Out on a Limb: Life with a Disability and Stories of a Time Past

In 1979 Nick left public school in England and returned to his home of Rhodesia to enlist. Aged 16 he was just over the legal age for conscription but he was a volunteer.
This is his story of how, having joined up, he had his leg amputated at the age of 17 and yet as an amputee continued in active service as a trained combat medic for the Rhodesian forces and latterly the new Zimbabwe National Army. While many of his brothers in arms left immediately after independence Nick stayed on and witnessed the Ndebele rebellion, Nkomo's grab for power and the beginnings of Gukuharundi. He witnessed first-hand the medical impact of war as well as the common diseases of rural Africa. He was discharged aged 20 years old.
Although the first part of this book is about being a combat medic it is also about rediscovering a lost father, a new family, the influence of African mysticism and politics as well as the challenges of living in post independence Zimbabwe. The second part of the book is his story of emigrating to South Africa and adjusting to life as a civilian. The trials of finding work, the challenges of setting up and running his own business and the murderous world of business that are more than equal to his combat medic experiences!

Dettagli