Almost 4 weeks since we battered FAPLA off the LOMBA river but the constant pressure of the chase and frequent night ops have taken a toll on us boys. But today, two months since we crossed the border into Angola, reinforcements from 4 South African Infantry (4 SAI) begun arrived along with a Squadron of Olifant Main Battle Tanks from School of Armour. By sheer chance we happened upon the Tank Squadron who seemed to be finding their feet in the alien world near the front line. My mate Greg, gunner on the commanders Tank, went pale when I jumped aboard their 55ton monster and stuck my head down in the turret above his position below the commanders feet. Took the poor bugger a good few seconds to work out who this freak was staring down at him. Anyway I suppose for operational security reasons they didnt even know we were up here. Encountering these cleanly shaven fresh looking guys really brought home the extent of the journey wed been on. The Tankers made such a fuss about how scruffy and wild haired we looked. (You laugh? Wait boet. Give it a month. Before you get to leave ANGOLA you will walk this path and it will change you, not just for as long as it takes to get a shower, shave and haircut, no, I mean, change you forever. ) davidmannall
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 20:37:33 +0000
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