Ian Yule: Soldier, Congo Mercenary, Actor

Ian Yule started life as an orphan, losing his adoptive parents during the London Blitz in the 1940s. Yule was then raised by American military families in the interim and eventually joined the British Army as a Royal Artillery gunner in 1948, and would later become a paratrooper. Yule had quite the extensive service record, serving in the Korean War, being captured by North Korean forces and held as a POW for over 2 years.

He witnessed the Suez Crisis in 1956, joined the South African Defense Force and the Rhodesian Armed Forces, but perhaps most notably, he served in 5 Commando under Col. Mike Hoare during the Simba Rebellion. Yule was a devout anti-communist and a well trained warrior, two things Mike Hoare loved to see in his men. After the Congo Crisis, Yule joined the Rhodesian Armed Forces and fought in the Bush Wars during the late 60s-70s.

Once things had calmed down a bit, Ian was asked to star in the motion picture the Wild Geese (1978) based on Col. Hoare's time in the Congo, he took on the role of former SAS turned mercenary Tosh Donaldson for the film. Since he had connections with Col. Hoare, Ian would go on to be both an advisor on films and even star in some legendary ones. Before the Wild Geese, Yule was in The Shangani Patrol (1970) and then afterwards he starred in Zulu Dawn (1979).

Yule's old war wounds and severe arthritis caught up with him in his later years, in 2015 he was medevaced by the South African Legion and he found out that he was nearly completely deaf and blind due to his years of military service. Ian Yule received care in his final years from the Honourable Artillery Company, the SSAFA and the local Council and volunteers in Chichester, UK. Ian Yule passed away in 2020.