Rhodesia Fire Brigade, the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. This was the only award peculiar to the Fire Brigade although members of the Brigade were presumably eligible for various awards open to all Rhodesian citizens, such as the Meritorious Conduct Medal. The final medal on the Rhodesian Order of Precedence was the President’s Medal for Shooting. An obvious imitation of the pre-UDI Queen’s Medal for Champion Shots, the President’s Medal was awarded annually to the champion shots of the RSF. In terms of medal design, the two major influences on Rhodesian awards were obviously British and South Figure 6: Obverse of the Prison Long Service Medal. African. With only one exception, all medals, as opposed to decorations, reflect a very strong British influence. Standardisation of medal size and method of suspension are very British and go a long way to ensuring the overall attractiveness of Rhodesian medals. The wide use of the effigy of Cecil John Rhodes on the obverse of the medals also reflects British practice. The design of the Medal for Territorial or Reserve Service is unmistakably based on the British Efficiency Decoration (ED) and Efficiency Medal right down to the ribbon. This is almost a direct copy of the ribbon of the Efficiency Decoration, except that the green used is several shades lighter. The Medal for Territorial or Reserve Service is shown at Figure 8, with an EIIR Figure 7: Reverse of the Prison Long Service Medal. Figure 8: Medal for Territorial or Reserve Service (left) and the Efficiency Decoration (New Zealand). 20 JOMSA version of the New Zealand issue of the Efficiency undeniably valid aspirations of a majority of the African Decoration for a comparison. population. As a result, the country ceased to exist in 1980. Decorations on the other hand reflect a very strong South African influence. The Grand Cross of Valour, I do not comment on the political rights or wrongs of the Silver and Bronze Crosses of Rhodesia, the Police Rhodesia and its actions. As a soldier, however, I can Cross, the Rhodesia Prison Cross and the various grades admire the efforts made by their security forces during of the Legion of Merit are all reminiscent of awards of their “Bush War.” And as a numismatist with a particular the Republic of South Africa, although somewhat less interest in military medals I can respect the medals flamboyant in appearance than South African awards. established and awarded by the country. The Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal also reflects South African influence. Acknowledgements I gratefully acknowledge the kind assistance of my friend Mr Alan As previously mentioned, the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia Rich, late Senior Assistant Commissioner BSAP, for advice and was awarded with different colored ribbons depending guidance in the field of Rhodesian medals. Also to both Alan and to on the service of the recipient. This is also reminiscent Colonel John Fforde, late Commissioner Northern Rhodesia Police, of practice in the Republic of South Africa. Military for joint permission to draw on information and illustrations from their excellent book Rhodesia: Orders Decorations and Their Ribbons awards of the former SADF were all issued with ribbons 1890-1980. I also acknowledge the generosity of Megan Robertson, of similar design but differing base colors to distinguish owner and operator of the “Medals of the World” (www.medals.org. between awards made to members of the Permanent, uk) database, for allowing me to reproduce the medal chart from the Citizen and Commando Forces. Rhodesian section of the database. Bibliography The Rhodesia Badge of Honour, awarded to civilians for Anonymous. Brief History of the Rhodesian Army. 1996. long service in the government, municipalities and the Arneil, A.J. Badges and Insignia of the Rhodesian Security Forces private sector, is very reminiscent of the British Imperial 1890-1980. Germinston, South Africa: Alec Kaplan & Son C.C., Service Medal, although it appears much further down 1987. Abbott, Peter and Philip Botham. Osprey Men-at-Arms No. 183, the Rhodesian order of wear than the ISM does in the Modern African Wars (1): Rhodesia 1965-80. London: Osprey British order. Publishing Ltd, 1986. Reid-Daly, Lt-Col R. (as told to Peter Stiff). Selous Scouts Top Secret Rhodesia as an independent nation was very much an War. Johannesburg, South Africa: Galago Press, 1984. international pariah. Yet, beset on all sides by enemies Rich, Alan and Col. John Fforde, 1986 Rhodesia: Orders Decorations and Their Ribbons 1890-1980, Elephant and Rhino Foundation, whose populations