Nick Downie

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

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.

Career

Military Downie was the only civilian of 120 applicants to the Regular SAS, 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. Downie’s final military engagement was with the Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan fighting against Saddam Hussein in 1974–75.

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

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

Personal life In 2006, Downie started a journey by horseback from the Caucasus to South Africa.

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