Dubbed “mad Mike” by the East German media he made his name as a hired gun in the Congo crisis and became a laughing stock for a disastrous failed coup in the Seychelles.

It is surprising that Mike Hoare, who lived a dangerous life to the full, should have lived to 100.

Born of Irish parents in India, he embarked on a military career that saw him end the Second World War as a major.

After emigrating to South Africa, he met Congolese leader Moïse Tshombe and fought as a mercenary for him.

But it was the failed Seychelles coup in 1978 that saw him jailed and transformed him to soldier-of-ill-fortune 

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