Bandit Mentality captures Lindsay O’Brien’s Bush War service from 1976-1980. Lindsay joined the BSA Police in July 1975 and after training was posted to Bulawayo CPU and then Inyati. In 1976 he transferred to Support Unit where, after training in Tomlinson Depot, he was posted to Delta Troop. Subsequently Lindsay became troop commander India Troop. Bandit Mentality follows the deployments in each tribal trust land and the action that his men stirred up. O’Brien paints the action as he recalls it, warts-and-all. After leaving the BSA Police towards the end of 1978, he was contracted with Special Forces as a liaison officer with the initial UANC army – before it morphed into Pfumo reVanhu.
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“Boots bullets boredom – and real hands-on experience of leading BSAP Support Unit men in action.
A fascinating and detailed account of leading BSAP Support troops in active counter-insurgency operations. This is all about living with his African police in the Rhodesian bush – patrolling in all weathers, questioning locals to gather information, interspersed with fierce action contacts. Covers the smell and feel of life in rural areas, as well as the resourcefulness of making do in infantry work on foot against a better armed enemy. Very readable and thoroughly absorbing. Excellent pen pictures of the characters among his policeman soldiers, as well as of the social life in a country at war.”