At Thy Call We Did Not Falter is a gripping frontline account of the Angolan war, as seen through the eyes of a 19-year-old conscript soldier. It tells the story of so many young white South Africans who, like him, were sent into battle against overwhelming forces straight after finishing school. Clive Holt was at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where the South African Defence Force supported the rebel movement Unita after a massive build-up of Cuban and Angolan troops. It was the bloodiest and most significant battle fought by South African troops since World War II. With diary extracts, previously unpublished photographs and a riveting narrative, this book transports the reader into the firing line and the dark realms of war. At Thy Call We Did Not Falter is a classic account of war, as well as a window into the world of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a chilling account of how a government took schoolboys and turned them into killing machines. The timing of the book is extraordinarily fortunate, coming just as interest in Cuito Cuanavale is being revived, with moves afoot to arrange battlefield tours, and debates raging anew in military and veteran circles about who the victors and vanquished were.
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About the Author
Clive Holt was born in East London, South Africa, and commenced his national service in January 1987. During his time in the army, he was involved in several operations inside Angola. After leaving the defence force, Holt suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, and changed jobs frequently. He eventually emigrated to Australia, where he started a marketing consultancy, which eventually grew to encompass the functions of an advertising agency. He lives in Kalgoorlie, Australia with his wife and children.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Boot goes to War,
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This review is from: At Thy Call We Did Not Falter (Paperback)
I read this book, as part of my own research project into the South African Border War. It follows the author from home to basic to war. Pretty simple. Well written, and captures the fear of someone so young thrust into circumstances beyond their control. If you want to know what combat is like, The feelings anyway, buy and read this great book. It captures the stark unreality of combat very well. I know. But thats a different story. Highly recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reality is bitter!,
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This review is from: At Thy Call We Did Not Falter (Paperback)
A real book if you wanna know how is war from a conscript's view...and it covers both emotional and statistic matters of all the battles...some parts of it are from a soldier's diary and the other parts are written by that same soldier after 10,15 years...
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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citizen force, mechanised infantry battalion, permanent force personnel, traumatised person, support echelon, water bunker, national servicemen, danger pay Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
South African, Cuito Cuanavale, Operation Hooper, Calueque Dam, Cuito Bridge, Angolan War, Civvie Street, Cuito River, Commandant Mike Muller, Ops Medic, Lieutenant Saaiman, Captain Terblanche, Sergeant Horn, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Lieutenant Strydom, Cuando Cubango, Lieutenant Meiring, Cut Line, Operations Modular, Operation Modular, Valentine's Day, Pro Patria, General Geldenhuys, Bush Line Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
citizen force, mechanised infantry battalion, permanent force personnel, traumatised person, support echelon, water bunker, national servicemen, danger pay Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
South African, Cuito Cuanavale, Operation Hooper, Calueque Dam, Cuito Bridge, Angolan War, Civvie Street, Cuito River, Commandant Mike Muller, Ops Medic, Lieutenant Saaiman, Captain Terblanche, Sergeant Horn, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Lieutenant Strydom, Cuando Cubango, Lieutenant Meiring, Cut Line, Operations Modular, Operation Modular, Valentine's Day, Pro Patria, General Geldenhuys, Bush Line Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 1
book:
- The Buffalo Soldiers: The Story of South Africa 's 32 Battalion 1975-1993 by Jan Breytenbach in Front Matter, page 139, and page 158
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