Sandy Gall, a renowned war correspondent for Britain’s Independent Television News (ITN), has passed away at the age of 97 in his home in Penshurst, Kent. His daughter, Carlotta Gall, a reporter for The New York Times, confirmed the news of his death. Gall’s distinguished career spanned nearly half a century, during which his familiar face graced British television screens, primarily as a reporter in Vietnam, Africa, and the Middle East, and later as a respected presenter on ITN's "News at Ten."
Throughout his career, Gall reported on pivotal moments in history, including the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, the civil rights marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, and the first U.S. Marines' arrival in Vietnam in 1965. He witnessed the fall of Saigon in 1975 and captured the chaos that ensued during the Vietcong's takeover. Despite the precarious situations, he managed to secure access to the embassy club's pool when British diplomats fled.
In his later career, Gall became noted for his extensive reporting on Afghanistan, dedicating significant time to documenting the mujahedeen's fight against Soviet control in the 1980s. His passion for the region led him to author six books on Afghanistan, and he established a charity supporting disabled Afghans—reflecting both his admiration for the Afghan people's resilience and a personal connection to the rugged landscape that reminded him of his Scottish roots.
Gall's last literary effort, "Afghan Napoleon: The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud," a biography of the respected mujahedeen leader, was published when he was 93. His contributions to journalism earned him great respect, including accolades from the royal family; the queen decorated him, and Prince Charles wrote the preface to one of his esteemed works. Gall's legacy remains as a testament to his enduring commitment to reporting the truth amid the world's most tumultuous events.
