Operation Barras
Encyclopedia
Operation Barras was the name given to a hostage rescue operation by the British
Special Air Service
, Special Boat Service
, and Parachute Regiment in Sierra Leone
on 10 September 2000. The men on the ground nicknamed the dangerous mission 'Operation Certain Death'.
's Royal Irish Regiment led by Major Alan Marshall and their Sierra Leone Army liaison officer, Lieutenant Musa Bangura were on a vehicular patrol in the Occra Hills. At the time, the area was infamous for being sightings of attacks, banditry, and kidnappings.
The patrol was ambushed, surrounded, and forced to surrender. The eleven-man-patrol was taken prisoner and held hostage by an armed rebel group known as the West Side Boys
led by then, 24 year old Foday Kallay
.
Some controversy exists regarding the mission of the British troops; British sources initially maintained that the soldiers were returning to Freetown
from a meeting with Jordanian United Nations forces when they were captured. However, the Nigerian UN commander, General Garba, claims that the British soldiers never met with the Jordanian troops. British authorities later admitted that their soldiers may have been captured while deep in rebel territory.
On 3 September, five of the eleven British soldiers were released in exchange for a satellite phone
and medical supplies. Further negotiations then broke down and Foday Kallay threatened to kill the remaining hostages. It was then that British Prime Minister Tony Blair
authorised the mission.
helicopters took off from the Freetown airport and headed for Rokel Creek, upon the banks of which was located the West Side Boys' camp. On the northern bank was the village of Geberi Bana, where the remaining British soldiers were being kept. On the opposite bank were two more villages, Magbeni and Forodugu, also occupied by the rebels. The Land Rovers
used by the captured soldiers had been taken to Magbeni.
The attack on the rebel camps commenced at around 6:30 as the helicopters came in and disgorged troops almost simultaneously on both northern and southern target locations. In Geberi Bana, SAS observation teams, which had been inserted days before and had kept the rebels under surveillance
ever since, began to engage them. The rescuers, SAS troopers, extracted the remaining six British soldiers and the Sierra Leonean Officer, Lieutenant Musa Bangura, within twenty minutes. They were flown out to the RFA Sir Percivale moored in Freetown harbour at about 7:00 that morning. In Magbeni, the Paratroopers engaged the awakened rebels. A second wave soon brought the Paras to full strength as they continued the assault. This attack diverted attention from the rescue mission on the opposite bank in Geberi Bana. Most of the action was over by 8:00, although the last British troops pulled out at 14:00 in the afternoon, after conducting mopping-up operations that saw the capture of Foday Kallay
and the recovery of the Land Rovers.
One SAS member, Bombardier Brad Tinnion, was killed in the operation, and eight paratroopers and four SAS were wounded.
with the date of 6 April 2001, however, some were not actually published for some time afterwards.
In addition to the gallantry awards a number of other decorations and honours were given, ranging from appointments to the Order of the British Empire
to Mentions in Despatches and the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
.
TV show Zero Hour
starring Clive Standen
as Major Alan Marshall and narrated by Sean Pertwee
documented the whole operation from the view point of all involved and included interviews with soldiers and West Side Boys
involved.
A 2007 episode of the National Geographic Channel
TV show Situation Critical
documented the full story of the events leading up to the capture, the capture itself, the life of the prisoners while held hostage, plans for the operation, and the operation itself.
On 20 August 2000, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
's (ABC-TV) international affairs programme Foreign Correspondent broadcast a special report, "Sierra Leone: Soldiers of Fortune", focussing on the exploits of South African pilot Neall Ellis and his MI-24 Hind gunship. The report also investigated the failures of the UN Peacekeeping Force, and the involvement of mercenaries/private military contractors in providing vital support to UN operations and British military Special Operations in Sierra Leone in 1999-2000. The programme also featured interviews with and film of the Royal Irish Regiment contingent in Sierra Leone training members of the SLA in the weeks leading up to the incident.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
, Special Boat Service
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
, and Parachute Regiment in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
on 10 September 2000. The men on the ground nicknamed the dangerous mission 'Operation Certain Death'.
