The Cease-fire

Abstract

In the short time they had been in Rhodesia, the monitoring force had accomplished prodigies of improvisation. A reconnaissance party had been in the country since 22 November. On 12 December General Acland and his senior staff had arrived with Soames. They had just ten days to prepare for the arrival of the bulk of the force, immediately the Lancaster House agreement was signed. As the British officers made contact with the Rhodesian military in the regions, they found it to be universally assumed that the small and isolated monitoring force teams would be attacked on their first night in the field. The force consisted of 850 British troops, mainly officers and NCOs, 159 Australians, 75 New Zealanders, 51 Kenyans and 24 Fijians. Of the 14 assembly places eventually established and consolidated, five were manned principally by the British, four by the Australians, three by the New Zealanders and one each by the Kenyans and Fijians. Monitoring teams were attached also to the Rhodesian military headquarters in the regions and forces down to company level; and to the Patriotic Front headquarters in Salisbury.