Charlie Aust
Lieutenant colonel John Charles Wyatt Aust MLM | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Charlie Aust |
| Born | 1942 Enkeldoorn, Southern Rhodesia |
| Died | 15 November 2017 (aged 74–75) England |
| Allegiance | Rhodesia |
| Service | Rhodesian Army |
| Years of service | 1961-1980 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | Rhodesian Light Infantry |
| Commands | Rhodesian Light Infantry |
| Battles / wars | Rhodesian Bush War |
Lieutenant colonel John Charles Wyatt Aust MLM, commonly known as Charlie Aust, was a Rhodesian military commander. he was born in Enkeldoorn, Southern Rhodesia and was the last commanding officer of the Rhodesian Light Infantry. He died in 2017.
Background
Aust's family came from the original Rhodesian pioneers. His maternal grandfather died as a part of Allan Wilson's ill-faited Shangani Patrol. His paternal grandfather farmed Matabeleland. His father was a British South Africa Police officer and Aust spent most of his early life moving around various rural BSAP stations.[1] Aust attended Rhodes Estate Preparatory School and Plumtree School.[1][2]
Military career
Aust joined the Federal Army of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1961 as a part of his National Service where he was selected for officer training. Aust elected to take the training in Rhodesia rather than going to the British Army's Royal Military College Sandhurst. Upon passing out, he was commissioned into the Rhodesian African Rifles in 1962.[1] He served there for three years before teaching as a training lieutenant at the School of Infantry in Gwelo.[3] After three years, he joined the General Staff at HQ2 in Salisbury before joining the 1st batallion, Rhodesian Light Infantry as a Commando Commander.[1] He was appointed as a Member of the Legion of Merit in the Military division for his role in assisting the RLI to adopt fireforce tactics.[4]
In 1975, he joined the Joint Planning Staff for two years before returning to the RLI as second in command. On 4 December 1979 he became the last commanding officer of the RLI. This was shortly after Zimbabwe Rhodesia had returned to British control as Southern Rhodesia ahead of elections. On his first day, he published a memo for all RLI soldiers in casual terms introducing his expectations and describing himself as having a "Seedy moustache, glasses and intensly ugly" so they knew how to identify him as their commanding officer.[5] In July 1980 following Southern Rhodesia becoming independent as Zimbabwe, Aust was informed that the RLI were going to be disbanded. He arranged a quick parade and plan to get the RLI's regimental statue The Troopie and other RLI regimental memorabilia evacuated out of Zimbabwe and into South Africa.[6] Aust oversaw the RLI's final parade on 31 October 1980.[7] He took the RLI's Regimental Colours and laid them up before the Padre.[8]
Later life
After the dissolution of the RLI, Aust briefly moved to South Africa but returned a year later to take over the family farm in Essexvale. However he eventually had to leave Zimbabwe in 2001 due to his farm being forcibly taken during Robert Mugabe-authorised violent land reform.[4] Using his British passport that he had had since a child, he escaped to the United Kingdom.[1] Aust died on 15 November 2017.[9] His funeral took place in Denton, Lincolnshire with "Sweet Banana" and "When the Saints Go Marching In", the regimental marches of the RAR and RLI respectively, being played.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Questions for ex-Rhodesian combatants. Reply by J.C.W. Aust, Lt Col Rtd Rhodesian Army (RLI)" (Document). University of West England.
{{cite document}}: Unknown parameter|accessdate=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|url=ignored (help) - ^ Wessels, Hannes (2015). A Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and Rhodesia. Casemate. p. 273. ISBN 9781612003450.
- ^ Graham, Michael (2020). On Operations with C Squadron SAS: Terrorist Pursuit and Rebel Attacks in Cold War Africa. Pen & Sword Military. p. 6. ISBN 9781526772848.
- ^ a b "The Cheetah December 2017" (PDF). Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association. 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "RLIRA Past Patron". RLIRA. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
- ^ Soldier of Fortune. Vol. 33. Omega Group. 2008. p. 30.
- ^ Warren, Charlie (2007). Stick Leader: RLI. Just Done Publications. pp. 250–251. ISBN 9781920169312.
- ^ "The Cheetah December 2014" (PDF). Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association. 2014-12-01. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b "The UK Outpost - Issue 98" (Document). British South Africa Police Trust. 2018. p. 33.
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