McAleese, Peter (Oral history)

British private served with Parachute Regt Depot in GB, 1960; private served with 1st Bn Parachute Regt in GB, 1960; trooper served with Special Air Service Depot in GB 1961; trooper served with Special Air Service in GB, Aden and USA, 1961-1962; private served with Parachute Regt Depot in GB, 1962; private and NCO served with 1st Bn Parachute Regt in Bahrain, GB and Cyprus, 1962-1964; trooper and NCO served with Special Air Service in GB, Aden and during Indonesian Confrontation, 1964-1967; private served with 1st Bn Parachute Regt in GB, 1967-1969; mercenary officer with National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) in Angola, 1976; trooper and NCO served with Rhodesian Special Air Service and South African Police Security Branch in Southern Rhodesia, Mozambique and South Africa 1977-1980; NCO with 44 Parachute Bde South African Defence Force in South Africa, South-West Africa and Angola 1980-1984; mercenary commander in Colombia 1987-1990

REEL 1 Summary of working career, 1957-1995. Background in Shettleston, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, GB, 1942-1957: details of childhood and education in Shettleston including desire to join Parachute Regiment; civilian work and leisure activities in Aberdeen; further details of childhood in Shettleston; details of brother's National Service; story of joining army in Aberdeen, 1960; train journey to Aldershot. Aspects of period as private with Parachute Regt Depot in GB, 3/1960-7/1960: arrival in Aldershot; knowledge of army; arrival and welcome at depot; initial problems with Geordie accents; routine; opinion of NCOs; competition among platoons; discipline including recruits leaving depot; assault course; relationship with recruits; story of bayonet fight with 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment troops; subsequent interview with commanding officer; relationship with trained paratroopers; details of depot. REEL 2 Continues: accommodation; punishments; injuries among recruits; relationship with Londoners including leisure activities in London; story of unhygienic recruit; horseplay among recruits; rations; parachute training including opinion of Royal Air Force; reasons for wanting to join Parachute Regiment; continuation training; issue of red beret; background and memories of NCOs. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Parachute Regiment in GB, 7/1960-12/1960: posting in Aldershot; changes to uniform; problems settling into mortar platoon support company; parachuting with and transport of mortars; make- up of support company; spread of regiment; exercises and duties; application to join Special Air Service; knowledge of Special Air Service; home leaves. Aspects of period as trooper with Special Air Service Depot in GB, 1/1961-7/1961: arrival at Hereford and first night; discipline; relationship with troopers; uniform and kit issued; wait for start of training; map training including details of exercises; continuation training exercises; details of selection course and continuation training; exercises. REEL 3 Continues: demolition training; story of exercise including drunken agent; equipment taken on exercises; description of combat training course; relationship with instructors and troopers; average age; training exercise with Danish Army; training to face interrogation; passing out parade; posting to B Squadron. Aspects of period as trooper with Special Air Service in GB, Aden and USA, 1961-1962: welcome on arrival in B Squadron; troop postings; training in Aden with 18 Troop, 1962, including story of fresh meat rations; exercise with Parachute Regiment in Cyprus; wildlife and climate in Aden; opinion of unit; return to GB and posting to USA; medical staff; signals deficiencies; journey to US; details of period training with US forces at Fort Bragg including relationship with American troops; discussion of medical training given to Special Air Service in US; differences between US and British Army; details of US Special Forces; discussion of behaviour while in armed forces. REEL 4 Continues: relationship with fellow troops; story of fight and return to Parachute Regiment; opinion of officers; length of posting at Fort Bragg; parachute training; leave. Aspects of period as private with Parachute Regiment Depot in GB, 1962: changes in himself since last spell; fatigues; posting to Bahrain. Aspects of period as private and NCO with 1st Bn Parachute Regiment in Bahrain, 1962-1963: posting in A Company; welcome on arrival in unit and discipline in company; reason for posting; NAAFI; pattern of training; aircraft in Bahrain; description of flight conditions; details of NCO cadre attended; accommodation; food and rink