Background
On August 25, 2000, members of the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
's Royal Irish Regiment led by Major Alan Marshall and their Sierra Leone Army liaison officer, Lieutenant Musa Bangura were on a vehicular patrol in the Occra Hills. At the time, the area was infamous for being sightings of attacks, banditry, and kidnappings.
The patrol was ambushed, surrounded, and forced to surrender. The eleven-man-patrol was taken prisoner and held hostage by an armed rebel group known as the West Side Boys
West Side Boys
The West Side Boys aka West Side Niggaz or West Side Junglers, were an armed group in Sierra Leone, sometimes described as a splinter faction of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council....
led by then, 24 year old Foday Kallay
Foday Kallay
Foday Kallay was the leader of an armed group, the West Side Boys, in war-torn Sierra Leone. Foday Kallay was formerly a corporal in the Sierra Leone Army.-Hostage:...
.
Some controversy exists regarding the mission of the British troops; British sources initially maintained that the soldiers were returning to Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
from a meeting with Jordanian United Nations forces when they were captured. However, the Nigerian UN commander, General Garba, claims that the British soldiers never met with the Jordanian troops. British authorities later admitted that their soldiers may have been captured while deep in rebel territory.
On 3 September, five of the eleven British soldiers were released in exchange for a satellite phone
Satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites...
and medical supplies. Further negotiations then broke down and Foday Kallay threatened to kill the remaining hostages. It was then that British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
authorised the mission.
The operation
At 6:16 a.m. local time on 10 September, three Chinook and three LynxWestland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
helicopters took off from the Freetown airport and headed for Rokel Creek, upon the banks of which was located the West Side Boys' camp. On the northern bank was the village of Geberi Bana, where the remaining British soldiers were being kept. On the opposite bank were two more villages, Magbeni and Forodugu, also occupied by the rebels. The Land Rovers
Land Rover Wolf
The Land Rover Wolf is a military utility vehicle in service with UK Armed Forces and the Dutch Marine Corps. The vehicle is famous for being the primary utility vehicle of the British Army....
used by the captured soldiers had been taken to Magbeni.
The attack on the rebel camps commenced at around 6:30 as the helicopters came in and disgorged troops almost simultaneously on both northern and southern target locations. In Geberi Bana, SAS observation teams, which had been inserted days before and had kept the rebels under surveillance
Surveillance
Surveillance is the monitoring of the behavior, activities, or other changing information, usually of people. It is sometimes done in a surreptitious manner...
ever since, began to engage them. The rescuers, SAS troopers, extracted the remaining six British soldiers and the Sierra Leonean Officer, Lieutenant Musa Bangura, within twenty minutes. They were flown out to the RFA Sir Percivale moored in Freetown harbour at about 7:00 that morning. In Magbeni, the Paratroopers engaged the awakened rebels. A second wave soon brought the Paras to full strength as they continued the assault. This attack diverted attention from the rescue mission on the opposite bank in Geberi Bana. Most of the action was over by 8:00, although the last British troops pulled out at 14:00 in the afternoon, after conducting mopping-up operations that saw the capture of Foday Kallay
Foday Kallay
Foday Kallay was the leader of an armed group, the West Side Boys, in war-torn Sierra Leone. Foday Kallay was formerly a corporal in the Sierra Leone Army.-Hostage:...
and the recovery of the Land Rovers.
One SAS member, Bombardier Brad Tinnion, was killed in the operation, and eight paratroopers and four SAS were wounded.
British and allied units involved
- 130 paratroopers from the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment
- 50 members of the SASSpecial Air ServiceSpecial Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
and the Special Boat ServiceSpecial Boat ServiceThe Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
. - Field Surgical Team from 16 Close Support Medical Regiment RAMC
- Royal Irish Regiment
- RFA Sir Percivale
- HMS ArgyllHMS Argyll (F231)The third and current HMS Argyll is a Type 23 'Duke' Class frigate. She was laid down in March 1987 by Yarrow Shipbuilders at Glasgow, launched in 1989 by Lady Wendy Levene, and commissioned in May 1991...
