Three Sips of Gin: Dominating the Battlespace with Rhodesia's famed Selous Scouts

“Three Sips of Gin” is a great read. I found myself laughing and chuckling to myself on every other page. Mr. Bax along with his Father, Mom, his sisters and wife, Carol have led quite an adventurous life. Some of his adventures with his sister reminded me of those with mine…which remain timeless to this day. The book takes on a more serious note although with still amazingly funny and harrowing adventures once Mr. Bax joins the Rhodesian Light Infantry and then the Selous Scouts. The stories of his training and his deployments are quite amazing. I was very happy that I had read his “Who will teach the Wisdom” first. It gave me an interesting insight when reading “Three Sips of Gin” and filled in some of his missions, which made them feel that more real and brought home the dangers of the one-on-one meeting with terrorists. The impact of both books made me realize how important other people and events play a role in one’s development and how one would have been a different person if they had not met those individuals or experienced the events one did in the order they occurred. I especially related to the inner question of what happened during a certain point in Mr. Bax’s life. Somethings just cannot be explained by the physical world. The politics of the world and the ego-play of those who move nations like they are pawns was very intriguing. A very eye-opening account of the games of nation and world politics played on a grand level. Reading them both created a beautiful sandwich. Due to the order that I read them (I read “Who will teach the Wisdom” again after I read “Three Sips of Gin”. It felt like I had created a Wisdom-Gin-Wisdom lunch. No matter what order you read them, I would recommend reading both. Both books complement one another very well and when meshed together give an excellent story of insights to an incredible life of one man those around him. I will also say, I found that the women in Mr. Bax’s life, his Mom, his sisters, his wife Carol, her nurse relative and his numerous very Monty Pylon-ish teachers, probably added a little flavor to his overall personality. In some cases, saved his life! Not to mention the men that he served with and met during his time in Rhodesia. An amazing group of warriors. A big shout out to all of them, past and present. Great reads both books. I highly recommend them both.

I bought the Kindle edition of this book on the reccomendation of John Connor, who writes mostly color article for the firearms press. Before buying, I read the reviews which were distinctly bimodal. Most were positive, but a substantial minority were negative. Oddly, I found myself agreeing with both groups. The book is a delightful, down-to-earth collection of anecdotes from the author's life, a decade of which coincided with the last decade of Rhodesia. The author is no Hemingway, but he tells his tales in authentic, truthful, candid language which I found thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining. I laughed out loud multiple times reading this book. Negative reviewers complain the book is not a scholarly history, and they are correct. If you want to understand the history of this important battle of the Cold War, there are better choices. If you want to be entertained and educated about one person's perspective, it's a great read! PS - I learned about "pink gin" from this book, which may be the best cocktail I've had....

Review – Three Sips of Gin “Three Sips of Gin” is Tim Bax's autobiography. He takes us from his childhood, through his training in the RLI and then the Selous Scouts, into his work after Selous Scouts. There is plenty of raw, personal material on the Selous Scouts to please the military historians. There is plenty on his training in the English and Rhodesian armies. The book is well and entertainingly written. The style is upbeat and brisk. Tim's story is told in a series of escapades and adventures. This should be considered a primary source on the Selous Scouts of the Rhodesian Civil War. The events and escapades narrated are fascinating and a pleasure to read. It makes for a good read. Recognizing that this is Tim's autobiography, and that he had a sizable role in the Selous Scouts, this is a good addition to the material on the Selous Scouts. He gives many personal anecdotes and stories about the people and activities of the Selous Scouts. Tim gives us his personal opinion of many of the individuals in the Selous Scouts from Ron Reid-Daly , who he considers a close friend, down.

Great book, combining an entertaining personal story set within a narrow and exotic historical context. A time when the British Empire was in retreat and Cold War battles were fought on the fringes of Britain's colonial possessions. The author has a knack for story-telling. Although undoubtedly embellished, the story is story is quite remarkable and real.

