• A Handful of Hard Men

  • The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia
  • By: Hannes Wessels
  • Narrated by: Jack Chekijian
  • Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (806 ratings)

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A Handful of Hard Men  By  cover art

A Handful of Hard Men

By: Hannes Wessels
Narrated by: Jack Chekijian
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Publisher's summary

It is difficult to find another soldier's story to equal Captain Darrell Watt's in terms of time spent on the field of battle and challenges faced. Even by the lofty standards of the SAS and Special Forces, one has to look far to find anyone who can match his record of resilience and valor in the face of such daunting odds and with resources so paltry.

In the fight, he showed himself to be a military maestro. A bush-lore genius, blessed with uncanny instincts and an unbridled determination to close with the enemy, he had no peers as a combat-tracker (and there was plenty of competition). But the Rhodesian theater was a fluid and volatile one in which he performed in almost every imaginable fighting role.

After 12 years in the cauldron of war, his cause slipped from beneath him, and Rhodesia gave way to Zimbabwe. When the guns went quiet, Watt had won all his battles but lost the war. In this fascinating biography, we learn that in his twilight years, he is now concerned with saving wildlife on a continent where they are in continued danger and devoting himself to both the fauna and African people he cares so deeply about.

©2015 Hannes Wessels (P)2017 Tantor

What listeners say about A Handful of Hard Men

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Story- Title says it all... Hard Men

What a story! The book is not for the lighthearted. Tells the story from the perspective of the Rhodesian SAS, which some may find objectionable philosophically, and in deed. However, it also reveals the other side of the events-- the complicity of neighbors, the role of South Africa, Cuba, the Soviet Union and the UK/US/UN. Like the sinking of the Titanic we know the ending, but with a continuing vengeful twist not envisioned by the world players.

As the book progressed I grew accustomed to the narrator's slow reading and lack of inflection.

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10 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great story but poor choice in narrator

The narrator does an excellent job of reading this book. He has a clear voice, great pacing and you can tell he's a professional.

BUT he is an American narrating a book about Southern Africa, and I can't get over how many names and words were mispronounced throughout this book.

It seriously detracts from the authenticity of the piece when the narrator mispronounces so many of the names and words.

I am a South African, born and bred, and I can't understand why the company who hired the narrator didn't use a narrator who is FROM Southern Africa.

The book is great but as someone who grew up in the region and understands the culture and nuances of the history and people, I can say with certainty that the narration negatively impacts the authenticity of the book.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Don't be deterred by the readers voice - a great book.

An incredible account of a less known conflict, however they couldn't have picked a less enthusiastic bloke with worse pronunciation to read it.

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5 people found this helpful

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The audiobook that I have read twice

This is the only audiobook that I have bought that I listened to and finished and then turned around and listened to again right afterwards, and I have listened to many audiobooks. The narrator was great and didn’t talk to fast. I really enjoyed the part about Luke in Mozambique. It is really a shame that there are no other audiobooks about the Rhodesian Bush War available because it was about the only “just war” that a country in the Anglosphere has fought since WW2, and it was sabotaged by the elites of London and DC . RHODESIANS NEVER DIE!

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Rhodesian's never die!

I grew up in Rhodesia during the war and stayed Zimbabwe a few years after. My dad was in the military during that period and I remember when was he was call up and the tension it brought. There were many unsung heroes who in different circumstances would have got the recognition they deserve. The betrayal and duplicity of Britain and the "globalist" west rings out loud and now is coming to rest on their doorstep. I salute the SAS, RLI and Scouts who took the fight to enemy and never wavered in our fight.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Exceptional story telling

Loved the book. It goes into very good detail which keeps you hooked. Sad story about how a country was sold out by the Brits, shame on Thatcher, kerrington and the rest of the vile Brits.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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A Handful of Great Stories

This was an excellent conglomeration of stories from the Rhodesian SAS. Narration, not so lively.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Takes a one-sided view of a complex issue.

I wanted to like this story, just I want to side with the Rhodesians. They are the clear underdog and they really did pull off some insane military accomplishments against all odds. However, this book also ignores the mini-apartheid and racist policies of early Rhodesia. It seems blind to the hold the whites had in the country and the anti-democratic policy of consistently opposing majority rule. It was a savage war where both sides had points, heroes, legitimate claims, and military successes, but this book only expresses half of that.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

Great story but the narrator whispers the entire book. Makes you wonder if you would be strong enough to hack it.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thank you Hannes Wessels

This is a most remarkable tale of such casual heroism that very few people know about.

Its a tragic precursor of outcomes whenever the globalist agenda runs its course.

I wish I had read this book 30 years ago.

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2 people found this helpful