At Thy Call: We Did Not Falter

Clive Holt

Zebra, 2005 - Biography & Autobiography - 194 pages

At Thy Call We Did Not Falter is a gripping frontline account of the Angolan war, as seen through the eyes of a 19-year-old conscript soldier. It tells the story of so many young white South Africans who, like him, were sent into battle against overwhelming forces straight after finishing school. Clive Holt was at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, where the South African Defence Force supported the rebel movement Unita after a massive build-up of Cuban and Angolan troops. It was the bloodiest and most significant battle fought by South African troops since World War II. With diary extracts, previously unpublished photographs and a riveting narrative, this book transports the reader into the firing line and the dark realms of war. At Thy Call We Did Not Falter is a classic account of war, as well as a window into the world of post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a chilling account of how a government took schoolboys and turned them into killing machines. The timing of the book is extraordinarily fortunate, coming just as interest in Cuito Cuanavale is being revived, with moves afoot to arrange battlefield tours, and debates raging anew in military and veteran circles about who the victors and vanquished were.

What people are saying

Review: At Thy Call We Did Not Falter

User Review  - Evan - Goodreads

Recommended for people with a keen interest in South Africa's incursions into Angola as part of its proxy war against Fidel, or people who are fond of the gratuitous use of exclamation points(!). Others can probably skip this book.

Contents

• Firm and Steadfast We Did Stand: 11
• From Schoolyard to Battlefield: 19
• Hostile Intent: 39
• Playing by Different Rules: 51
• My Bloody Valentine: 63
• Rumble in the Jungle The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale: 83
• Thirty Minutes to Clear the Mindfield: 111
• Home Alone: 127
• The Wild West: 135
• Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War: 165
• Cowboys Do Cry: 173
• REFLECTIONS: 185
• ROLL OF HONOUR: 189
• GLOSSARY: 191

About the author

Clive Holt was born in East London, South Africa, and commenced his national service in January 1987. During his time in the army, he was involved in several operations inside Angola. After leaving the defence force, Holt suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, and changed jobs frequently. He eventually emigrated to Australia, where he started a marketing consultancy, which eventually grew to encompass the functions of an advertising agency. He lives in Kalgoorlie, Australia with his wife and children.

Bibliographic information

• Title: At Thy Call: We Did Not Falter
• Author: Clive Holt
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Zebra, 2005
• ISBN: 1770071172, 9781770071179
• Length: 194 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs; History / Africa / South / Republic of South Africa