Great Britain Rhodesia - Zimbabwe 1980 medals

[j-sk]

Good evening Gentlemen,

I have recently acquired two medals related to the Zimbabwe independence of 1980:

- cupro-nickel Rhodesia medal 1980, unnamed (police personnel),

- bronze Zimbabwe independence medal 1980, numbered 24214.

Although both were awarded to any individual participating in the Zimbabwe independence process of 1980, could anyone of you let me know if it was allowed to wear the Zimbabwe independence one together with other British medals in police uniform or in civvies?

Thank you in advance for your valuable information.

All the best,

Jean-Samuel Karlen.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Jean-Samuel - interesting question.

The cupro-nickle one is probably the one with Cecil Rhodes profile ? They were normally named, but there

may not have been time before the hand-over. The Independence medal is not named - it is a rather garish gilt.

I would suspect that they were both given to the same man - at the same time.

You say awarded to someone taking part in the 1980 Independence procedures - are you referring to a Rhodesian

citizen - or, to one of the British observers and army personnel sent over to assist in keeping the peace ? He

would not have been eligible for the Rhodesian GSM - may have acquired one as a souvenir.

Unless the British Government have gazetted - or, given approval - I don't think the Rhodesian medals could be

worn by an ex-Rhodesian citizen with later awarded British medals. We really need the opinion of a Rhodesian who

later joined British Forces. With regard to the Independence medal, awarded to British personnel - then I would think this would be allowed. Mervyn

ps. One point - prior to the 1965 UDI takeover by Ian Smith's Govt. - Rhodesia had been a British Crown

Colony. Very many of Her citizens had fought for Britain and their medals would be worn in the normal way.

[j-sk]

Dear Mervyn

Thank you very much for getting back to me and for your explanation.

I was actually refering to medals awarded to a British bobby sent to Rhodesia with the peace-keeping force.

(see both medals in attachment).

Although this bobby received both, was he entitled to wear both?

Cheers,

Jean-Sam.

Edited March 19, 2014 by j-sk

[j-sk]

I just saw the following GB medal group on the Internet.

The "Rhodesia 1980" medal is there, but not the Zimbabwe Independance one...

It looks like the latter could not to be worn on GB groups... (?)

[Brett Hendey]

Jean-Sam

I suspect your interpretation is correct and that British servicemen were not allowed to wear the Zimbabwean medal while in uniform. However, your pair of medals is highly collectible. The Rhodesia Medal is comparatively rare and is worth about 400 GBP, while the Zimbabwean one is common and not in itself worth much.

Regards

Brett

[Mervyn Mitton]

Just to add onto Brett's explanation - the Rhodesia Medal was created for British servicemen and Police

who were seconded to Rhodesia to help keep order during the handover period. He would have been

awarded both medals. Mervyn

[Tony Farrell]

The Zimbabwe Independence Medal was not authorised for wear in the UK. However, you will sometimes see the silver type officially worn, as these were Restricted Wear (by permission) awards. It's also worth remembering that even though UDI was declared in '65, Rhodesia remained a Commonwealth realm for a further five years and the imperial awards continued until the republican awards were instituted in 1970. Rhodesia (regardless of UDI and the republic), was still officially 'on the books' as the Crown Colony of Southern Rhodesia until April 1980.

Edited March 22, 2014 by Tony Farrell

[j-sk]

Thank you all, Gentlemen, for your interesting and most valuable infos and viewpoints.

[davesmedals]

This is a rather interesting group P/Lt BHOPKINS 

[Brett Hendey]

An interesting group indeed!  Thank you for showing it.  What are the two clasps on the GSM?

Regards

Brett

[davesmedals]

Malaya & palesine 45 - 48 

Edited September 17, 2017 by davesmedals

[peter monahan]

So, WWII service, perhaps with the RAF, and post war service in Palestine & Malaysia, follwed by emigration to Rhodesia and police service there?  Interesting indeed!

[1314]

" Police  Lieutenant " , service in Malaya.

[davesmedals]

So could this be him?

 

Edited September 29, 2017 by davesmedals

[rhodesianmilitaria]

On 20/03/2014 at 13:30, Brett Hendey said:

Jean-Sam

 

I suspect your interpretation is correct and that British servicemen were not allowed to wear the Zimbabwean medal while in uniform. However, your pair of medals is highly collectible. The Rhodesia Medal is comparatively rare and is worth about 400 GBP, while the Zimbabwean one is common and not in itself worth much.

 

Regards

Brett

The Zimbabwe Independence Medal wasn't created by Mugabe. It was created by Lord Soames the British governor of Southern Rhodesia from 1979/80. I also had a conversation many years ago with one of the Rhodesians who helped design the medal. Of course Mugabe had a say in the design to where certain things had to be put eg the AK47 and the Zimbabwe Ruins which ironically the ruins had no connection to Mugabe's Shona tribe. Ah well nothing like marketing. 

On 23/03/2014 at 05:28, Tony Farrell said:

It's also worth remembering that even though UDI was declared in '65, Rhodesia remained a Commonwealth realm for a further five years and the imperial awards continued until the republican awards were instituted in 1970. 

No they didn't. Rhodesian awards started from at least 1967. In case you think I'm wrong this is part of my collection that I once owned. At one stage I had four BCR groups including to a famous pseudo terrorist KIA Selous Scout Corporal Obert Mabaleka. 

Lieutenant-Colonel R.F. Reid-Daly dedicated a number of pages to Obert in his book 'Pamwe Chete.'

