MILO Military Liaison Officer
MRD Movement for the Restoration of Democracy
MSF Médecins Sans Frontières
NGO Non-governmental organization
NPFL National Patriotic Front of Liberia
NPRC National Provisional Ruling Council
ODA Overseas Development Organization (later changed to DFID)
OAU Organization of African Unity (later became AU)
OBE Officer of the Order of the British Empire
PDP People’s Democratic Party
PUS Permanent Under-Secretary
QBP Queen’s Birthday Party
RMP Royal Military Police
RPG Rocket-propelled grenade
RRR Reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement
RUF Revolutionary United Front
SAS Special Air Service
SLBS Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service
SLPP Sierra Leone People’s Party
SLSC Sierra Leone Special Court
SSD Special Security Division
TRC Truth and Reconciliation Commission
UN United Nations
UNCHR United Nations Commission for Human Rights
UND United Nations Department
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNHCR United Nations High Commission for Refugees
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
UNOMSIL United Nations Observer Mission to Sierra Leone (later changed to UNAMSIL – United National Mission in Sierra Leone)
UNPP United National People’s Party
USAID United States Agency for International Development
WAWA ‘West Africa Wins Again’
WFP World Food Programme
WNAD West and North Africa Department (DFID)
Bibliography
Ashby, Phil, Unscathed – Escape from Sierra Leone, Macmillan, 2002.
Dowden, Richard, ICC in the Dock, Prospect, May 2007.
Foreign Affairs Committee, Sierra Leone, Second Report, Vols 1&2, House of Commons, London: The Stationery Office, 1999.
Fowler, William, Operation Barras, The SAS Rescue Mission: Sierra Leone 2000, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2004.
Gberie, Lansana, A Dirty War in West Africa – The RUF and the Destruction of Sierra Leone, C. Hurst & Co, 2005.
Gberie, Lansana (ed), Rescuing a Fragile State – Sierra Leone 2002 – 2008, LCMSDS Press of Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, 2009.
Geraghty, Tony, The Bullet Catchers – Bodyguards and the World of Close Protection, Grafton Books, 1988.
Hirsch, John, Sierra Leone – Diamonds and the Struggle for Democracy, International Peace Academy Occasional Paper Series: Lynne Rienner Publishers Inc., 2001.
Human Rights Watch, Getting Away with Murder, Mutilation and Rape – New Testimony From Sierra Leone, Vol II, No. 3(A), June 1999.
Legg, Sir Thomas, Report of the Sierra Leone Arms Investigation, House of Commons, London: The Stationery Office, 1998.
Médecins Sans Frontières, Mutilations of Civilians in Sierra Leone – One Month of Surgical Activities in Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone, May 1999.
Parris, Matthew, Parting Shots, Viking, 2010.
Penfold, Peter, The Tangled Web of Sierra Leone’s Special Court, Africa Analysis, No. 491, April 2006.
Ross, Hamish, From SAS to Blood Diamond Wars, Pen & Sword, 2011.
Scully, Will, Once A Pilgrim, Headline, 1998.
Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, Witness to Truth, 2004.
Spicer, Tim, An Unorthodox Soldier – Peace and War and the Sandline Affair. Mainstream Publishing, 1999.
Index
Abacha, President Sani
Abbott, Diane
Abidjan Peace Accord
Abubakar, Mohammed
Abubakar, President
Ademosu, Samuel
Adeniji, Olu
AFRC
Akibo-Betts, Alfred
Albright, Madeleine
Alphonse
Amalfi, MV Repubblica di,
Amara, Peter Penfold
Anan, Kofi
Anafu, Moses
Anderson, Colonel
Anderson, Donald
Andrews, Tim
APC
Ashby, Major Phil
Ashworth, Michael
Attatouray, Kadi
Avebury, Lord
Azad, Kan
Bai Bureh
Bangura, Alie
Bangura, Desmond
Bangura, Paulo
Bangura, Thaimu
Bangura, Zainab
Banya, Sama
Barras, Operation
Barre, Dr
Barrie, Hassan
Bayliss, Trevor
Beckett, Margaret
Bédié, President Konan
Berton, Father
Berewa, Solomon
Betts-Priddy, Lottie
Bio, Maada
Bio, Steve
Biguzzi, Bishop
Biu, Colonel
Biddle, Keith
Blackstone
Blair, Tony
Bockarie, Sam ‘Mosquito’
Booth, Mike
Boutros-Ghali, Boutros
Boyah, Colonel
Bowen, Rupert
Branch Energy
Brima, Alex
Bruns, Rudi
Buckingham, Tony
Buckley, Patrick
Bundu, Abass
Burton, Graham
Camayenne, Hotel
Cameron, David
Campaign for Good Governance
see also Bangura, Zainab
