‘Mad Mike’ Hoare turns 100
Mike was schooled in England and, during World War 2, was the 'best bloody soldier in the British Army'
LEGENDARY soldier and mercenary ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare celebrated his 100th birthday with 35 family and friends in Durban last weekend.
Among them were six of the Wild Geese members who fought with him in the Congo in the 1960s to crush a communist rebellion and rescue 2 000 nuns and priests from barbarity, and defeat Che Guevara.
Asked his secrets for longevity, the Irishman always says, ‘Laughter is the best medicine.
‘But more seriously, there is very little that two aspirins cannot fix.
‘Never go and see doctors, because they will only find something wrong with you,’ is his advice.
Mike is the subject of an authoritative biography which was published last year.
The book titled Mad Mike Hoare: The Legend was written by his son, journalist Chris Hoare.
Out of England
Mike was schooled in England and, during World War 2, was the ‘best bloody soldier in the British Army’.
He was demobbed as major after seeing action at Kohima and India.
He then qualified as a chartered accountant in London and emigrated to South Africa.
Not used to the quiet life, he went rogue and started living dangerously to get more out of life.
These adventures included trans-Africa motorbike trips, blue water sailing, exploring remote areas and leading safaris into the Kalahari Desert.
Mike was the technical adviser on the film The Wild Geese, which starred Richard Burton playing his character.
In 1981 Mike led 50 ‘Frothblowers’ in a bid to depose the socialist Seychelles government.
Things went wrong and he was imprisoned for three years for hijacking a Boeing 707.
He was granted amnesty and returned to South Africa.
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