Three Sips of Gin: Dominating the Battlespace with Rhodesia's Elite Selous Scouts

There is nothing that terrorized Russian and Chinese-backed guerrillas fighting Rhodesia's bush war in the 1970s more than the famed Selous Scouts. The very name of the unit struck fear into the heart and soul of even the most battle-hardened guerrillas. Too afraid to whisper the name amongst themselves, they referred to soldiers of the unit simply as Skuzapu, or pickpockets. It wasn't for nothing that history has recorded the Selous Scouts Regiment as one of the deadliest and most effective killing machines in modern counter-insurgency warfare.

The Selous Scouts: Elite Soldiers in the African Bush

The Selous Scouts were composed of specially selected soldiers of the Rhodesian army, enhanced by the inclusion of hardcore terrorists captured on the battlefield.

• Disguises and tactics: Dressed and equipped as communist guerrillas, with faces and arms blackened, members of this elite Special Forces unit would slip silently into the shadows of the night to seek and destroy real terrorist gangs.
• Deadly hide-and-seek: This became a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek, played out between gangs and counter-gangs in the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the African bush.
• Unmatched success: By the mid-1970s, the Selous Scouts had begun to dominate Rhodesia's battlespace, thanks to their ability to locate and destroy terrorists in their lairs. Working closely with the elite airborne assault troops of the Rhodesian Light Infantry, the Selous Scouts accounted for an extraordinary proportion of terrorists killed in Rhodesia's bush war.

A Story of Survival and Revelation

Survival in this cauldron of battle was never guaranteed. In this special 'deluxe' edition of author Tim Bax's hugely acclaimed Three Sips of Gin, readers follow Tim on his missions into the silence of the shadows. As his story unfolds, the significance of 'three sips of gin' is revealed, offering a deeper understanding of how he managed to survive.

This edition, for the first time, is illustrated with dozens of photographs, making it a must-read even for those familiar with the earlier version of the book.

More Than a War Story

Three Sips of Gin is not just a book about war. It is a remarkable account of a remarkable man’s life journey. Tim Bax tells his story with the wit, candor, and self-deprecating humor for which he is so well known. His journey is one that few could ever have experienced, making this book an extraordinary window into a unique life.