Campbell, Naomi
Cape Sierra, Hotel
CARE
Carew, Colonel Tommy
CDF
see also Kamajors
Celia
Chalker, Lynda
Clarkson, Governor
Close protection team
Clinton, President
Cole, Tenneh
Collier, Val
Collins, Eldred
Conakry Peace Plan
Conte, President
Conteh, Brig Hassan
Conteh, Colonel
Cook, Mark
Cook, Robin
Arms to Africa
Copinger-Symes, Capt Rory
Cornwall, HMS
Crane, David
Crooks, Roger
Crossman, Steve
Crown Agents
CSM
Dales, Richard
Dawson, Clive
Deen-Jalloh
Demby, Dr Joe
Dent, Colonel Mike
DFID
Dillsworth, Florence
Dinka, Berhanu
Docherty, Joe
Dorothy Springer Trust
Dorton House School
Downham, Mike
Dowden, Richard
Dufka, Corinne
Dumbuya, Ramadan
Dymock, Capt Anthony
Eaton, Isobel
Ecomog
removal of AFRC
January 1999 invasion
UK support
relations with UN
Ecowas
see also Ecomog
Emery, Sir Peter
EO, see Executive Outcomes
Essy, Amare
Everard, John
Executive Outcomes
Eyadéma, President
Family Kingdom Hotel
Ferguson, Henry
Fillie, Emmanuel
Fischer, Conrad
Flynn, John
Fofana, Moinina
Foray, Cyril
Fowler, William
Freeman, CDU
Gaddafi, President
Gale, Col Andrew
Ganda, Archbishop
Gborie, Cpl
Gbujama, Shirley
Glass, Colin
Glass, Ruth
Glentworth, Garth
Golley, Omrie
Grant, Ann
&n
bsp; Greene, Graham
Greenstock, Sir Jeremy
Haile Selassie, Emperor
Hain, Peter
Handicap International
Hannington, Bishop
Hanson Trust
Harries, Dai
Harris, Keith
Harrison, Maj David
Hamilton, Alisdair
Harvey, Paul
Hetherington, Tim
Hicks, Col Peter
Hill, David
Hirsch, John
Hoon, Geoff
Houphet-Boigny, President
Hughes, Brig
Human Rights Watch
Hurd, Douglas
Ibbs, Sir Robin
ICRC
Ikimi, Tom
Illustrious, HMS
International Alert
Jackson, Rev Jesse
Jalloh, Tejan
Jawad, Hussein
Jean Moulin
Jetley, Gen V.K.
Johnny-Moore, Capt
Johnson-Sirleaf, President Ellen
Jomu-Jalloh
Jonah, James
Jones, Alan
Jopp, Maj Lincoln
Joshi, General
Juba
Kabba, Mrs
Kabbah, President Ahmad Tejan
removal by AFRC
exile in Conakry
restoration
‘Arms to Africa’
treason trials
January 1999 invasion
Lomé Peace Agreement
post Lomé/end of war
Kabbia, Osman
Kallay, ‘Brig’
Kallon, Morris
Kamajors
see also CDF
Kamara, Bazzy
Kamara, Hassan
Kamara, Lansana
Kamara, Raymond
Kanga, Col Max
Kapila, Mukesh
Karefa-Smart, John
Kasangha, Chief
Kearsarge, USS
Kelly, Dr David
Kerr, Sir John
Keshi, Joe
Khobe, Col Maxwell
King, Sqn Ldr Victor
Kobala, Chief Ellie
Koffigoh, Minister
Kompa Bomboi, Chief
Konaré, President
Kondewa, Allieu
Koroma, Alimamy
Koroma, Johnny Paul
Koroma, Minister
Koroma, Momodou
Koroma, President Ernest
Koroma, Santigie
Kouyaté, Lansana
Kpamber, General
Kutiba, Justice
Lamin, Mike
Latham, Bernie & Jane
Lavahun, John
Lawson, Steve
Lebby, Solomon
Legg Inquiry
Legg, Sir Thomas, see Legg Inquiry
Lifeguard
Lloyd, Tony
Lomé Peace Agreement
Lynch, Bishop Julius
Luke, Desmond
Mackinley, Andrew
Mahera MV
Mani, Brig
Mammy Yoko Hotel
Mambu, Sub-Inspector
Mandela, President Nelson
Mansarray, Sheka
Margai, Charles
Margai, Sir Milton
Marafono, Fred
Matturi, Sar
McCluney, Ian
McKinley, Graham
McPhillips, Kevin
Medani, Cdr
Melrose, Joe
Meyer, Hank
Milligan, Becky
Milosevic
Milton Margai School
Momoh, President
Monmouth, HMS
Moss, Michael
MRD
MSF
Mugabe, President
Mujakpero, Gen Felix
Murray, Craig
Murro, Andrew
Musa, Fayia
Musa SAJ
Naimbana, King
Nkrumah, President
Noah, Mammy
Norfolk, HMS
Norman, Maj Peter
Norman, Sam Hinga
NPRC
OAU
Obasanjo, President
O’Brien, Patrick
Ocean, HMS
ODA
Ojokojo, Brig
Okelo, Francis
Olisemka, Minister
Olympio, Sylvanus
Opala, Joe
Pacific Architects & Engineers
Palliser, Operation
Palmer, Philip
Parris, Matthew
Partridge, Derek
Perez-Poros, Emilio
Petzer, Garth
Pratt, Rev
Prescott, John
Pollard, Stephen
Purkis, Sophie
Radio 98.1
Ramsahoi, Joe
Rapp, Capt James
Rawlings, President Jerry
Reid, John
Renamo
Richards, Brig David
Rifkind, Malcolm
RMP, see Close protection team
Robertshaw, Chris
Robertson, George
Robinson, Mary
Ross, Ernie
Ross, Hamish
RUF
Lomé Peace Agreement,
War crimes court
Runnymede
Samba, Maj Kula
Samura, Brima
Samura, Sorious
Sandline
see also Spicer, Tim
Sankoh, Foday
Abidjan Peace Accord
Lomé Peace Agreement
War crimes court
see also RUF
Sankoh, Sgt Abu ‘Zagalo’
Savimbi, Jonas
Scott, Mal
Scully, Will
Seitz, Ray
Sesay, Abu
Sesay, Alimamy
Sesay, Col A.K.
