Formed in 1973 by the legendary Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Reid-Daly at the
behest of Rhodesian military supremo General Peter Walls, the Selous
Scouts were to write their name into the annals of military history as
one of the finest counterinsurgency units of all time, through their
innovative pseudo-guerrilla tactics, brilliant reconnaissance operations
into Zambia and Botswana and daring flying-column raids into Mozambique.
Feared and hated by the liberation movements ZIPRA and ZANLA, the Scouts
wreaked untold havoc and destruction on their Soviet- and Chinese-backed
enemies, accounting for 68% of guerrilla casualties within Rhodesia
alone during the bitter bush war of the 1970s. Uniquely ahead of its
time, the regiment - a brotherhood of men that traversed cultural and
racial barriers; their Shona motto was 'Pamwe Chete' (together only) -
was to produce the type of soldier that earned for the unit one Grand
Cross of Valour, nine Silver Crosses and 22 Bronze Crosses of Rhodesia.