celebrated SAS operations. This is the story of soldiers, the hardships, the battles they fought and the challenges they faced.

The book features 32 pages of colour and b/w photographs.

About the Author

Hannes Wessels was born in Southern Rhodesia, but grew up in Umtali on the Mozambican border. He is now part-owner of a lodge and game ranch in Zambia on the Zambezi and keenly interested in all matters relating to African wildlife and conservation. He is the author of the highly-praised 'A Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia' (Casemate 2015).