Men Among Men Stories

Hank and Bindu return to Italy for the memoir of the founder and commander of the first company of what was to become known as the Arditi - "The Daring Ones.” 

Cristoforo Baseggio was a junior officer long history of military service in the Italian and British armies prior to the Great War. At age 46, Baseggio commissioned again in 1914 as a member of the Alpini ("Alpine Troops"). From there, Baseggio created the 1st Exploratori Company as a small company strength unit to raid deep into Austro-Hungarian lines. Utilizing "Arditi" tactics, which emphasized speed and close quarters combat, the unit saw incredible successes despite the notoriously rugged terrain of northern Italy. Pioneering "Arditi" tactics would revolutionize trench warfare on the Italian Front, long before the advent of the German Stormtroopers. Baseggio's unit would be ultimately disbanded in 1916, they would be the catalyst for the development of larger Arditi units with the same tactical prowess and unique equipment innovations. 

First published in 1929, Baseggio's "The Death Company" was written entirely in Italian. For Anglophones, the book was only translated and republished for the first time in 2020. Join us as we explore a book that has been called “The Italian ‘Storm of Steel” and the origins of the legendary Italian Arditi units.

Get ready to return back to the front lines as Bindu and Hank return from their podcast hiatus. Join us as we unravel the memoir of Canadian Sergeant Fred Cederberg, who served during during the Italian Campaign with the Cape Breton Highlanders and the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish.

Brace yourself for an intense exploration of Canada's often-overlooked involvement in the war-torn landscapes of Italy during the Second World War. Fred Cederberg's chronicles paint a vivid tapestry of courage, duty, brotherhood, and love, showcasing the metamorphosis of a young boy into a hardened man amidst the relentless chaos of battle.

This episode is not just a podcast; it's a dedication, a tribute to the indomitable spirit of our late friend Kyle "Ndlovu" Porter. Join us as we honour his memory and embark on a journey that transcends time, resonating with the echoes of valour and camaraderie.

Bindu and Hank explore the “other side” of the Rhodesian Bush War and the other Cold War conflicts with a political treatise from African revolutionary leader Kwame Nkrumah. A perpetual activist, Nkrumah went from a minor Marxist and pan-Africanist thinker to the first president of an independent Ghana. While he never commanded troops in the field, he wrote a field manuel that would inspire Robert Mugabe and a generation of African guerrilla fighters. Join us as we go over the ideas and ideals of Nkrumah and the soldiers of ZANU, ZAPU, SWAPO and ANC that he inspired with his work.

Bindu and Hank depart from our usual format to bring you the incredible stories of three fallen members of the legendary Rhodesian Selous Scouts: Major John Kendrick Murphy Jr., Sergeant Head Wuranda SCR, BCR, and Lieutenant Edward Piringondo SCR.

We discuss the exploits of these men on pseudo-operations for the Rhodesian cause, and the circumstances of their deaths. We also explore the shady dealings of Rhodesian CIO chief Ken Flower and his connection to the tragic end of Lieutenant Piringondo and the collapse of Rhodesia. Join us as we pay tribute to these gallant men, who rightly deserve their place as some of the most legendary COIN warfare operations in history.

Bindu and Hank go off the beaten path and into uncharted territory with an interview with Nick from “Tales From The Grid Square”. Together we discuss encounters of soldiers with ghosts, cryptids, UFOs and other weird and creepy phenomena. Hank, Nick and Bindu revist Will R. Bird’s encounters with the ghost of his brother and explore the Ariel School UFO sighting, the U-28 Sea Serpent and Hank and Nick’s own encounters with unusual phenomena in the Canadian and American militaries respectively. Join the three of us for a look into the weirder and spookier side of military life and military history, and have a Happy Halloween!

Hank and Bindu showcase the sequel to the legendary Rhodesian war memoir “Fireforce” with this episode on “Survival Course”. The book follows Chris Cocks’ journey through BSAP-PATU, and the confusing and vicious combat that unit went through as conventional military operations became interwtined with police actions. The book also explores Chris’ own “war of self” as he struggled with mental health issues and drug dependency. Hank and Bindu talk about all that and more, including the end of Rhodesia and its transformation into Zimbabwae; as we share Chris’ incredible story of the end of the Rhodesian Bush War and his own personal battles.

