fbpx
Wikipedia

Taffy Williams

David Hugh "Taffy" Williams (28 September 1933 – 7 May 1996) was a Welsh-born South African mercenary who fought for the State of Katanga during the Congo Crisis (1960–1963) and the Republic of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970).

Taffy Williams
Birth nameDavid Hugh Williams
Born(1933-09-28)28 September 1933
Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales
Died7 May 1996(1996-05-07) (aged 62)
Lambeth, London, England
Allegiance
Service years–1970
Conflict(s)

Biafran War

Noted for his bravery under fire he served two tours of duty with the Biafran Army, rising to the rank of major, and was the last white mercenary to leave the country as secession ended.[1]

Williams found his Biafran troops to be completely different from those whom he commanded in Katanga. "I've seen a lot of Africans at war," he was quoted as saying. "But there's nobody to touch these people. Give me 10,000 Biafrans for six months, and we'll build an army that would be invincible on this continent. I've seen men die in this war who would have won the Victoria Cross in another context".[2] An irascible man, he was known for constantly screaming at his men and threatening to kill them if they did not obey his orders with a Time correspondent in 1968 observed him to shout at his troops: "You rotten bastards! You bloody, treacherous morons!".[3] Williams was known in Biafra as being "bullet proof" due to his ability to survive multiple wounds and was five times reported to be killed in action between December 1967-October 1968, only for him to turn up alive.[3]

Williams was assigned one hundred Biafran fighters in early 1968, and managed to keep two battalions of Chadian mercenaries serving with the Nigerian Federal Army at bay for twelve weeks with only antiquated weapons. After Williams redeployed his forces in early April, the Chadians forded the Cross River at two locations, and captured Afikpo, a main town on the western side.[4]

Completing his first contract and following a brief stay in the UK, Williams returned to Biafra on 7 July 1968. He was assigned to the 4th Commando Brigade led by Lt. Col Rolf Steiner. Steiner had command of 3000 men, and was assigned to the area around the Enugu - Onitsha road. Williams, who liked to joke that he was "half-mad", would personally lead his troops into battle, sometimes standing in a hail of Federal gunfire, just to prove to his troops that he was indeed "bullet-proof". His resolve under fire would often unnerve the more superstitious of Nigerian soldiers and serve to rally his own.[5]

On 24 August 1968 Williams was drawn into a critical battle of the conflict. At this point, he had 1000 soldiers under his command which carried out counteroffensives against two battalion-sized enemy units attempting to cross the Imo River Bridge with Soviet military advisers. When Williams returned to Aba for additional ammunition to continue the fight, he was told that there was simply none to be had. The Nigerian Air Force had become quite successful in blocking supplies into the beleaguered state. Some of Williams' men had only two rounds left for their rifles and many were forced to withdraw.[6]

Following the arrest and expulsion of Steiner and four others, Major Williams was allegedly the only European still left serving with the Biafran army. He left the state shortly before its collapse. It is thought that Williams, who encountered author Frederick Forsyth there as a war correspondent, served as the inspiration for the character of Carlo Shannon in Forsyth's The Dogs of War.[7]

Notes

  1. ^ Forsyth, Frederick (2009). The Biafra Story. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-84415-523-1.
  2. ^ Forsyth, 113.
  3. ^ a b "Biafra: The Mercenaries". Time. 25 October 1968. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  4. ^ Forsyth, 127.
  5. ^ Forsyth, 133.
  6. ^ Forsyth, 136.
  7. ^ . www.terryaspinall.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007.