- HMS Argyll's Lynx helicopterWestland LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
- HMS Argyll's Medical Officer (Surg Lt Jon Carty RN - later awarded QCVS for his role)
- Three Boeing Chinook helicopters providing transport
- Three Westland LynxWestland LynxThe Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
helicopters providing armed escort and close air support - One Mi-24 HindMil Mi-24The Mil Mi-24 is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for 8 passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and by over thirty other nations.In NATO circles the export...
gunship as air support, flown by Neall Ellis, a South African national contracted to do so - 3 members of the Tactical Communications WingTactical Communications Wing RAFTactical Communications Wing provides communications facilities to deployed units of the Royal Air Force.TCW personnel and their 90 Signals Unit counterparts were, due to their deployable nature, within a discrete portion of the RAF that were authorised to wear a DPM uniform full time...
, Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
Hostages
- Major Alan Marshall
- CaptainCaptain (OF-2)The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
Flaherty - CSMCompany Sergeant MajorA company sergeant major is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for standards and discipline. In combat, his prime responsibility is the supply of ammunition to the company...
Head - SergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
Smith - LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
Musa Bangura - Corporal Sampson
- Corporal Ryan
- Corporal Mackenzie
- RangerRoyal Irish RangersThe Royal Irish Rangers was a regular infantry regiment of the British Army.-Creation:...
Gaunt - Ranger McVeigh
- Ranger Rowell
- Ranger MaGuire
Casualties
- 25 rebels confirmed killed although far more are thought to have died
- 18 rebels captured including Foday Kallay
- 1 British 22 SASSpecial Air ServiceSpecial Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
soldier killed in action; identified as Bradley Tinnion - 12 British soldiers wounded (1 severely, 11 minor)
British gallantry awards for Operation Barras and associated operations
All awards were gazettedLondon Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
with the date of 6 April 2001, however, some were not actually published for some time afterwards.
- Distinguished Service OrderDistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
- Major-GeneralMajor-General (United Kingdom)Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
John Taylor HolmesJohn Holmes (British Army officer)Major-General John Taylor Holmes DSO OBE MC is a former Director Special Forces.-Military career:Holmes was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1970. In 1972 he was awarded the Military Cross for service in Northern Ireland. He transferred to 22 Special Air Service in 1974 and was Commanding...
(Director Special Forces) - BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
David Julian Richards (Joint Task Force commander)
- Major-General
- Conspicuous Gallantry CrossConspicuous Gallantry CrossThe Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is a second level military decoration of the United Kingdom armed forces. Created in 1993 and first awarded in 1995, it was instituted after a review of the British honours system to remove distinctions of rank in the awarding of gallantry decorations...
- Colour Sergeant John David Baycroft, Parachute Regiment
- Squadron LeaderSquadron LeaderSquadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Iain James McKechnie MacFarlane, Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
- Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
- CaptainCaptain (Royal Navy)Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
George Michael ZambellasGeorge ZambellasVice Admiral George Michael Zambellas DSC, was Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces from June 2007 until September 2008 and is currently Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Chief of Staff to Navy Command Headquarters, and Chief Naval Warfare Officer.-Life:...
, Royal NavyRoyal NavyThe Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
- Captain
- Military CrossMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
- Warrant Officer Class 2 Harry William Bartlett, Parachute Regiment
- Major James Robert Chiswell, Parachute Regiment
- Captain Evan John Jeaffreson Fuery, Parachute Regiment
- Sergeant Stephen Michael Christopher Heaney, Parachute Regiment
- Acting Captain Daniel John Matthews, Parachute Regiment
- Distinguished Flying CrossDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
- Flight LieutenantFlight LieutenantFlight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Timothy James Burgess, Royal Air Force - Squadron LeaderSquadron LeaderSquadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Iain James McKechnie MacFarlane, Royal Air Force - Captain Allan Laughlan Moyes, Army Air Corps
- Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Priest, Royal Air Force
- Flight Lieutenant Paul Graham Shepherd, Royal Air Force
- Flight Lieutenant
- Queen's Gallantry MedalQueen's Gallantry MedalThe Queen's Gallantry Medal is the third level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.It was instituted on 20 June 1974 to replace the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, the British Empire Medal for Gallantry, and the Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry...
