South African British soldiers smoked cannabis before battle

Wilson Dzebu's undated article for a South African newspaper's website describes the wish of 87-year-old former World War II corporal, Simon Manzere, to meet Nelson Mandela. Manzere recounts how the British forced him to smoke dagga (a kind of South African cannabis) before battle:

Manzere said they were forced to use drugs by the British, so that they could fight the enemy without fear. “They would inject us with a powerful mixture to make us brave during ambushes. They would also force us to smoke dagga and drink a small pill that will make us not to feel hungry for two months. People were dying like flies, but I thank God because I survived the whole traumatising experience.”