Tuesday, 2 January 2024

The legendary Ian Yule soldier, mercenary, international movie star



Ian Yule as Cpl Fields in the film “Zulu Dawn” The former Soldier had 71 credits as an actor.

Ian was born an orphan before World War 2. When his adoptive parents were killed in the Blitz, he was taken in by Americans stationed in the UK. He joined the British Army as a boy soldier and served in the Artillery, Parachute Regiment and the SAS.



During his time in, he was deployed to the Korean war and took part in the Inchon attack on the West coast of Korea. He also fought fought at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir with the American Marines. This is where Yule was captured and taken prisoner, he was a POW of the North Koreans for two and half years.

At the end of the war, he was released from captivity and stayed in the Army. He served in Egypt, then Yemen and then back to Egypt for the Suez Crisis.




As if that wasn't enough he joined “Mad” Mike Hoare’s 5th Commando in the Congo as a mercenary. Yule introduced Col. "Mad" Mike Hoare to “Wild Geese” producer Euan Lloyd. Hoare was a soldier of fortune and had made a sound impression on Lloyd. He became the military advisor for the film with Ian playing the part of Sgt. Tosh Donaldson.




He also served in the Rhodesian Armed Forces during the Bush War and after that the SADF.

Ian became incapacitated in later life due to his numerous
wounds including a very bad gun shot wound to the abdomen. He was also suffering from very bad rheumatoid arthritis. He needed sticks to walk and was very hard of hearing, he also had degenerative eyesight and was suffering from on-set dementia.

He died in the UK on the 3rd of December 2020, he was assisted by the South African Legion and the SSAFA.

RIP Warrior.





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