The cover deceives you, it’s more an autobiography. Wanted to read more about stories of the war, but this had maybe 1/3 of it with actually action and talking about the war. It’s is funny an entertaining there are good stories in this book and Tim is an interesting person. But to have in the title “Dominating The Battlespace with Rhodesia’s Elite Selous Scouts.” Is a bit of a stretch. Not a bad read but definitely not was I was hoping it would be.

The book is an account of the author's life, from childhood. This is a factual and interesting account of his experiences in Southern Africa from the '50s. I particularly enjoyed the chapters dealing with the author's time in the Rhodesian army. Although at times repetitive, the reader can form a good idea of what life for these brave people must have been like. Having lived myself through these turbulent times, I could associate with the author and the events and experiences he describes. A good, well-written book which I would recommend to anyone interested in an aspect of the turbulent history of Southen Africa which no one seems to remember, or wish to remember.

A great written account that entails all one would hope for. The struggles, the tragedies, and the laughs of the best times remembered. It's amazing how so many situations people who were not soldiers would never believe were real, but the personalities and experiences are unmistakable.

I really enjoyed Tim Bax's book, Three Sips Of Gin. I purchased it because I thought it was going to be about his experience with the Selous Scouts. It is much more and as such, Bax makes it autobiographical. There are some hilarious anecdotes about his experience before, during, and after his service to Rhodesia. I have never met Bax, that I can remember, but had met his mentor, Ron Reid-Daly. All references, by Bax are accurate as to time, place, etc. It makes for a very entertaining read as well as being historically accurate. Bax doesn't bore one with the politics, of the time, or the continued interference with Rhodesia's internal operation by MI-6 and the C.I.A. (and interfere, they did). I served in Rhodesia,in the early 70's, so the stories brought back fond memories of the country of my grandparents. I liked this book so much, I purchased Bax's book, "Who Will Teach The Wisdom". He tells a great story, and the book is an easy read that holds your attention. Welgedaan broer Bax .........

Great book written by a brave soldier

I have spent quite a bit of time in South Africa, Namibia, Simbabwe as a tourist. Also have friends who live there. If you see what has happened since this book, and others, have been written, it's sad to see how politics can ruin a country. I really enjoyed this book. Next Gin on me.

A superb account from Tim Bax on the Rhodesian conflict. Tim Bax story is a brilliant account of his life and adventures in the service of the RLI and the Selous Scouts. An excellent read.

A book well written, carries the reader from page to page effortlessly. Informative without being dry. This book is for anyone curious about the intrigues of the war fought in Rhodesia and the political war behind it.

Having recently rediscovered my Rhodesian heritage and pride, I started to read all my current books based on the Rhodesian Bush War. Once I had ploughed through those, I was hungry for more and started to see what else was available. I was overwhelmed by the multitude of new books written by ex-Rhodesian forces personnel and was spoilt for choice. Where to start? During my research, one name and one book kept coming to the forefront from reviewers and Rhodesians and that was Tim Bax - Three Sips Of Gin. I had recently discovered a wealth of Rhodesian Forces tribute and contact sites on the internet, especially Facebook and in my browsing actually found Tim taking part in various discussions. After following his posts and thoughts, I knew I just had to get his book and I wasn't disappointed. It is an incredible journey from boyhood to man, from africa to canada to africa and america. Along the way you are gripped with tension, relieved with humour, warmed with human spirit and left with the feeling that this is someone you want to call friend. You want to meet Tim Bax, sit around a braai fire and listen while he fills his pipe and shares the wisdom of a life spent learning so many nuggets of knowledge from his own heroes and mentors. Like so many people before me, I finally learnt what the three sips meant. As I read each page, I was trying to put my finger on the meaning and, perfectly written, the book edged me closer to the answer until all was revealed. An astonishing book that everybody should read. It has been an honour to have not only read Tim's book but to have since corresponded with him. I very much hope that one day I will be able meet him person and ask the vital question: 'Whisky or Gin, Tim?'.