Warrant Officer 1st Class (retired) Paul J. Els descendant of the Boer General Louis Botha and, Voortrekker leaders Andries Potgieter and Hans Dons de Lange, was born in Empangeni, Zululand.

After completing his schooling in Durban, he enlisted in the Signal Corps of the South African Defence Force in January 1964. At the end of 1964 he was transferred to 5 SA Infantry Battalion in Ladysmith. He did a three-month stint on the border in 1968, after which he spent a year on Gough Island as radio operator.

On his return to South Africa in 1969, he became an instructor at Signal School in Voortrekkerhoogte and was deployed for a few weeks towards the end of that year in Africa. In 1972 he married Annelie and they have two children - Johan born in 1974, and Nelie born in 1976. Paul and Annelie have four granddaughters and one grandson.

During 1975/76 he took part in Operation Savannah and at the end of 1978 he was transferred to the SA Special Forces as the first long distance non-commissioned officer, radio operator and cryptographer for 5 Reconnaissance Commando. At the age of 35 years, he completed the parachute course at Dukuduku and was awarded his parachute wings.

In 1984, he became Regimental Sergeant Major of the Northern Transvaal Command Signals Unit, and from 1992 worked for the Army Intelligence Corps.

Having retired in 1996, he wrote: "We Fear Naught but God". The popularity of the book convinced him to continue and the first was followed by "Ongulumbashe - Die begin van die Bosoorlog", followed by the English version "Ongulumbashe - Where the Bushwar Began",  the revised, "We Fear Naught but God", then "Saturday’s Soldiers - The Hunter Group" and "We Conquer from above".

South Africa Medal

General Service Medal

Ten and Twenty Year Service Medal

 

Parachute Wings