Attack on Whistlefield Farm

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Attack on Whistlefield Farm
Part of Rhodesian Bush War
Type	Terrorist attack
Target	Whistlefield Farm
Date	23 December 1972 1:00am
Executed by	ZANLA
Outcome	Whistlefield Farm damaged
Casualties	None killed Several occupants injured

Late on 22 December 1972, a troop from the Rhodesian Special Air Service, followed shortly by the Rhodesian Light Infantry, reported to the police station in Centenary.^[1] The land mine in Altena's driveway was discovered, disarmed and removed.^[2] For their own safety, Marc de Borchgrave and his family were sent to Whistlefield Farm, which was owned by Archie Dalgluish and his family,^[1] while their family home was being repaired.^[3]

Having been alerted to the de Borchgraves' new location through sympathetic farmworkers, guerrillas from the original cadre requested permission from ZANLA to carry out another attack. After ZANLA's area commanders in Centenary had been consulted, a raid on the second target (Whistlefield Farm) was planned.^[3]