Nick Downie

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

Nick Downie

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. "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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