No Mean Soldier: The Story of the Ultimate Professional Soldier in the SAS and Other Forces (Cassell Military History) [Paperback]

Peter McAleese (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

Part of the ever popular SAS and special forces book market. 'A gripping read, it is full of action, exotic locations and haunting images' -The Scotsman A surprisingly humble and honest account of a man who sought danger as a way of life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Peter McAleese was brought up in the tough Shettleston district of Glasgow. He joined the Parachute Regiment in 1960 and passed SAS selection in 1962. After service in the Borneo Campaign he left the British army and saw service as a mercenary solider in Africa and Latin America. McAlleese now runs a public house in Birmingham.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Cassell (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304356840
• ISBN-13: 978-0304356843
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,188,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military Science

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars McAleese is indeed No Mean Soldier, April 18, 2001

By 

Mr. B. D. Monnery "Bryn Monnery" (Liverpool, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: No Mean Soldier: The Story of the Ultimate Professional Soldier in the SAS and Other Forces (Cassell Military History) (Paperback)

This book is an interesting account of a soldier who has been involved in actual combat for almost 20 years of his life.

This career has spanned the British Airborne and Special Forces, Rhodesian and South African Special Forces and as a Mercernary in Africa and South America.

The book itself is a very good read, and conveys much of the reality of modern battle, and also much of it's humour. It's the tragedy that comes through most strongly though, especially in the breakup of Rhodesia, which is still troubled now, over 20 years later, and Callan's massacure of his own troops.

It's certainly a page turner, and I finished the book wondering, "What will he do next?"

Bryn

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting swath of experience., January 16, 2011

By 

Historicool (Rochester, Ny) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: No Mean Soldier: The Story of the Ultimate Professional Soldier in the SAS and Other Forces (Cassell Military History) (Paperback)

McAleese is someone who I first heard about while reading about some of his exploits in Al Venter's "War Dogs", and given that his autobiography was so inexpensive, I decided to check it out. Mr. McAleese begins by talking about his early life and some of the military exploits of his father and grandfather (as well as his father's similarly rowdy behavior). He then goes on to discuss his time in the British SAS and goes into (unfortunately brief) detail regarding his deployments to Aden and Borneo. He also talks about his being kicked out of the SAS (twice no less) and reminds me a bit of "Soldier J's" autobiography "He Who Dares" for his discussion of his wild behavior even as a member of a highly-disciplined elite unit. He then goes on to talk about his time in the Rhodesia's C Squadron SAS and his brief tenure as a part of the ill-fated mercenary effort in Angolga with the infamous "Colonel" Callan. He moves on then to his time on as a trainer and then CSM with the short-lived but intriguing South African Defense Force 44th Parachute Brigade's Pathfinder Company and finishes up with his hiring as a part of the aborted attempt to extract Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar and his amazing bid to survive the ensuing helicopter crash.

Though his exploits are both varied and intriguing, his spare, simple style may not be enough for some readers. I often found myself wishing to know more about his part in a particular operation or another. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the book may be a bit too short and fleeting in feeling for some such as myself. This is not to say that McAleese is a bad writer by any means as his writings are largely lucid for someone who is not a writer by trade. Some may also question his exploits given his somewhat rocky reputation among the British SAS. In this, one must form your own opinion of him as reading his autobiography is similar to the experience that one has when reading Dennis Croukamp's account of his time in the Rhodesian Selous Scouts - a man with a similar reputation (incidentally Croukamp was McAleese's fellow CSM in the Pathfinders). McAleese is quite open about his short comings and freely acknowledges that there are those who have negative opinions. There are also a number of good pictures as well as appendices with a fairly comprehensive list of those mercenaries involved in the fateful Angola operation as well as the operations plan for the Escobar snatch.

All in all, a good untaxing read from a man who has certain experienced his great share of military adventures.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McAleese is a great soldier, and writes a great book, July 12, 2001

By 

justin smothers (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: No Mean Soldier: The Story of the Ultimate Professional Soldier in the SAS and Other Forces (Cassell Military History) (Paperback)

This is a great read for someone interested in the special forces operations. Such as the SAS, 1 Para, Rhodesian SAS, and mercenary work. The book is an action packed, yet informative read that has a lot of humanity and insight to it. McAleese has led a great life, and an adventurous one at that. If you are interested in learning more about life as an elite soldier or mercenary read NO MEAN SOLDIER.