THE EQUUS Men: Rhodesia's Mounted Infantry: The Grey's Scouts 1896-1980

1-227220

This all new work by accomplished military historian Alexandre Binda, former paymaster to the Grey's Scouts, tells the remarkable story of Rhodesia's mounted infantry, the Grey's Scouts. Working closely with the last commanding officer, squadron commanders, and a whole host of regimental personalities, all of whom have given unequivocal support, Binda enjoyed unparalleled access to thousands of pages of archival documents and many hundreds of previously unpublished photographs. Here, he has traced the Grey's from their early origins in the Matabele Rebellion of 1896, where an 'unassuming Englishman, the Honorable George Grey', found himself originating a body of horseman named the 'Bulawayo Field Force', through to the formation of the Animal Transport Unit (ATU) which went on to become the Mounted Infantry Unit (MIU).

Trained and utilized as mounted infantry as opposed to cavalry, the Grey's Scouts were deployed to great effect during the bitter Rhodesian Bush War of the late 1960s - 1970s. Lightly equipped, they were able to cover great distances at speed, live off the veldt with minimal support, and through 'shock action', quickly engage and destroy insurgent forces. Originally a regular formation, the Grey's Scouts were augmented by Territorial and National Service soldiers as the conflict progressed and by 1980, when hostilities ceased, the Regiment numbered some 600 soldiers, both men and women, black and white.