Im looking to make contact with any member of 9 RR who was serving a tour of duty at Villa Salazar (Op Repulse) on the Mozambique border on, or just prior, to 1st February 1978. The reason I want to make contact is that an incident occurred on the 1st Feb 1978 that, still to this day, causes me some difficulties, and as that date is again approaching I cannot help but feel the memories of the incident will again overwhelm me. I dont know if this is the right place to write about this but Ive held it within for so long I dread whats coming and perhaps if I can speak to someone else, who was there, it may help. At the time I was serving with 2 RR Mortars and together with another china from the same unit we were attached to 9RR. The reason I want to make contact with a fellow comrade from 9RR was that on this date, at about 10.45am, we were on a convoy heading towards Chiredzi, and eventually on-wards to Brady Barracks in Bulawayo for R&R when our convoy was ambushed by a well armed and well situated group of ZANLA terrorists. The lead vehicle in our Convoy slowed down to avoid (I think - memory has faded in some areas) a heavy road vehicle that was blocking the road and as the lead vehicle slowed down it was hit head on by an RPG 7 followed by a sustained small arms and RPD that resulted in the deaths of Sgt Andy Berrington, Colin Murrey and Joe Alphion. Several others, including myself were injured. I still have the FN mag that was hit (See attached photo) The fire fire was so intense and a great deal of confusion ensued. I remember trying to resucatate Joe to no avail. Colin was the driver of the second vehicle and practically drove into the terrorist position trying to avoid the vehicle in front. Andy was sitting near to where the RPG hit. Shortly after the Ambush a convoy of Guard Force personnel came along and recognised one of the captured terrorist and claimed he was at there camp the night before. We realised then that they were the intended target and we we just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We were quite pissed off as it seems the gooks were in there PV camp the night before. When we got to Chiredzi my mate & I were tasked to carry the bodies of the three brave men back to Bulawayo. Which we did and breaking a curfew through Filabuzi. When we arreived we were unable to deliver the bodies to the funeral parlor as they were closed and no one could be found to take them so we had to stay with the vehicle (and bodies) from about 2am until morning. Ive not really spoken to many people about this but now as im approaching 61 I realise that there is so little help for the likes of me. I really just want to talk to someone who was there as there are some questions I want ask. The only person whose name I recall is CSM Dutton from 9RR. My mate was called Gypsy Carrick. Had a Tattoo on his arm with his name spelt incorrectly. The fella in the photo is not him - Not sure who he is. I would be grateful if anyone who was there can contact me.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 16:16:53 +0000
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