The UK GSM was issued to a Rhodesian member of C(Rhodesia) Squadron 22 Special Air Service for service in Malaya 51-53. 

Edited February 9, 2019 by rhodesianmilitaria

[Aberdeen Medals]

To definitively reply to the original question(s) posted by the originator of this thread I would comment as under.

All British personnel, whether Military or Civil (including Police) who were entitled to receive the Zimbabwe Independence Medal (all grades) for their service in Rhodesia in 1980, were allowed to accept the medal under 'Restricted Permission' conditions of award - see attached the accompanying letter from Buckingham Palace that stipulated in very clear terms under what conditions the Zimbabwe Independence Medal could be worn in British Military or Civil uniform.

Regardless of whether the medal awarded was silver or bronze, the same 'Restricted Permission' to wear rules applied.

The same rules also applied to wearing of the 'ribbon' only in uniform.

As far as wear of the medal by uniformed services in the United Kingdom is concerned, it could / can only ever be worn 'officially' in 'uniform' when on official duty in connection with a state visit / or otherwise specified approved government duties where senior Zimbabwean government / diplomatic officials are present etc.

As can be seen from the attached, the medal, and or the medal ribbon, could only effectively be worn in British Uniform, on specific.

Considering the long history of poor relations bewtween the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, there can seldom have been many 'official' opportunites for recipients in the United Kingdom to officially wear in uniform the Zimbabwe Independence Medal, it's miniature or ribbon.

As information.

 

[Tony Farrell]

Thanks for putting me right. Every little helps. Is there a definitive cut off date for imperial awards in the Rhodesian armed forces? I've not been able to find one. I only ask as I have a medal in my collection that omits the 'Southern' prefix following the federal period and I'd like to know how much of a shelf life these issues had before being replaced by the post UDI awards.

[rhodesianmilitaria]

The British always referred to Rhodesia as Southern Rhodesia even after the federation disbanded and Northern Rhodesia became Zambia and Nyasaland became Malawi. Part of the argument between Ian Smith and various UK governments was if Zambia and Malawi had become independent from the Britain in 1964 why wasn't Rhodesia allowed to become independent.

[Tony Farrell]

The Black Majority Rule issue aside, an article by Brian Taylor in the OMRS MoH supplement of 1982 states that the Commonwealth honours and awards effectively ceased* upon UDI and a committee was soon  established to create a replacement system: the Honours & Awards Act of 1969 (No.50/69) being the fruit of their labours.

A Government Notice (893A/69) published in the Rhodesia Government Gazette on 10th November 1969 established the creation of the Rhodesian GSM - with further awards being authorised a year later in November 1970 by a series of notices (1093-1113/70).

*ISTR a member of the Rhodesian Army winning a Queen's Medal at Bisley during the post UDI and pre-republic era (65-70), and also one or two RRAF LS&GCs being awarded, hence my query. I'm not sure how Rhodesian awards could thus have been awarded from 'at least 1967' when the H&A committee was still deliberating, with their conclusions being some two years distant.

[archie777]

Two interesting sets to Selous Scouts Operators

[archie777]

Bronze Cross of Rhodesia (BCR) ; 645736, L/Cpl, Christopher Aaron Jele (Posthumous), 25 May 1979 ;

 

https://www.theselousscouts.com/awards.php

[Rusty Greaves]

A named group of 3 awards, a Rhodesia 1980 Medal, a Zimbabwe Independence Medal, and a UN Cyprus medal are included in the current Liverpool Medals catalogue (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/rhodesia-1980-group-royal-signals?mc_cid=a4f154f49d&mc_eid=eb61970ca6; SKU J9118). I include first the verbatim description and then the photos of the medals and recipient: 

 

"Description

Rhodesia 1980 Medal, Zimbabwe Independence Medal, UN Cyprus, Signalman S.J. Townsend, Royal Signals, with uniformed picture wearing these medals.

 

Rhodesia Medal officially impressed: “24442182 SIG S J TOWNSEND R SIGNALS”

Zimbabwe officially numbered: “14139”

 

With card box of issue with details on bottom side and a photograph of recipient wearing these 3 medals.

 

Service number suggest enlistment circa 1976-1977.

 

The medal was awarded for participation in “Operation Agila”, to the “Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Rhodesia from 1979-80”, only the medals to serving Military were officially named, the large amount of civilians and policemen present, received unnamed medals, only approximately 2500 medals were issued in total.

 

This unusual “Campaign” Medal was only awarded to about 996 members of the British Army, 132 Officers and 864 men, whose medals would be officially impressed for issue, whereas the remainder to Civlians and Police were issued unnamed.

 

Signalman Towsend was one of the 8 Officers and 195 Men from the Royal Signals who received this medal for having took part in “Operation Agila” during the period of Independence for Zimbabwe, previously known as Rhodesia.

 

The Rhodesia 1980 Medal is an unusual and rather unique medal, as at the time the Royal Mint were experimenting with untarnishable medals and attempting to cut costs from all the years of making solid silver medals.

 

The idea was now to make medals from Cupro-Nickel, in a similar manner as they had been producing Coins and WW2 Medals since 1947, but these medals were to be plated with Rhodium, to create a medal which would never tone or require polishing. However it was not so practical and naming the medals was another obstacle as it had to be done after the plating, also some examples had the plating peel off. 2 years later when they produced the South Atlantic Medal for the Falklands War, they continued to produce medals in Cupro-Nickel but abandoned the Rhodium plating method."