Chris Hoare, left, with his father, Mike Hoare, and the biography he wrote on Mike Hoare. Durban, South Africa, June 2018. Photo by Roy Reed / CC BY-SA 4.0.
Colonel Thomas Michael “Mad Mike” Hoare was a legendary mercenary whose daring exploits and charismatic leadership made him one of the most infamous soldiers of fortune in the 20th century. Hoare’s life was filled with adventure and intrigue, making him a fascinating figure in modern history.
Hoare was born on March 17, 1919, in Calcutta, British India, to Irish parents. His father was a river pilot, and at the age of eight, Hoare was sent to school in England. He attended Margate College and later trained for accountancy. However, his passion for adventure led him to join the Territorial Army, as he was unable to attend Sandhurst.
During World War II, Hoare joined the London Irish Rifles and later the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps as a second lieutenant. He fought in the Arakan Campaign in Burma and at the Battle of Kohima in India, eventually being promoted to the rank of major. After the war, he married Elizabeth Stott in New Delhi and had three children.
Transition to Mercenary Life
After the war, Hoare completed his training as a chartered accountant but found life in London boring. He decided to move to South Africa, where he managed safaris and sought adventure by marathon walking, riding a motorcycle from Cape Town to Cairo, and searching for the rumored Lost City of the Kalahari. By the early 1960s, Hoare was extremely bored with his life as an accountant and yearned to return to the life of a soldier, leading to his interest in becoming a mercenary.
Congo Crisis and Mercenary Command
Katanga Rebellion (1961)
In 1961, Katanga, a mineral-rich province in the newly independent Republic of the Congo, sought to secede from the central government. The secession was supported by Belgian mining interests, and Moïse Tshombe, the leader of Katanga, hired mercenaries to bolster his forces against the Congolese government and United Nations peacekeepers.
Mike Hoare was recruited to lead a unit named “4 Commando,” which consisted of approximately 300 men, primarily from South Africa. The unit was initially created by Frédéric Vandewalle. These men were a mix of adventurers, former soldiers, and individuals seeking excitement and profit. Hoare’s leadership and military experience were crucial in organizing and training this diverse group. The unit engaged in several skirmishes and battles, demonstrating their effectiveness in unconventional warfare. Hoare’s ability to inspire and lead his men was evident, and he famously stated, “you can’t win a war with choirboys,” highlighting the tough and ruthless nature required for mercenary work.
Simba Rebellion (1964)
In 1964, the Congo faced another major conflict known as the Simba Rebellion. The Simba rebels, inspired by communist ideologies, sought to overthrow the central government. The rebellion quickly gained momentum, and the rebels captured large swathes of territory, including major cities.
Congolese Prime Minister Moïse Tshombe, who had become the head of the central government, once again turned to mercenaries to quell the rebellion. He hired Mike Hoare to command a military unit named “5 Commando,” Armée Nationale Congolaise. This unit was composed of mercenaries from various countries, including South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and Europe.
5 Commando earned the nickname “Wild Geese” during the Congo Crisis in the 1960s. Hoare, proud of his Irish heritage, adopted a flying goose as the symbol of 5 Commando and called his men the Wild Geese after the famous Irish soldiers who fought for the Stuarts in exile during the 17th and 18th centuries. The name “Wild Geese” became internationally famous and was even used as the title of a film released in 1978, starring Richard Burton as Colonel Allen Faulkner, a character modeled on Hoare.
Under Hoare’s command, 5 Commando played a pivotal role in several key battles during the Simba Rebellion. One of the most significant operations was the storming of Stanleyville (now Kisangani) in November 1964. The city had been captured by the Simba rebels, who took numerous hostages, including foreign nationals. Hoare’s unit, in coordination with Belgian paratroopers, launched a daring assault on the city. The operation, known as “Operation Dragon Rouge,” successfully liberated the hostages and dealt a severe blow to the Simba rebels.
Hoare’s leadership and tactical acumen were instrumental in the success of 5 Commando. The unit’s actions during the Simba Rebellion solidified Hoare’s reputation as a legendary mercenary commander. His ability to lead and motivate his men, combined with his strategic brilliance, made him a formidable force in the conflict.
The Seychelles Coup Attempt (1981)
In 1981, Hoare was involved in a daring and ultimately ill-fated coup attempt in the Seychelles, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean. The plan, known as “Operation Angela,” aimed to overthrow the government of President France-Albert René and install a new regime led by exiled opposition leader Gérard Hoarau.
Hoare assembled a group of 43 mercenaries, many of whom were former soldiers from South Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The mercenaries disguised themselves as members of a beer-drinking club called the “Ancient Order of Froth Blowers” to avoid suspicion. They planned to smuggle their weapons into the Seychelles by hiding them in the false bottoms of their luggage.
On November 25, 1981, the mercenaries arrived at Seychelles International Airport on Mahé Island. However, their plan quickly unraveled when a customs officer discovered a weapon in one of the mercenaries’ bags. A firefight ensued at the airport, and the element of surprise was lost. The mercenaries managed to seize control of the airport but were unable to advance further into the capital, Victoria.
Realizing that the coup had failed, Hoare and his men commandeered an Air India Boeing 707 that was on the tarmac and forced the pilot to fly them to Durban, South Africa. Upon arrival, the mercenaries were arrested by South African authorities.
Hoare and several of his men were put on trial in South Africa for air piracy. In 1982, Hoare was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in the coup attempt. He served 33 months before being released on good behavior.
The Seychelles Coup Attempt marked the end of Hoare’s mercenary career and added a dramatic chapter to his already colorful life. Despite the failure of the operation, Hoare’s audacity and leadership during the coup attempt further cemented his reputation as one of the most legendary mercenaries of the 20th century.
Legacy and Later Life
Mad Mike Hoare’s legacy as a legendary mercenary is marked by his daring exploits and charismatic leadership.He was an adventurer who believed you get more out of life by living dangerously. He authored several books about his experiences, including Congo Mercenary and The Road to Kalamata. Hoare passed away on February 2, 2020, at the age of 100 in Durban, South Africa.
Resource
Mad Mike Hoare and Chris Hoare Official Site
madmikehoare.com