Hank and Bindu explore General Sir Charles "Gurkha" Reid's memoirs of the Siege of Delhi, during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The urban combat at Delhi can easily be compared to the intensity of Alesia, Rourke's Drift or Stalingrad, but is not as widely explored in then English speaking world. The battle also cemented the legend of Nepalese Gurkha, as "Gurkha" Reid's Simoor Battalion would earn their most distinguished battle honour at the defence of the Hindu Rao's house - an honour still carried on by the Royal Gurkha Rifles on the Queen's Truncheon, in modern times. Hank and Bindu use the combat diary of "Gurkha Reid" to navigate the events of the siege, the Indian Mutiny more broadly, and the history of the legendary British and Indian Army Gurkhas.

Hank and Bindu take on the memoirs of one of the most controversial and eccentric soldiers of the 20th century. Siegfried Müller was born in 1920 in Germany to an old Prussian millitary family and served with the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. After the war, Müller left his homeland for a fresh start in Africa and after a stint clearing mines in Libya, found himself in the Congo during the early 1960s. He used his previous military experience to serve as a mercenary under the legendary “Mad” Mike Hoare on behalf of the Congolese government against the brutal Simba rebels.The German soldier wearing his Iron Cross proudly in the jungle became an icon of this conflict. Hank and Bindu share the incredible story of a man who fought in some of the fiercest battles in Africa during the Cold War and gained worldwide infamy because of it.

Hank and Bindu travel back further in history than they have ever done, with this autobiogrpahy of a late 15th Century/ early 16th Century knight. Sir Götz von Berlichingen, better known as Götz of the Iron Hand; was a German knight who served as a mercenary leader in many of the conflicts both inside and outside the Holy Roman Empire. Despite losing his right arm to a cannonball early in his millitary career, Götz served as an esteemed knight and a capable military leader for almost five decades of wars and feuds. Using this memoir as a reference, Hank and Bindu explore late Medieval and Renaissance warfare and the revolution in military tactics and technology that this period experienced.

After thoroughly exploring the book “No Mean Soldier” by Peter McAleese in two back-to-back podcasts, Hank and Bindu finally sit down with the man himself and discuss his incredible career with him. We dive deeper into McAleese’s childhood, his experiences with the notorious Tony Callan, some of the lighter moments of his career, and the Operation Phoenix to kill Pablo Escobar.

Hank and Bindu dive deep into the second half of a legendary memoir of a true “fighting man”. Peter McAleese is a Scottish SAS veteran whose incredible adventures in the British army and after spanned three continents. In this podcast, Hank and Bindu go over the second half of the book; looking at McAleese’s time in Rhodesia in both the Rhodesian SAS and BSAP Special Branch, his journey to South Africa after Rhodesia’s fall, his service in the 44 Parachute Brigade and private security companies, and finally his recruitment into two secret missions in Colombia with the ultimate aim of killing Pablo Escobar. This memoir is a testament to an astounding life and unique millitary career, and stay tuned because we will soon interview the man himself!

Hank and Bindu explore the first half of a legendary memior of a true “fighting man”. Peter McAleese is a Scottish SAS veteran whose incredible adventuers in the British army and after spanned three continents. In this podcast, Hank and Bindu go over the first half of the book; looking at McAleese’s rough childhood, his service in the Aden and Borneo campaigns with the SAS and finally his time as a mercenary in the Angloan Civil War. This memoir is a testament to an astounding life and unique millitary career, and stay tuned because this is only part 1!

Hank and Bindu go further back in time then they have ever gone before, and discuss a lost classic of military history: the personal reflections of a Napoleonic era soldier. Benjamin Harris joined the British Army in 1803 and quickly joined the famed 95th Regiment of Foot. Harris served in the 95th at the Second Battle of Copenhagen in 1807 and then in Spain during the Peninsular War. He would serve through some of the fiercest fighting of the Spanish campaign and along the particularly hellish Retreat to Corunna. This is a long-forgotten memoir from a time where the common soldier’s perspective was often overlooked, and Hank and Bindu are proud to delve into the events of the book and explore the perspective Harris shares on the Napoleonic Wars.