rations; further details of NCO cadre attended; posting to 1 Platoon; story of Exercise Nimble; return to GB and leave. Aspect of period as NCO with 1st Bn Parachute Regiment in GB and Cyprus, 1963-1964: exercises in GB and Europe; news of sudden move to Cyprus; activities during home leave; story of journey to Aldershot and on to Cyprus; details of tour; behaviour of unit in Cyprus and "re-training" on return; impressions of soldiers in Cyprus; knowledge of situation; description of patrols. REEL 5 Continues: memories of Lord Wrottesley; application to return to Special Air Service; training for return to Hereford. Aspects of period as NCO with Special Air Service in GB and Aden and during Indonesian Confrontation, 1964-1967: interview with commanding officer; issue of kit; return to 16 Troop; training received in Aden; earlier jungle training in Malaya; second jungle course in Borneo; relationship with New Zealand and Australian Special Air Services; opinion of US Special Forces; posting in Kuching; details of Claret Operations into Indonesia; ambushes and evacuation; length of patrols; equipment taken on patrols; water supply; description and use of dehydrated rations; supplements to rations; length of tour; story of following tracks to a camp; ration shortage; posting to Aden; routine during Indonesian Confrontation; details of squadron postings; exams taken on arrival in Aden; details of operations including skirmish in a wadi; proficiency in Arabic; posting to GB; exercises; reason for return to Aden; exercises; new ideas used during operations. REEL 6 Continues: details of Operation Snowgoose including method of seeing in dark and other units involved; results of operation; details of incident in the Radfan; proficiency of Arabs with rifle; pseudo-operation activities of D Squadron; activities of Peter de la Billière; medals awarded; story of fight in Hereford; return to Parachute Regiment. Aspects of period as private with 1st Bn Parachute Regt in GB, 1967-1969: welcome party on arrival; parachute course in France including opinion of French troops; marriage; request for posting in Brecon; further details of fight in Hereford; NCO course attended; interview on return; opinion of treatment from officers; promotion to sergeant; posting in C Company; posting to Brecon as instructor; details of period at Brecon; reasons for decision to leave army. Aspects of period as civilian in GB, 1969-1976: regret at leaving army; civilian work and personal life; assaults committed; details of period in HMP Gloucester including relationship with fellow prisoners; opinion of time in prison; leisure activities inside; relationship with guards and fellow prisoners. REEL 7 Continues: ex- servicemen in prison; education; lies concocted by prisoners; story of fight; details of prisoners and guards; reactions to imprisonment; relationship with cellmates including story of escaping cellmate; release from prison and return to girlfriend; return to HMP Gloucester including civilian work between spells; welcome on arrival; details of second and third prison spells including appeal against third spell; reaction on final release from prison; civilian work; background to gaining work in Angola; story of meeting in Kensington with David Stirling concerning possible mercenary work in Libya, 1970; activities of David Stirling in Yemen; background to gaining work in Angola, 1/1976; flight to Kinshasa including promotion to captain. Aspects of operations as mercenary officer with National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) in Angola, 1/1976-4/1976: welcome on arrival; drive to San Salvador; knowledge and background of comrades; kit and weapons issued in Kinshasa including departure from Kinshasa airport; journey into Angola; knowledge of situation; events on arrival in San Salvador including attitude to civilians and memories of commanding officer, Colonel Tony Callan aka Costas Georgiou; patrol taken to Sanatoria Desir including warning given concerning Colonel Callan. REEL 8 Continues: situation in Angola; activities in Sanatoria Desir Hospital; weapons in FNLA and MPLA; discipline; sorting out of ration supply; British troops in unit; organisation of unit; interpreter; fixing of electricity supply; reaction of civilians; food sent to local towns and proximity to fighting; activities of Colonel Callan; re-organisation of unit; camouflage of trucks; suggestions for changes to FNLA; arrival of Americans from CIA and subsequent meeting including spread of FNLA units; meeting with Holden Roberto concerning conduct of Colonel Callan; reactions to orders given; journey to Corpus Christi and orders given to unit on departure; night in Kinshasa; unit made up to overthrow Colonel