Nick Downie

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


Education and early career

Nick Downie was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College and 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 accepted into the training. He was an instrumental figure in the Dhofar Rebellion, where he destroyed a South Yemen fort (with 1,050 lb of gelignite), who with Russian and Chinese support were helping the infiltration of Oman by South Yemen [3] Downie’s final military engagement was with the Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan fighting against Saddam Hussein in 1974-75.[4]

Journalist

He later worked as a war correspondent, winning multiple awards. The Royal Television Society recognised his work with three awards.[5]

Downie became disillusioned by the viewers' desire for images over analysis.[6]

References
  1. "Ihdependent Diary". The Independent. 17 March 1993.
  2. "SHOOTING GUERRILLAS". The Spectator Archive. 21 December 1985.
  3. Tristan (Dec 13, 2011). "My Secret War: Looking For Nick".
  4. "Shooting Gurrillas". Dec 21, 1985.
  5. "Awards Archive February 2011" (PDF).
  6. "War Reporters". Films Media Group.
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