Heres a real treasure that recently fell into my possession, a 5 commando beret. I first read about mad mike hoare in the pages of soldier of fortune magazine back in the eighties. Original 5 commando wild geese congo mercenary patch badge. When asked to form a new commando unit mike hoare choose to name it 5 commando to prevent confusion. Airpower magazine v28 n3 thud f105 wild weasel curtiss c46 commando. The wild geese patch another dead link to ks militaria this is a commemorative patch, not worn by hoare or his men. At the same time, a ground force led by a belgian colonel, composed of 5 commando. If you have any photos or links, i would appreciate it a lot, especially from nigeria. Patch from mad mike hoares 5 commando militaria of africa. Colonel thomas michael mad mike hoare congo 2patch set. This entry was posted on monday, february 3, 2020, 1. Colonel mad mike hoare wild geese commando 2patch set ebay.
The legend, a biography by chris hoare, published by partners in publishing. Is an account of mike hoare s time while with 4 commando. Among them were five of the wild geese who fought with him in 5 commando in. Apr 26, 2017 irishman mad mike hoare see wikipedia and many of the same mercenaries who had been fighting against the congolese army and onuc, were back in business by late 1963 as 5 commando on behalf of the republic of congo and with the support of the cia, trying to put down the communistbacked simba rebels. Find great deals on ebay for mike hoare and congo mercenary.
Heres a video with my buddy harris g, a collector who lives near me in southern california. All insignia worn or used during the mercenary actions. Eeben barlow, formerly of executive outcomes, on mad mike. Patch from mad mike hoare s 5 commando posted in militaria of africa. Mad mike hoare, who has died aged 100, was an irish accountant who became the worlds most famous mercenary. Photos of mercenaries in 1960s and 70s axis history forum. This is a very special original not cheap import copy. Thomas michael hoare was born in 1920 in india to irish parents. Congo colonel thomas michael mad mike hoare wild geese 5. This was the item sold in soldier of fortune magazine by hoares wife, phyllis, as a fundraiser for his legal defense during the seychelles trial. In the 1960s his dad was an executive with ford international and athe family lived in south africa when harris was in what we yanks called junior high school.
Lot 194 colonel mad mike hoare s rare congo mercenaries attributed cap badge. Africa zaire belgium congo mad mike hoar 5 commando wild geese. Thomas michael hoare 17 march 1919 2 february 2020, known as mad mike hoare, was a british mercenary leader and adventurer known for his military activities in africa and attempt to conduct a coup detat in the seychelles. Sellebrity analytics please note all items to south america. Chris has also republished all of mikes seven books, for sale individually and as a box set. Lot 194 colonel mad mike hoares rare congo mercenaries attributed cap badge. Not to be confused with 5 commando anc, a mercenary unit in the congo crisis, led by mike hoare. About 250 men from 5 commando struck out from bunia on 15 march 1965. A brief biography of mike hoare, listing some of his. Patch from mad mike hoares 5 commando militaria of.
Paris match magazine published an article on mercenaries in congo in their issue of 29 august 1967, including this color photo on the cover, which had apparently been taken some time earlier. The only differences i can see between the certificate logo which i know is accurate is the birds head on the certificate has a white blotch on its neck, and a smaller one at the end of its beak. You will receive the item as shown in the first photo. Most of the 300 men in this unit were south african. Colonel mad mike hoare wild geese commando patch ebay. Thus 5 commando was recruited in south africa by mike hoare, while robert denard led a force of french and other european nationals. Wild goose and 5 commando patches are in the pipeline.
Mike and his unit nicknamed the wild geese worked belgian paratroopers, cuban exile pilots, and others who race frantically to save civilians mostly europeans and missionaries in stanleyville from the psychopathic simbas. It is with a heavy but accepting heart that i announce that my father, mike hoare, died in his sleep and with dignity at a care facility in durban today, 2 february 2020, aged 100 years. Mad mike hoare commanding officer of 5 commando battalion, the wild geese born in india,and educated in england, mike hoare served in the british army in an armoured corps in north africa in wwii attaining the rank of captain. Jan 5, 2017 colonel mad mike hoare wild geese commando patch. You can follow any responses to this entry through rss. Mike hoares 5 commando, katanga shadowspear special operations. As the man in charge of 5 commando, he did not tolerate beards or swearing. Not taiwan made patch 2 14 inches high single piece the free listing tool. When he was back in civvy street, mike hoare was an accountant. The 5 commando patch dead link to ks militaria, alpine, texas in the usa the site is closed as of june 2007. Jul 11, 2011 hi, the golden age of modern mercenaries was in 1960s and 1970s, especially in africa. Hoares band of european and african mercenaries, known as 5 commando. A brief biography of mike hoare, listing some of his involvements. The following is a list of known volunteers who joined the 5 commando.