Callan; opinion of unit members; plan of attack; events on arrival in Maquela de Zombo including weapons carried; story of troops shot by Colonel Callan; arrest of Sam Copeland and "Shotgun" Charlie Christodoulou; description of Sam Copeland; description of scene of massacre; details of court martial held with Nick Hall. REEL 9 Continues: reaction to court martial; story of Sam Copeland's execution; reactions to execution; decision of some troops to return home; opinion of Second World War veterans involved; situation and return to San Salvador; troops gathered and activities in San Salvador; meeting with CIA; arrival of fuel from Kinshasa; trip to Kinshasa; story of return flight to San Salvador; situation on arrival; results of a reconnaisance patrol; meeting with CIA and orders to withdraw; account of escape to Zaire; talk with Nick Hall in Kinshasa; flight back over Angola; meetings with CIA and Holden Roberto; discussion of experience in Angola; impressions of Holden Roberto; fate of Colonel Callan and other mercenaries; press coverage of Angola mercenaries; decision to return to GB and activities in Kinshasa British Embassy; visits to families of mercenaries after return to GB; money earned in Angola; civilian work; background to joining Rhodesia Special Air Service; story of joining Rhodesian army, 12/1976. REEL 10 Continues: Aspects of period as trooper and NCO with Rhodesian Special Air Service and South African Police Security Branch in Southern Rhodesia, Mozambique and South Africa, 1976-1980: arrival with unit in Salisbury; initial duties; treatment of recruits; story of argument and fight between instructors; organisation into squads; physical training; differences between British and Rhodesian army training; description of bush training including rations and health; details of selection course; pass rate; parachute course; weapons training; journey to Kinyemba; squadron and troop postings; kit shortages; details of patrols into Mozambique including opinion of NCOs; make-up and description of vehicle operation into Mozambique including actions involved in; news of deployment in Mozambique; suspicions following extra beer ration; model built of target in Mozambique; briefing for Operation Zulu One including make-up of patrol. REEL 11 Continues: preparations for departure; scenes at airfield; flight to Mozambique; parachute jump and problems on landing; role of operation; description of action against ZANLA base including weapon carried; results of operation; return to Salisbury; rest period; briefing and preparation for Operation Zulu Two; description of attack on Camp Tenby; results of operation; wife's knowledge of operation; use of mountain in operation; distance travelled into Mozambique; details of marriage and pay; relationship with and opinion of civilians including discussion of chances and successes in war; relationship with fellow troops; story of fight during training and punishment; description of and reactions to killing opposition; impressions of troops faced; details of Selous Scouts; expansion of Special Branch; promotion up to sergeant in army. REEL 12 Continues: duties and activities with Special Branch including mission into Mozambique from South Africa, 1979, and opinion of South Africans; marriage; departure from Zimbabwe; opinion of Commonwealth monitoring service; relationship with police; fate of old comrades; opinion of Rhodesians; arrival in South Africa; joining of South African army in Pretoria; starting rank and posting outside Pretoria. Aspects of period as NCO with 44 Parachute Bde Pathfinder Coy South African Defence Force in South Africa, South-West Africa and Angola, 1980-1984: accommodation; make-up of Pathfinder Company and posting on border with Zimbabwe; pattern of training; posting to South-West Africa-Angola border, 2/1981; story of operation against MPLA camp at Kumato in Angola; experiments with vehicles; journey into South-West Africa including story of hailstorm en route; operations involved in; story of operation Techamutete; roles of units involved. REEL 13 Continues: relationship with Afrikaans troops; call-up of English-speaking South Africans; discussion of languages used in army including changes in South African army made in 1948; bullying in Rhodesian and South African armies; opinion of discipline; details of black units; story of wounding during an operation and evacuation; treatment received; reasons for departure from South African army; details of civilian work that followed; reiteration of wounding; story of final parachute jumps; postings with South African Defence Force; recovery of wounds; details of pathfinder course; leave and married accommodation; integration programme and impressions of