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Vol. 64, No. 3 (May-June 2013) 17 training and low morale. Vilified by both their former has the effigy of Cecil John Rhodes on the obverse (Figure ZIPRA and ZANLA comrades and the world press as 2) and the armorial bearings of Rhodesia on the reverse “turncoats” and “running dogs,” the force did little for the (Figure 3). The ribbon is a striking combination of red war effort and was dissolved without ceremony in 1980. and light blue with centre stripes of dark blue/gold/dark blue. Awarded to members of the BSAP, Army, Air Force All arms of the RSF, including the Guard Force and and Guard Force, the General Service Medal (GSM) Intaf, had their own decorations and medals and all was also awarded to members of Intaf who met certain were eligible for combat decorations and awards. qualifying criteria. It has not proved possible to confirm Interestingly, members of the Rhodesian Prisons Service if the GSM was actually awarded to members of Pfumo were also eligible for combat decorations under specific re Vanhu. An award of the Military Forces Commendation circumstances. (equivalent to a mention in despatches) was denoted by the wearing of a silver or bronze pick replica on the Broadly speaking Rhodesian medals and awards can be ribbon of the GSM. Members of Intaf who were qualified divided into gallantry awards, awards for distinguished for the General Service Medal and who were awarded a service and campaign and service medals. Departmental Commendation, the equivalent of a Military Forces Commendation, wore a miniature “oliphant” or elephant tusk emblem on the ribbon. The Rhodesian government established a total of 12 awards to recognise bravery. For gallantry in combat, members of the RSF could be awarded the Grand Cross of Valour (GCV), the Silver Cross of Rhodesia (SCR), the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia (BCR) or the Military Forces Commendation mentioned above. The GCV must qualify as one of the rarest military decorations in the world. Between 1970 and 1980 only two of these decorations were awarded. One went to the legendary Captain “Schulie” Schullenberg of the Selous Scouts, the other to Major Graham Wilson (absolutely no relation to or connection with the author!) of the Figure 2: Obverse of the General Service Medal. Rhodesian Special Air Service. Sadly, in April 1989 a Harare newspaper, in an advertisement for a government auction, listed 1600 GCV for disposal by sale, an ignominious end for a rare decoration. An interesting fact connected with the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia was that it was awarded with different ribbons depending on the service of the recipient. Thus award of the Cross to a member of the Army was signified by a red ribbon with three white stripes while awards to members of the Air Force and Guard Force were signified by ribbons of the same design but with the base colours purple and brown respectively. Members of Intaf awarded the Bronze Cross used the Army ribbon. Figure 3: Reverse of the General Service Medal. This issue of multiple ribbons very much reflects South African medallic practice of the time and in Rhodesia The first medal gazetted by the Rhodesian government was was unique to the BCR. the Rhodesia General Service Medal (Rhodesia Warrant (RhW) 1/1969), awarded for “service on operations Members of the RSF and civilians who performed undertaken for the purposes of combating terrorist or acts of courage not in combat could be awarded either enemy incursions into Rhodesia.” An attractive medal, as the Conspicuous Gallantry Decoration (CGD) or the most Rhodesian awards are, the General Service Medal Meritorious Conduct Medal (MCM). Vol. 64, No. 3 (May-June 2013) 17 While members of the BSAP and the Rhodesian Prisons Complementing the Legion of Merit were a number of Service (RhPS) were eligible for the award of the CGD other awards. The Independence Decoration (ID) and the or MCM and, in the case of the BSAP, the GCV, SCR Independence Commemorative Decoration (ICD) were and BCR under certain conditions, both the BSAP and established in 1970 and were awarded for services to the the RhPS established their own awards as well, unique nation leading up to independence. to their services. Distinguished or meritorious service in the BSAP was BSAP members were eligible for the award of either recognised by the award of either the Police Cross for the Police Cross or the Police Decoration for Gallantry. Distinguished Service (PCD) or the Police Medal for The Police Cross was awarded for either “conspicuous Meritorious Service (PMM). The equivalent military gallantry or distinguished service in the BSAP.” When (Army, Air Force and Guard Force) and Prison Service awarded for gallantry the recipient was entitled to use the awards were the Defence Cross for Distinguished Service post-nominals PCG and the blue and white ribbon had (DCD) and the Prison Cross for Meritorious Service two red stripes added to it. (PSC); and the Defence Forces Medal for Meritorious Service (DMM) and the Prison Medal for Meritorious The Rhodesian Prison Service established two awards Service (PMS). to recognise gallantry by its members. These were the Rhodesia Prison Cross (RPC) and the Rhodesia Prison The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) was awarded Medal (RPM). As with the Police Cross, the RPC could for meritorious service rendered either by civilians or be awarded for either gallantry or distinguished service; by members of the Police Reserve or the Reserve and an award for gallantry was signified by the addition of Territorial forces of the Army and Air Force. two maroon stripes to the green and white ribbon. Two very interesting and uniquely Rhodesian awards In 1970 the Rhodesian government established the Order were the President’s Medal for Chiefs and the President’s of the Legion of Merit. The order was designed to reward Medal for Headmen. Established by warrant in 1970 these outstanding or long and meritorious service in any field medals were awarded to recognise “conspicuous service of endeavour. The five classes of the order (with the in the interests of their people” (for the Chief’s Medal) incumbent President as Grand Master) were: and “conspicuous service to their communities” (for the Headmen’s Medal). Of identical design and suspended Grand Commander (GCLM) from an identical green ribbon, the Chief’s Medal was Grand Officer (GLM) silver while the Headmen’s Medal was bronze. Commander (CLM) Officer (OLM) A final award for distinguished service was the Rhodesia Member (MLM) Badge of Honour. This is an extremely attractive, oval, bronze medal with a grey Zimbabwe Bird on a green The order was awarded in civil and military divisions. background on the obverse. The Badge of Honour Membership of the military division was signified by appears to have been an imitation of the British Order the addition of a red central stripe to the green and gold of the Companions of Honour. Like the Order of the ribbon. Companions of Honour, the Rhodesian Badge of Honour was awarded for long service and devotion to duty in Conferment of the class of Grand Commander was government, municipal services or private services. signified by the addition of a green rosette to the ribbon. Unlike all other Rhodesian honours and awards, the Where membership of the military division was conferred Badge of Honour was the personal gift of the President of for distinguished service related to combat duties, this the Republic. This is a direct imitation of the British Order was also signified by the addition of rosettes. These were of the Companions of Honour, which is the personal gift red for Commander, silver for Officer and bronze for of the sovereign. Member. The order originally consisted of four grades (Grand Commander, Commander, Officer and Member), The Rhodesian government established three awards to however, the statutes of the order were revised in 1977 recognise service in the fight against terrorism and external to add the class of Grand Officer (GLM) ranking below aggression. The first of these was the General Service Grand Commander; the revised statutes also added gold Medal, which has already been discussed. The General breast stars for Grand Master and Grand Commander and Service Medal was awarded to all members of the RSF for silver stars for Grand Officer. their part in the war. As previously mentioned the award of a 18 JOMSA Military Forces Commendation was signified by a small pick replica worn on the ribbon of the GSM. The pick was silver for a bravery award and bronze for distinguished service or continuous devotion to duty. In 1970 the Prison Service established its own campaign medal. This was the Prison Service Medal awarded to members of the Prison Service for maintaining law and order. The Prison General Service Medal superseded this medal in 1979. Worn from a ribbon identical to that of the earlier medal, the Prison GSM was awarded for the same service as its predecessor and differed from the earlier medal in only minor detail. The Rhodesia Prison Service also established a commendation, the Director’s Commendation, for wear on the ribbon of the service medals. The award of the Director’s Commendation was Figure 4: Obverse of the District Service Medal. signified by a small, old fashioned bronze key worn on the ribbon with the bit of the key to the right as seen by however, the reverse is totally different; instead of the the viewer. arms of Rhodesia that appear on the reverse of the GSM, the reverse of the Intaf medal features a half-wreath Although primarily responsible for the administration of native African flowers surrounding the words FOR of African affairs, as the war dragged on the Ministry of SERVICE (Figure 5).
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