- Major Philip James Conyers AshbyPhil AshbyMajor Phil Ashby QGM is a former Royal Marines Commando officer, notable for his escape and evasion in the jungles of Sierra Leone in 2000.-Early life:...
, Royal MarinesRoyal MarinesThe Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
, for services in May 2000
- Major Philip James Conyers Ashby
- Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service MedalThe Meritorious Service Medal is a senior level military decoration presented to denote acts of meritorious service worthy of recognition. This medal can be awarded in a combat or non- combat theatre...
- Private Daniel Crossland, 3rd Parachute Regiment attached to 1st Battalion />
In addition to the gallantry awards a number of other decorations and honours were given, ranging from appointments to the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
to Mentions in Despatches and the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service
The Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service is a British military award that recognises meritorious service during, or in support of, operations...
.
Channel 5 Special Forces Heroes documentary
A 2008 TV series made by Dangerous Films featured Operation Barras. Sierra leone and SAS expert Andy Pacino featured heavily in the programme, speaking about the part the SAS played in the rescue mission. Andy's book, SAS: First Man Through The Door was banned from publication by the MoD on the grounds that it may have a "snowball effect" on other soldiers who may want to write their own books about their experiences in the Special Forces Regiment.Discovery Channel and National Geographic documentary
A 2007 episode of the Discovery ChannelDiscovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
TV show Zero Hour
Zero Hour (TV series)
Zero Hour is a Canadian/British documentary-style television program, which airs on The History Channel in the United States, History Television in Canada and on the BBC in the United Kingdom...
starring Clive Standen
Clive Standen
Clive Standen is an English actor best known for playing Sir Gawain in the Starz series Camelot as well as 'Archer', the brother of Robin Hood in the BBC TV series Robin Hood and Private Carl Harris in the British sci-fi show Doctor Who.-Acting:Standen's first experience of stunts, horse...
as Major Alan Marshall and narrated by Sean Pertwee
Sean Pertwee
Sean Pertwee is an English actor known for his television, film and voice-over work.-Career:In the early 80s, he auditioned for a place at the Surrey County Youth Theatre where he was cast as Captain Fitzpatrick in the play Tom Jones, based on the novel by Henry Fielding...
documented the whole operation from the view point of all involved and included interviews with soldiers and West Side Boys
West Side Boys
The West Side Boys aka West Side Niggaz or West Side Junglers, were an armed group in Sierra Leone, sometimes described as a splinter faction of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council....
involved.
A 2007 episode of the National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
TV show Situation Critical
Situation Critical
Critical Situation is an American documentary television series. Produced in conjunction with the National Geographic Channel, the series examines various disasters or violent incidents. It replaced Seconds From Disaster, a similar program with a more forensic approach...
documented the full story of the events leading up to the capture, the capture itself, the life of the prisoners while held hostage, plans for the operation, and the operation itself.
On 20 August 2000, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's (ABC-TV) international affairs programme Foreign Correspondent broadcast a special report, "Sierra Leone: Soldiers of Fortune", focussing on the exploits of South African pilot Neall Ellis and his MI-24 Hind gunship. The report also investigated the failures of the UN Peacekeeping Force, and the involvement of mercenaries/private military contractors in providing vital support to UN operations and British military Special Operations in Sierra Leone in 1999-2000. The programme also featured interviews with and film of the Royal Irish Regiment contingent in Sierra Leone training members of the SLA in the weeks leading up to the incident.