Sesay, Issa
Sesay, Kadie
Shankerdass, Mr
Shelpidi, General
Short, Clare
Sierra Rutile
Sillah, Momodou
Sillah, Mr
SLPP
Soloku, Chief
Spencer, Julius
Spicer, Tim
see also Sandline
St Cooke, Lynda
Stanley, Sir John
Stephen, Ann
Stevens, President Siaka
Stevens, Toma
Strasser, Valentine
Strasser-King, Prof
Suma, Ibrahim
Sutton, Alan
Symonds, Rob
Symons, Baroness
Tamaboras
Taylor, Charles
Theresa, Mother
Thomas, Dave
Thomas, Capt
Thomson, Brian
Thorne, Adrian
Touré, President Sékou
TRC
Treitlein, Val
Tucker, Peter
Tutu, Archbishop
UNAMSIL
UNDP
UNHCR
UNICEF
UNOMSIL
Ustinov, Peter
Vandi, Peter
Vereker, Sir John
Warren, Paddy
West Side Boys
Westminster, HMS
Weston, Sir John
WFP
Williams, Capt Bruce
Williams, Col
Wilshire, David
Wong, Lillian
Wright, Ann
Wurie, Alpha
Zagalo, see Sankoh, Sgt Abu
Demonstration in Freetown during the HM Customs Investigation and Commission of Inquiry into the ‘Arms to Africa/Sandline Affair’. (The Mail on Sunday, and back cover)
Presenting my credentials to President Kabbah.
The British High Commissioner’s residence, Runnymede, in Freetown. In the foreground, Emmanuel Fillie, my driver, and Mal Scott, head of the RMP Close Protection Team.
All photographs are from the author’s coll
ection unless otherwise stated.
President Abacha of Nigeria ‘introduces’ President Kabbah to the crowds at the national stadium. On Abacha’s right, the President of Niger, in the foreground, the late President Conte’s aide – ‘the ashtray carrier’.
The late General Maxwell Khobe, who commanded the Ecomog forces that drove the junta out of Freetown in 1998, enabling the return of President Kabbah. On his left is General Kpamber, who assumed command of Ecomog when Khobe was seconded as CDS of the Sierra Leone army.
Following the coup and evacuation, we received many plaudits including a letter from Prime Minister Tony Blair and a centre-page spread in the Daily Mirror entitled ‘Hero of Hell City’.
But a year later it was a very different story!
Demonstration in Freetown during the HM Customs Investigation and Commission of Inquiry into the ‘Arms to Africa/Sandline Affair’. (The Mail on Sunday, and back cover)
Carried in a hammock through the streets of Freetown on my return from Britain and appointed as a paramount chief. (Alimamy Kamara)
Coronation of Paramount Chief Komrabai Peter Penfold and Yabomposse Penfold, seated either side of the late King Naimbana.
Atrocities in the bush. The rebels had no shame in displaying their savagery to the camera. These photos were given to me by another victim who was about to be murdered but miracleously an Ecomog jet appeared and in the resultant confusion he was able to escape. He has subsequently passed away.
Scenes of destruction following the 6 January 1999 invasion of Freetown. In the foreground, top, Dave Thomas, head of the RMP Close Protection Team.
The victims – bodies burnt and left lying around following the 6 January invasion of Freetown.
Foday Sankoh, leader of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), which committed most of the atrocities.
Street justice in Freetown against one of the rebels.
Members of the CDF who fought alongside Ecomog against the rebels.
With the Kamajors in Bo. (Andrew Gale)
Flying to Bo on board HMS Cornwall’s helicopter with Francis Okelo, UN Ambassador. (Andrew Gale)
Preparing to leave Bo by HMS Cornwall’s helicopter. Extreme right: The late Colonel Andrew Gale, the defence attaché who displayed outstanding bravery in the aftermath of the May 1977 coup. Second from left: The late Dr Mike Downham, ODA medical expert who saved the lives of many children in Bo by hiding them in the bush.