outnumbered Rhodesia’s by easily Cape Town, South Africa ten to one and shackled by a debilitating internal war, the Wilson, Graham, 2000 ‘Cap Badges of the Rhodesian Security Forces’, country still managed to run and to prosper. Militarily far Sabretache The Journal and Proceedings of the Military Historical superior to its foes, Rhodesia finally succumbed to the Society of Australia, Vol. XLI, No. 2, June, pp.24-32 unavoidable imperatives of politics, economics and the IN THE NEWS United States Army Authorizes Wearing PLAN NOW TO ATTEND of Decorations of the Order of St. John Army Regulation 670-1, Appendix E, dated October OMSA 2013 19, 2012 authorizes the acceptance and wear of the decorations of the Order of St. John in all grades on the United States Army uniform. Either full-size or AUGUST 8 - 11, 2013 miniature medals may be worn on the dress uniform and the ribbon of the Order of St. John may be worn on the Class A uniform. CROWNE PLAZA From a publication of the Order of St. John MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN Submitted by Bob Sweet Vol. 64, No. 3 (May-June 2013) 21 THE AWARDS OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN: A SURVEY IN A BROAD HISTORICAL CONTEXT ED HAYNES In 1868, Japan underwent a conscious and intentional (not just suspended) by United States occupation revolution. After more than 200 years of self-imposed authorities in 1947. protective isolation, Japan opened its doors and “restored” the Emperor to power (in fact he was made into a powerful The emblematic Japanese order for distinguished and symbolic figure that he had never been before). This general service to the nation is the Order of the Rising led to a consciously driven process of modernization, of Sun, established in 1875. It is the oldest Japanese order raging Westernization. The political system, economy, and was bestowed on Japanese citizens (and selected educational system, social system, and military were all foreigners) based on social (or military) rank and degree transformed over the span of a few decades. There has of accomplishment. As an example, I show the lowest probably never been such a speedy and intentional self- class Order of the Rising Sun, the 8th class (Figure 1). transformation. The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers (discussed above) can be viewed as One area of transformation was in the arena of national an intermediate order between the Chrysanthemum and honors. Japan had earlier used a complex system of court the Order of the Rising Sun, in some ways it serves as a ranks and grades coupled with a practice of imperial superior class of the Order of the Rising Sun. gift-giving to reward achievement. In April 1875, in a step consonant with other changes that were being made, Japan created a Western-style honors system that they merged with their previous framework of court ranks. Looking carefully at Western (especially British and French) models, the Japanese would expand this intentionally invented system over the following years and create awards that reflected both their distinctive culture and their national and international aspirations. Despite a brief suspension of honors during occupation after World War II and the need to adapt the system for a State without a military, the Japanese honors system continues to this day. ORDERS Following Western patterns, Japan created a single-class high, dynastic order in 1888, the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, generally restricted to the senior members of the imperial family, the most distinguished Figure 1: The Order of the Rising Sun, 8th class. of Japanese citizens, and friendly foreign rulers. In the same year, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising For women, the Empress, imperial princesses and Sun with Paulownia Flowers also came into being, also daughters of the nobility, prominent Japanese women, a single-class order. and selected foreigners, the Order of the Sacred Crown was established in eight classes in 1888. In general it was To reward achievement by members of the military, the a court order and the lower classes of the order were only Order of the Golden Kite was established in 1890. It was very rarely bestowed on non-noblewomen for general awarded in seven classes to reward both distinguished merit and humanitarian service. military leadership and gallantry in the field, so it bridged the categories of orders of merit and bravery decorations. The lowest and most frequently awarded of the Japanese Uniquely among the Japanese awards it was abolished orders was the Order of the Sacred Treasure, created in 22 JOMSA.