Hank and Bindu reminisce over 2021, talking about their favourite podcasts they have recorded and going into a bit more detail about some of them. They also talk about their plans for the podcast for 2022, some of the feedback they have received, their commitment to objective military history, Hank’s new catchphrase and some sneak peaks at future podcasts. Finally they end off with Bindu reading a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem and giving a message of hope for this year.

Hope you guys enjoy this one, we have a great year planned for this podcast!

Hank and Bindu explore a forgotten book about a forgotten corner of the Second World War: British special operations in the Balkans and elsewhere. This is the sequel to Peter Kemp’s book “Mine Were of Trouble” which we covered in a previous podcast. In this book, Kemp returns from the Spanish Civil War and steps into the Second World War and the British Special Operations Executive. Kemp participates in cross channel raids against German positions on the French coast and then is sent into help organize and aid the Albanian and later Polish resistance. In both these countries he enters a confusing world of local politics and guerrilla warfare where nothing is what it seems. Hank and Bindu go over all this and more in this lost classic of the Second World War and the British espionage and special operations associated with it.

Hank and Bindu once again interview our good friend, Rhodesia Regiment and BSAP veteran Larry Jenkins. We continue Larry’s story of his time in Rhodesia and his experiences going home to Canada. Larry explains the difficulties former soldiers face returning to civilian life, and together we explore his time with the Veterans Transition Network and go over their play Contact! Unload.

This episode is released in conjunction with the sale of posters signed by Larry Jenkins, featuring his poem Let This Come From Your Pen. 80% of the funds from these posters goes to the Veterans Transition Network. Their work crucially helps Canadian military, law enforcement and first responder veterans.

To watch the play Contact! Unload, purchase a poster, or check out the Veterans Transition Network; please visit our website which has links to all of the above.

Hank and Bindu discuss the recent American pullout from Afghanistan and the similarities and contrasts to the First Anglo-Afghan War in 1839-1842. We explore the last stand of the 44th Regiment of Foot, the experiences of William Brydon, the current Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Strauss-Howe generational theory and our own personal opinions on what this all means for the United States and the Western world more generally.

This is our first episode recorded with our new microphone and under our new logo, both of which we discuss in this podcast.

Hank and Bindu investigate a fascinating memoir of a British volunteer in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for the rebel Nationalist cause. Peter Kemp was an Englishman who went to Spain in 1936 and using his former military training rose through the ranks to become an officer, first in the Carlist Requetés and then in the elite Spanish Foreign Legion. Peter Kemp would go on to serve throughout the Spanish Civil War, being wounded three times and earning a number of medals. An adventurer through and through, Kemp would go onto serve in the Second World War and beyond. Hank and Bindu explore this lesser-known but brutal war in this lost classic of a military memoir.

Hank and Bindu explore one of our favourite books on the Rhodesian Bush War, written by A.J. Balaam a veteran of both the Rhodesian Light Infantry and the Selous Scouts. Balaam grew up in Rhodesia and after  national service in the RLI, he suffered through the legendary Selous Scouts selection course and became a member of this formidable elite unit. He then participated in many of  both the well-known and more secrative operations of the Bush War, including the infamous Operation Eland. Finally, he finished his military career as an instructor for the Transkei special forces, in the confusing political and military vortex of the “Bantustans” in South Africa. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Rhodesian Bush War.

Changing pace, Hank and Bindu speak about the problems we face when talking about military history and history more generally today. We talk about cancel culture, political correctness, the politicization of history, yellow journalism, trading up the chain, and our own personal experiences with all of the above. This was a very unique and personal episode for us about something we are both (sadly) very familiar with. We hope you like it.