South African army; relationship with troops and civilians; details of benefits; Rhodesian troops in army; joining of South African army; details of National Service system and troops; details of railway police. REEL 14 Continues: treatment of prisoners by South African and Rhodesian armies; details of Rhodesian Special Branch including method of interrogation and activities of opposition in Rhodesia; weapons used in Rhodesia and South Africa; details of and problems with R4 assault rifle; opinion of AK47 and other weapons used; use of paint on weapons in Rhodesia and South Africa; discussion of causes fought for; relationship with civilians; opinion of oppositions faced; opinion of African troops including discipline and punishment; details of Rhodesian Army after 1980 including Zimbabwean Fifth Brigade. Aspects of period as civilian in South Africa, GB and Uganda 1984-1988: departure from married quarters and new accommodation in Pretoria; learning of Afrikaans and life of son; leisure activities; nature of Afrikaans people. REEL 15 Continues: memories of police during Apartheid; civilian staff in home in Rhodesia and South Africa including story of gaining food for gardener; impressions of Apartheid society; details of COIN Security Group; make-up of staff; weapons used by company; details of night work; use and customisation of weapons; role of security groups; liaison with local government; threats met by company; description and use of limpet mines; story of parachuting accident; injuries sustained and treatment; period in hospital. REEL 16 Continues: period in hospital including changes in himself after return to work and payment of medical bills; reasons for decision to leave South Africa including background and family of wife; story behind quitting work with COIN Security Group; departure of wife for GB and period working in Johannesburg; problems settling in Birmingham; details of company worked for in Uganda; regaining of fitness; details of work including weapons carried; move of family to Lincoln; offer of work in Colombia. Aspects of period as mercenary commander in Colombia 1988-1990: wait in hotel for call including description of Colombian Intelligence staff; briefings for mission; story of fish and chip meal; reconnaissance undertaken; political situation and background to mission; recruitment of team. REEL 17 Continues: period of training; details of and contact with drug cartels; financing of mission; uniform and kit issued; length of training; briefing for attack of Communists; request for extra staff; reactions to reconnaissance; training of local troops including move to southern Colombia; rations; health; circumcision of troops; jungle training including details of pay and description of ex-Communist camp; visits to Bogota; departure from Colombia including training given to troops; period in Hereford including problems gaining work; offer and acceptance of work in Colombia; working relationship with Dave Tomkinson; briefing from colonel including opinion of Colombian officers; aerial reconnaissance; relationship with colleagues; location and make-up of staff at Pablo Escobar's hideout, Hacienda Napoli. REEL 18 Continues: weapons used by guards; terrain around house; plan of attack including problems faced including vehicles at disposal; training at Buena Ventura; preparations for mission; background of team; weapons carried; flight to Hacienda Napoli including altitude of destination; description of helicopter crash; evacuation from helicopter; medical aid given to and death of pilot including description of own injuries; arrival of and contact with second helicopter; sending away of troops to find helicopter; activities during three day wait for rescue including shelter made and rations. REEL 19 Continues: arrival of rescue party; evacuation through jungle; flight out of jungle; hospitalisation in Cali including extent of injuries; Israeli involvement with Escobar; fate of fellow members of raid team; reasons for not making second attempt; further details of Israeli involvement in country including story of talks with press reporter David Lee; opinion of role of mission; return to GB; arrest of Pablo Escobar; offer for return to Colombia; flight to Colombia including change of planes on border; reconnaissance of La Catedral jail in Medillin; details of jail and area around; plans devised; return to GB and loss of contact; further details of Pablo Escobar including his death. REEL 20 Continues: story of interview with Sunday Times; work of Dave Tomkinson; accommodation in Telford, 1992; civilian work in pub trade and security; opinion of life in GB; contact with Special Air Service comrades; changes in Special Air Service and British Army.