Colonel thomas michael mad mike hoare wild geese 5 commando insignia patch. So he thought a force of some 200 crack european mercs would. Hoare s unit, 5 commando, moved into a huge belgianbuilt, natofunded military base at kamina, in katanga province. During this time he married phyllis simms, an airline stewardess. This is an extremely rare original, worn arm patch, and was issued to mike hoares mercenary unit in the congo, in 1964. The epithet mad mike hoare comes from broadcasts by east german radio during the fighting in the congo in the 1960s. Mercenary mad mike hoare was the chartered accountant turned dangerloving soldier of fortune who lived to be 100. Mike led 5 commando from july 1964 to december 1965. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Tshombe employed hoare to quell a rebellion in katanga province, which was attempting to break away from the republic of the congo. Hoare recalled long days beginning at 5 in the morning and ending at 10 at night, when my greatest ambition was to weld a little unit together that we could be proud of and to see it properly armed, trained and equipped. Congo 5 commando mercenary beret and jigsaw smock congo.
The clue was on their flag and shoulder patches, which showed a wild. But in the days to come, they saved hundreds of hostages from a tortured death, and helped restore peace to that troubled land. Regardless of the implications of their employment, these men made a difference at a time when the world wanted to turn a blind eye. This is a very nice mercenary leader colonel mad mike hoare wild geese commando patch, very special. On 12 january 1945, the commando brigade carried out a landing on the peninsula. Hoare commanded 5 commando from july 1964 to november 1965. In 1964, congolese prime minister moise tshombe, his employer in katanga, hired major mike hoare to lead a military unit called 5 commando, armee nationale congolaise 5 commando anc later led by john peters. Mad mike hoare, with a bunch of his mercs, dubbed the 50.
Mike hoare, celebrating his 100th birthday in 2019, fought as a mercenary in congo in the 1960s and later led an unsuccessful coup in the seychelles. Congolese prime minister moise tshombe hired colonel mike hoare to lead a military unit called 5 commando congo made up of about 300 men most of whom were from south africa. This is a very special original not cheap import copy colonel thomas michael mad mike hoare wild geese 5 commando insignia. Harris gs mad mike hoares 5 commando congolese army.
You can follow any responses to this entry through rss 2. Chris hoare is a journalist in south africa and the eldest son of mad mike. If you go to the book section of this site you will find all of mike hoare s books featured and at this moment in time you can get them personally signed the road to kalamata a mercenarys personal memoir. Heres the story of mad mike, the wild goose who crashed to earth. Harris gs mad mike hoare s 5 commando congolese army 1960s patch duration. A firsthand account by the head of commando 5 on a rabbit shoot to liberate the eastern congo including stanleyville from the congolese rebels. Jun 07, 2011 mike hoare s the 5th commando duration. The title of the movie was inspired by the 5 commando patch. I had seen the wild geese back then, but really had no idea about the background and its relation to mmh. Congo crisis, belgian congo, patches, badges, military, war, military. The title of the movie was inspired by the 5 commando patch that mmh wore, which also had a flying goose. Speaking on the conflict, he said, i had wanted nothing so much as to have 5 commando known as an integral part of the anc, a 5 commando destined to strike a blow to rid the congo of the greatest cancer the world has ever known. Due im sure to mike hoares failed coup attempt in the seychelles and the excesses of the likes of col callan in angola in the. Jun 09, 2016 original shoulder patch from mad mike hoare s 5 commando, collected by my friend harris who lived in africa in the 1960s.
Colonel mad mike hoare wearing the uniform of his 5 commando armee nationale congolaise 5 commando anc during the filming of the movie, the wild geese, for which he was hired as a technical advisor in 197778. Mad mike hoare and 5 commando wild geese great britain. Nov 03, 2019 posts about mike hoare written by juleswings. Living dangerously mad mike hoare died on february 2nd. Their twin targets were the important town of aru and the nearby esebi mission which was now a. Sof helped mad mike hoare and his mercs raise funds for a.
Original shoulder patch from mad mike hoares 5 commando, collected by my friend harris who lived in africa in the 1960s. Oct 26, 2018 patch from mad mike hoares 5 commando posted in militaria of africa. Formed in july 1940, the unit took part in a couple of smallscale raids in france in 1941 and contributed some personnel to operation chariot before taking part in the landings on madagascar in 1942. Excellent copy of this very rare badge single piece powered by ebay turbo listerthe free listing tool. Mad mike hoare commanding officer of 5 commando battalion, the wild. Hoare was later promoted to lieutenantcolonel in the anc and 5 commando expanded into a twobattalion force. Patch from mad mike hoares 5 commando posted in militaria of africa. List your items fast and easy and manage your active items. He was once called that mad bloodhound hoare by an east berlin broadcaster, because of his persistence in pursuing the enemy.
Later in 1964 hoare returned to the congo with new unit 5 commando. Feb 04, 2020 mercenary mad mike hoare was the chartered accountant turned dangerloving soldier of fortune who lived to be 100. Sarco has unit patches of three of the best known mercenary units. Congo colonel thomas michael hoare mad mike 2patch. See more ideas about the wild geese, badge and africa. Mercenary mad mike hoare was the chartered accountant. Mad mike hoares wild geese mercenary patch juleswings. He spent his early days in ireland and was educated in england. In the video he mispoke himself, refering to the mau mau uprising. Harris gs mad mike hoares 5 commando congolese army 1960s. They would precede their commentary with the mad bloodhound, mike hoare. I say original, because despite being somewhat of a novelty item, these patches are actually being extensively reproduced and sold to collectors via ebay with varying descriptions along the lines of 5 commando mike hoare mercenary cloth patch badge wild geese and the like.
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