Nick Downie

Nicolas Jon Downie (27 May 1946 – 12 May 2021) was a British journalist and soldier.[1]

Education and early career

Nick Downie was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College, at the Middlesex Hospital and Stirling Lines. One year before his qualification as a doctor, Downie instead joined the Special Air Service as a Trooper.[2]

Career

Military

Downie was the only civilian of 120 applicants to the Regular SAS,[2] but one of six who were accepted into training. Later, Downie stated that at the time he was "your original 10½-stone weakling" but that it was his "all-consuming desire" to serve in the SAS that mattered more than physical fitness during the selection process. [3] He was an instrumental figure in the Dhofar Rebellion, where he destroyed a South Yemen fort (with 1,050 lb of gelignite). The rebels were with Russian and Chinese support helping the infiltration of Oman by South Yemen. [4] Downie’s final military engagement was with the Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan fighting against Saddam Hussein in 1974–75.[5]

Journalist

He later worked as a war correspondent, winning multiple awards. The Royal Television Society recognised his work with three awards.[6]

Downie became disillusioned by the viewers' desire for images over analysis.[7]

Personal life

In 2006, Downie started a 10,000 mile journey by horseback from the Caucasus to South Africa.[8]

He died on 12 May 2021, from COVID-19, at the age of 74 in South Africa.[9] [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Independent Diary". The Independent. 17 March 1993. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "SHOOTING GUERRILLAS". The Spectator Archive. 21 December 1985.
  3. ↑ Nick Downie (5 July 2006). "Passing the SAS Selection Course - from the Inside". h2g2.com.
  4. ↑ Tristan (13 December 2011). "My Secret War: Looking For Nick".
  5. ↑ "Shooting Gurrillas". 21 December 1985.
  6. ↑ "Awards Archive February 2011" (PDF).
  7. ↑ "War Reporters". Films Media Group.
  8. ↑ "h2g2 SAS-Mule user profile". 6 June 2006. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  9. ↑ Obituaries, Telegraph (20 May 2021). "Nick Downie, ex-SAS trooper who won awards for TV films of conflict in the Western Sahara, Rhodesia and Afghanistan– obituary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 May 2021. (subscription required)
  10. ↑ "Obituary: Nick Downie, fearless film-maker who brought war into viewers' living-rooms". 9 June 2021.
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