Poster of The Rhodesian Bush War poem, "Thoughts of a Troopie. c.1978.

This poster contains the famous Rhodesian Bush War poem, "Thoughts of a Troopie," written by a Rhodesian soldier following the death of his friend and fellow combatant in action.

Key Historical & Textual Highlights

 The Origin & Dedication: The poem was written by a member of the elite Selous Scouts unit in memory of his brother/comrade, John Barry Whitfield, who was killed in action in February 1978 during the height of the Bush War. The concluding line, "The day my good Friend Johnny died," specifically references him.  

 Historical Timeline Reflected in Opening Lines: The poem opens with "Ten years old and Four feet high / History and U.D.I." This references a child being ten years old in 1965 when Ian Smith signed Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI). By the late 1970s, that same generation had come of age to serve as frontline "troopies".  

 Disillusionment at War's End: The second half shifts from patriotic idealism ("For Justice and Christianity") to intense soldierly disillusionment ("For us there'll be no victory day... Expediency, the legal tender... Will someone tell us why we fight? / What once was wrong is now what's right"). It captures the growing feeling of abandonment felt by Rhodesian military personnel during political negotiations in the late 1970s prior to the transition to Zimbabwe.  

 Heraldic Border: Surrounding the calligraphy is an intricate border featuring the official regimental crests and badges of the Rhodesian Security Forces. These include:  

 Top & Corners: The Rhodesian Coat of Arms, British South Africa Police (BSAP), and the Rhodesian Air Force.   Sides & Base: Crests for various corps and units, such as the Selous Scouts (with the osprey/eagle emblem), Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) (cheetah), Rhodesian SAS, Rhodesian A

435mm x 590mm

Silkscreen. This poster is fishmothed especially at the edges. Some water staining.

R1,000