Legacy Conversations – Brig-Gen McGill Alexander (Rtd) Ep7, SO1 (Operations) 44 Parachute Brigade

General Alexander comes from a family that saw military service as a sacred duty. His father served in World War Two. His grandfather served in World War One. Both volunteered twice where they could have stayed home without any dishonour. After a difficult childhood, and finally finding purpose at Potchefstroom High School for Boys, he volunteered for nine months of military service to become a paratrooper. This he achieved in February 1968. In later years he would command 44 Parachute Brigade, 1989-1991, but at first, he remained a civilian, only joining the Permanent Force in 1975 as an officer from 2 Parachute Battalion. General Alexander is a graduate of the Military Academy, Saldanha and commanded the same company at 1 Para Bn that he had served in as a rifleman. He trained as a pathfinder with Israeli Forces in 1980, and with Chilean Special Forces in 1981.
He is a qualified parachute instructor, dispatcher and tactical free faller. In 1983 he was sent to Spain for two years on a Senior Command and Staff Course. On his return, he became an instructor at the SA Army College (where, eight years later, he became the chief instructor). Through the years he took part in operations in Angola, Namibia, Zambia and elsewhere, including commanding a successful helicopter assault. He developed the parachute battalion group concept as well as an amphibious capability in the SADF by cross-training 44 Parachute Brigade in this role. Later, he commanded Group 18 on urban operations in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg and the Richmond Task Group on rural operations in KZN. Before retiring his last two appointments were as General Officer Commanding Regional Joint Task Force South and Director of Doctrine Development at Joint Operations. In total, he spent 27 years with the SADF and 20 years with the SANDF.
After his retirement, he served on the Reserve Force Council, trained airborne officers in other countries and developed an airborne doctrine for both the SANDF and the Namibian Defence Force. His list of achievements ranges from writing three books, contributing chapters to five others and publishing more than 30 articles, to obtaining a PhD at UNISA. He has completed the Duzi Canoe Marathon (1967), run the Comrades Ultra Marathon (2001 at the age of 54) and swam the Midmar Mile (2013 at the age of 66).
As the last SA Armed Forces Attaché to Taiwan (1996-97), he was taken hostage with his family and wounded during a shootout (together with his eldest daughter). In this episode, the seventh, he tells the viewer of his time as Staff Officer 1 (Operations) which was effectively the Chief of Staff, in early in 1986, at 44 Parachute Brigade. In this unit, he assisted with the design of an airdroppable vehicle called the “Jakkals” (after the designer Colonel Phillip “Jakkals” Jäckel, SM, MMM). He also devised a way to give the airborne units an anti-tank capability in the form of 106mm recoilless gun Ferrets as well as with MILAN missiles. Then he practised an operation to attack an Angolan port at Namibe (never happened) as well as overseeing the largest paratrooper drop in South African Military History. It is a fascinating conversation also touching on the lessons learned at the Cassinga operation (1978). I also asked General Alexander if an officer can be too important or senior to be risked at the frontline and much more. If you have questions for the General, please leave them below. Subscribe and activate the bell to be informed of new episodes.
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