Hank and Bindu sit down with a great friend of the podcast, Canadian-born Rhodesian Bush War veteran Larry Jenkins. Larry came from a small Canadian town with a proud military history, travelled the world on a German tramp steamer, and found himself in Rhodesia during the height of the Bush War. From there he joined the Rhodesia Regiment and the BSAP, while also working in civilian capacity at a local newspaper. We talk with Larry about his incredible life before and during the Rhodesian War as he imparts knowledge that only a man of his exploits can.

Hank and Bindu explore the memoirs of Pyotr Wrangel, the last commander of White forces in Southern Russia during the Russian Civil War. A veteran of both the Russo-Japanese War and First World War, Wrangel returned from retirement to join anti-Bolshevik “White” forces during the Russian Civil War. After the resignation of his commanding officer; Wrangel became in effect commander-and-chief of the White Army. He held off the Bolsheviks for as long as possible, and when it became clear the war was lost, he evacuated his entire army and their families from Crimea. He published his memoirs in 1928, and died soon after. This is the story of a wise and bold military leader who recognized he was fighting for a lost cause, and yet never gave into despair or let down his men.

Hank and Bindu take a deep dive into a lost classic of the Rhodesian Bush War, written by Rhodesian Light Infantry and Selous Scout veteran Dennis Croukamp. Croukamp served through almost the entirety of the Rhodesian Bush War, from 1965-1979. He watched the conflict grow and expand to new theatres of war, many of which he participated in. His most famous exploit was an epic six-day journey of survival in the jungle, alone and behind enemy lines. We cover all this and more in this episode about a truly battle hardened soldier and his rare and very comprehensive memoir of the Rhodesian Bush War.

Hank and Bindu sit down with Chris Cocks, a veteran of the Rhodesian Light Infantry 3 Commando (“The Lovers”) and British South Africa Police PATU, and author of the books “Fireforce” and “Survival Course”. We chat with Chris Cocks and ask him some questions about what it was like serving in the Rhodesian Security Forces, seeing the rise and fall of an independent Rhodesia, and what his life has been like since the Rhodesian Bush War. Chris answers all these questions and more and gives a fascinating personal insight into this period of history.

Hank and Bindu explore one of the most famous military memoirs of the First World War, “The Storm of Steel” by Ernst Jünger. Jünger served in the 73rd Infantry Regiment of the Hanoverian 19th Division. From 1914-1918 he served on the Western Front, earning an Iron Cross First Class, a  House Order of Hohenzollern, and a Pour le Mérite. Jünger would gain post-war popularity as an author who brought to life both the courage and endurance of the German solider on the Western Front. His personal war story is one of the best examples of a man clinging to virtues of honour and glory amidst the hellish nature of the Western Front.

Hank and Bindu tackle a forgotten Canadian war classic, "And We Go On" by Will R. Bird. Bird fought on the Western Front as a member of the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Expeditionary Force. For combat gallantry during the last hundred days of the war, he was awarded a Military Medal. Bird would go on to publish "And We Go On" in 1930 as a rejection of many myths about the war and the soldiers that fought it. His story is that of an everyman trying to survive in extraordinary times, and an exploration of the human condition when embroiled in the fires of war.

Hank and Bindu do a run down of 2020, with a discussion on future plans for the podcast, their obsession with military history, their collection of knives, and other random topics in lieu of a previously planned Christmas Special. Join us for some sneak previews at some of the books and topics we are to cover in 2021.

Bindu and Hank's deep dive into Chris Cocks' "Fireforce", first published in 1988. "Fireforce" details Chris Cocks' experiences as a front line commando with "The Lovers", 3 Commando, Rhodesian Light Infantry. This is the second episode of our two part series. Join us again as we delve deeper into the complicated and often vicious fighting of the Rhodesian Bush War.

Bindu and Hank's deep dive into Chris Cocks' "Fireforce", first published in 1988. "Fireforce" details Chris Cocks' experiences as a front line commando with "The Lovers", 3 Commando, Rhodesian Light Infantry. Chris Cock’s tale is one of a forgotten and often misunderstood war, and of a very young man swept up in extraordinary times.