Sources

  • Steiner, Rolf. The Last Adventurer (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1978), 275 pages.
  • Mok, Michael. Biafra Journal (Time-Life Books, 1969), 95 pages.
  • Forsyth, Frederick. The Biafra Story (Pen & Sword Books, 2009) 291 pages.

taffy, williams, david, hugh, taffy, williams, september, 1933, 1996, welsh, born, south, african, mercenary, fought, state, katanga, during, congo, crisis, 1960, 1963, republic, biafra, during, nigerian, civil, 1967, 1970, birth, namedavid, hugh, williamsborn. David Hugh Taffy Williams 28 September 1933 7 May 1996 was a Welsh born South African mercenary who fought for the State of Katanga during the Congo Crisis 1960 1963 and the Republic of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War 1967 1970 Taffy WilliamsBirth nameDavid Hugh WilliamsBorn 1933 09 28 28 September 1933Bridgend Glamorgan WalesDied7 May 1996 1996 05 07 aged 62 Lambeth London EnglandAllegiance State of Katanga Republic of BiafraService years 1970Conflict s Congo Crisis Nigerian Civil WarBiafran War EditNoted for his bravery under fire he served two tours of duty with the Biafran Army rising to the rank of major and was the last white mercenary to leave the country as secession ended 1 Williams found his Biafran troops to be completely different from those whom he commanded in Katanga I ve seen a lot of Africans at war he was quoted as saying But there s nobody to touch these people Give me 10 000 Biafrans for six months and we ll build an army that would be invincible on this continent I ve seen men die in this war who would have won the Victoria Cross in another context 2 An irascible man he was known for constantly screaming at his men and threatening to kill them if they did not obey his orders with a Time correspondent in 1968 observed him to shout at his troops You rotten bastards You bloody treacherous morons 3 Williams was known in Biafra as being bullet proof due to his ability to survive multiple wounds and was five times reported to be killed in action between December 1967 October 1968 only for him to turn up alive 3 Williams was assigned one hundred Biafran fighters in early 1968 and managed to keep two battalions of Chadian mercenaries serving with the Nigerian Federal Army at bay for twelve weeks with only antiquated weapons After Williams redeployed his forces in early April the Chadians forded the Cross River at two locations and captured Afikpo a main town on the western side 4 Completing his first contract and following a brief stay in the UK Williams returned to Biafra on 7 July 1968 He was assigned to the 4th Commando Brigade led by Lt Col Rolf Steiner Steiner had command of 3000 men and was assigned to the area around the Enugu Onitsha road Williams who liked to joke that he was half mad would personally lead his troops into battle sometimes standing in a hail of Federal gunfire just to prove to his troops that he was indeed bullet proof His resolve under fire would often unnerve the more superstitious of Nigerian soldiers and serve to rally his own 5 On 24 August 1968 Williams was drawn into a critical battle of the conflict At this point he had 1000 soldiers under his command which carried out counteroffensives against two battalion sized enemy units attempting to cross the Imo River Bridge with Soviet military advisers When Williams returned to Aba for additional ammunition to continue the fight he was told that there was simply none to be had The Nigerian Air Force had become quite successful in blocking supplies into the beleaguered state Some of Williams men had only two rounds left for their rifles and many were forced to withdraw 6 Following the arrest and expulsion of Steiner and four others Major Williams was allegedly the only European still left serving with the Biafran army He left the state shortly before its collapse It is thought that Williams who encountered author Frederick Forsyth there as a war correspondent served as the inspiration for the character of Carlo Shannon in Forsyth s The Dogs of War 7 Notes Edit Forsyth Frederick 2009 The Biafra Story Pen amp Sword Books Ltd p 113 ISBN 978 1 84415 523 1 Forsyth 113 a b Biafra The Mercenaries Time 25 October 1968 Retrieved 16 April 2020 Forsyth 127 Forsyth 133 Forsyth 136 Soldiers of Fortune www terryaspinall com Archived from the original on 24 August 2007 Sources EditSteiner Rolf The Last Adventurer Boston Little Brown amp Co 1978 275 pages Mok Michael Biafra Journal Time Life Books 1969 95 pages Forsyth Frederick The Biafra Story Pen amp Sword Books 2009 291 pages Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Taffy Williams amp oldid 1111864015, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.