2nd Edition - Published by the author. A gripping, personal account of one man's journey through a border war that contributed to transforming a country from being the pariah of the world to a shining example of reconciliation, peace and hope. From an idyllic childhood growing up on a sugar farm in Zululand, the story takes you through the realities of life during the Apartheid days in South Africa and the resultant call up for National Military Service during the 1970's and '80's. On completing his training, Justin Taylor graduated as a Signals Officer and volunteered for Border Duty in the operational area of the Angolan - Namibian border. There he volunteered again, joining the ranks of the then secretive and little known 32 Battalion ... the Portuguese speaking soldiers of whom were so feared by their enemies they were known as "Os Terriveis"..."The Terrible Ones". Drawn from the remnants of an Angolan rebel movement, 32 Battalion conducted secretive, clandestine operations into Angola at a time when South Africa was officially not at war with Angola. Taylor takes you through his 'baptism of fire' on arrival where he was thrust into offensive operations as an inexperienced junior officer responsible for the battalions communications. Nearly thrown out of the unit due to a communications failure, he put himself through a 'retraining course' with the units reconnaissance wing. This gave him the tools required for his subsequent deployment on combat operations. In pursuit of elusive guerrilla fighters, he details life as an anti-guerilla fighter on missions in the harsh and unforgiving conditions of the African bush and the intricacies of ground-to-air & ground-to-ground radio communications. Most notable is his account of the Battle of Savate where, heavily outnumbered, the battalion attacked an enemy brigade deep in enemy territory with the odds stacked against them. Told from the perspective of his role as a junior officer in the HQ, he vividly recounts the horrors of battle with the turmoil of the killing and the loss of close friends and comrades, intertwined with the challenges of maintaining communications with the command and control difficulties of an HQ caught up in the heat of battle. His following deployments into the bush were as a seasoned Signals Officer, culminating with his training of the replacement troops at the end of his service, arming them with the skills they would need to meet the standards required of a 32 Battalion Signaller. On completing his military service, he found it difficult adjusting to civilian life back in South Africa. With the racial segregation of Apartheid still well entrenched at the time, he found it all the more difficult having returned from a unique army battalion that knew no colour ... "When the shooting starts, it's not about the colour of a man's skin next to you that counts, it's what he is capable of".And then the disbanding of the battalion with South Africa's transformation to a democratic society in 1994, and with it the promise of a Rainbow Nation ... it was as if the batten of racial integration had been passed from the unit to the country as a whole."First and foremost a soldier's story, it is told without self-aggrandisement and with a balance of sensitivity together with the harsh realities of war. While the factual and detailed insights into the legendary 32 battalion are both intriguing and historically significant, it is in essence a human story. The anguish and emotions experienced by the author are honestly portrayed ... and coupled with his wry sense of humour, it is a story easy to read and easy to identify with."32 Battalion embraced racial and cultural diversity combined within a culture of mutual trust and respect. This empowered the unit to overcome insurmountable odds on the battlefield and resulted in the battalion being rated as the South African Army's best combat unit since World War II.

Rosemond guides parents through the steps of establishing an effective disciplinary style and a tried-and-true recipe for bringing out the very best in young children.

The inside story of South Africa's most controversial fighting unit of the 1970s and 1980s. Originally formed in order to lend support to the FNLA and UNITA in the Angolan war, 32 Battalion quickly gained the reputation of being an unconventional, secretive, yet highly effective group.

Recounts the events of a day when everything goes wrong for Alexander. Suggested level: junior, primary.

This amazing work relates the experiences of Justin Taylor who served as the Signals Officer for the South African Defense Force's infamous 32 Battalion - the 'Terrible Ones'! As a young officer he trained in the intricacies of Signaling before volunteering for Border Duty and service with 32 Battalion - a request that was met with astonishment - 'you want to work with 32 Battalion!?' This book takes you into the discipline of military communications as never before, delivering a new perspective on the work of 'Nine Charlie'; the Battalion Signals Officer with his mantra of 'check, check and recheck!' It illustrates how a unit's Signals Officer sits at the core of military operations, allowing Command elements to control and coordinate war-fighting, whilst countering the never ending failures of equipment and communications. What is more, it emphasizes how the Signals Officer needs to remain abreast of enemy eavesdropping. Little is known of 32 Battalion - a unit that drew its origins from the Angolan Civil War of 1975 - most of its troops were black Portuguese-speaking soldiers; the remnants of Holden Roberto's FNLA guerrilla army that had fought against the Portuguese colonials. Established by the legendary Colonel Breytenbach and barracked at 'Buffalo Base' in the Caprivi Strip, 32 Battalion was to develop a reputation for military prowess that was second to none. 'A Whisper in the Reeds' takes you into the heart of this elite unit and its military capability. It relates how black and white worked together with a mutual respect forged in the cauldron of combat. Taylor was placed to take part in one of 32 Battalion's most spectacular operations - the Battle of Savate. Here, the Battalion undertook an aggressive assault on an entrenched enemy brigade that was positioned deep in Angola. Thrown into the chaos of combat, Taylor experienced the intensity and horror of close quarter battle. Working close with the Officer Commanding he saw first hand the difficulty of command and control in a kinetic assault environment. In addition he saw close friends killed and was himself wounded. His account of this historic battle is one of the most comprehensive ever and should be read by every student of military history. Tasked to train new signalers in the skill of military signaling, Taylor designed and delivered a training program that earned him the respect of both his superiors and the students under training - a Chief of the SADF Commendation medal acknowledging his skill and professionalism. Justin Taylor was the consummate soldier, utterly professional and dedicated to the trade of military signaling. Read this work and learn why 'a whisper in the reeds' will always carry the story of 32 Battalion. Justin Taylor grew up on a sugar farm in Zululand and spoke Zulu before he could speak English. He was sent to boarding school for ten years before reporting for National Service in 1979. Doing 'your bit' for your country ran in Taylor's family - his grandfather was a fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and in the Second World War his father flew Spitfires for the SAAF. In 1979 he was drafted into the military, completing two years of National Service as a Signals Officer with 32 Battalion in the Namibian / Angolan conflict (1979-80). Justin was wounded at the Battle of Savate and awarded the Chief of SADF Commendation Medal (MMM) for services of a high order. He then went on to complete part-time military service with 2 Reconnaissance Regiment. Justin holds a BA from the University of Cape Town, majoring in Economics and Psychology and a MBL from the University of South Africa. He is now lives in Johannesburg and is a successful businessman. When not working he makes best use of his private pilot's licence! He is married with two daughters. A Whisper in the Reeds is Justin's first book.

Even though Tumford the cat is well loved by George and Violet Stoutt, they despair of ever teaching him to apologize when he does something wrong.