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.

Two issues of RhSAS stable belts.

Two  issues of Grey's Scouts stable belts. I have the info somewhere on my PC.

One issue of Selous Scouts stable belt.

On 03/10/2013 at 04:25, Rhodesian Badges said:

Hi Paul

I have a friend by the name of Craig Fourie who co authored two book on the Rhodesian military, in my opinion he is the world expert on the RhGSM and I belive has the largest collection of them worldwide. He can be contacted via email at craig.fourie(AT)swedishmatch.co.za

Cheers

Garth

He has the largest KIA RhGSM collection.

On 14/04/2013 at 22:06, Mervyn Mitton said:

Gavin - the most important point to remember is that their are a lot of fakes being made - mainly for the higher awards. Also, with the

original 1890's medals - be particularly aware that the original dies were stolen from the museum. I will not buy any 1896 unless it is

in a group - or, has provenance. Mervyn

Never seen a fake Rhodesian award that I couldn't tell was fake including the stamping. I had a good teacher.

On 13/01/2011 at 02:10, Ulsterman said:

Good Lord that is rare.

Is that real silver? It appears as if that is painted on enamel.

Is there a Who's Who for southern Africa at all?

Worthy of an OMRS article methinks-

On 14/01/2016 at 22:59, LeoLinz said:

Dear all,

as this is an older post I hope someone's gonna answer my questions.

I just started my Interest in Rhodesia, its history and also its award system.

The Legion of Merit is a very fine and excellent looking award but I couldn't find answers to all of my questions.

Basics:

Member of the Legion of Merit - silver cross with golden "Zimbawe Bird"

Officer of the Legion of Merit  - golden cross with silver "Zimbawe Bird"

Commander of the Legion of Merit  - golden cross with silver "Zimbawe Bird"

Grand Officer of the Legion of Merit - golden cross with silver "Zimbawe Bird"

Grand Commander of the Legion of Merit - golden cross with silver "Zimbawe Bird"

Is this correct?

Did all crosses have the same size, also the neck orders?

 

The military division had a thin red line on its ribbon to differ it from the civil divison.

Additionally the military division hat rosettes on the ribbon: 

Member - golden Rosette

Officer - silver Rosette

Commander - red Rosette

Grand Officer - no rosette

Is this correct?

Why didn' the civilian Division have rosettes?

Where the rosette the only way to differ the classes (if all crosses had the same size)?

 

Thank you for your help!

Best regards,

Leo

 

 

Yes. I have all of the rosettes and all of the ribbons. I have yet to display them. One day.

On 18/01/2012 at 18:45, Arthur R said:

Nice little bar. It's obviously seen quite a bit of wear.

 

You're correct, Noor - it should be worn with the Zimbabwe Independence Medal in first place.

 

The Rhodesia GSM was a campaign medal, issued from 1969/70 onwards, for service in operations against the liberation armies during the 'bush war' between 1966 and 1979. The independence medal was issued in 1981, to mark the establishment of the new state in 1980. It seems to have been issued to the uniformed services and civilians.

First issued in January 1981. Approximately 40k members of the BSAP and Reserve had to be issued with it alone.

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. 

It's funny how so much of Rhodesia's militaria ends up back in the country that turned it's back on it at the time of it's greatest need.

I hope you realise three things. One that a lot of medals issued during Mugabe's reign including for gallantry were political.

Point two is that the construction of the Zimbabwe awards and medals was utter rubbish compared to the superb construction of the Rhodesian awards.

Point three is that Mugabe copied some of the Rhodesian awards and just changed the name, the design and the ribbon and made them from inferior metals.

Lots of differences. I had a lot of info about them on my website but last week I shut my site down after 7 years. Two examples below, both worn after 1970. Second photo shows two different variations of the RhSAS para wings for the camo (combat) uniform.

SAS shoulder flash

009.JPGCLICK TO ENLARGE

Sorry this is not a RhSAS para wing it's a British army para wing.

BSAP had a leather belt with brass buckle and I believe a white belt with silver buckle but no stable belts. Stand to be corrected as BSAP is not my area of collecting.

Absolutely and the above stable belt is an excellent example.

Good Lord that is rare.

Is that real silver? It appears as if that is painted on enamel.

Is there a Who's Who for southern Africa at all?

Worthy of an OMRS article methinks-

No the Member of the Legion of Merit (MLM) was bronze but silver plated. The next award was the Officer of the Legion of Merit (OLM) which was solid Rhodesian silver. All the Legion of Merit Awards above the MLM were solid silver although some were gold plated. This one is genuine but there are many copies. I have a civil MLM & CLM. Both excellent pieces of work and detail like all of the Rhodesian medals from that period. The enamel work is also excellent on all of the genuine Rhodesian awards. Quite a few of the copies have a lower standard of enamel (possibly painted on) and in one case I have seen a copy where the centre that would normally be enamelled was painted instead.

The RhSAS stable belt is 1st issue. Comparison photos & descriptions can be seen here.

http://www.rhodesianmilitaria.com/page16.html

The Zim Independence Medal was approved on the 17 April 1980 — two days before the renamed Colony of Southern Rhodesia became the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Gidday Peter long time no hear.... this is how I got it - Ribbon too hard to get to remount.

Hope you are well. When did you join the Zim Society? I need some research on my Zim Gallantry medals one day. Just got another Silver Cross at Kaplans auction.

Shaun

Hello Shaun,

Yes I thought that you might have got it like that. I joined the Zim Medal Society a few years ago. It would have been a ZSC from Kaplans latest auction. I'll send you an email about the research aspect.

So first off is a RAR Malaya GSM, RGSM and then Zimbabwe Prision Service Group. Very nice long service.

Group of 5. to SGT G MASIRI - Zimbabwe Independence 18426, Rhodesian Prison LSGC to 5281 Sgt G Maisiri, Zimbabwe 10 year Service medal to 905281 P.O.3 Maisiri G, Rhodesian Prison GSM to 5281 L/Cpl Masiri, GSM Bar Malaya to 4915 Pte Masire Rh.AR

Nice group with both Army and Prison service. Interesting that the Prison LSGC is before the Zim 10 year Service Medal. The Zim Medal should go before the Rhodesian ones.

Correct Order of Precedence:

Zimbabwe Independence Medal

Zimbabwe 10 year Service medal

Rhodesian Prison GSM

Rhodesian Prison LSGC

GSM Bar Malaya

I am going to disagree with some of the comments made here. This is my understanding.

The BSAP Commissioner on the left is wearing the Zimbabwe Independence Medal in the correct Order of Precedence as it is before any Zimbabwe medals. It is interesting to see that Mugabe and the General behind him

are wearing the Liberation Medal, The Zimbabwe Independence Medal and the Liberation Decoration in a different order of precedence to each other.

I believe the Zimbabwe Independence Medal was a Commonwealth award not a Zimbabwe award. Here is part of the Warrant.

WARRANT

by

THE GOVERNOR

WHEREAS it is deemed desirable to commemorate the independence of Zimbabwe;

AND WHEREAS, in terms of the Honours and Awards Act

[Chapter 4], it is provided that the Governor may, by warrant issued under his hand, create honours and awards:

NOW THEREFORE, under and by virtue of the powers vested in me as afore said, I do, by this my warrant, hereby create an award to be styled -

"The Zimbabwe Independence Medal".

...............

Therefore in my opinion the award of the Zimbabwe Independence Medal was either a British Award or a Commonwealth Award created in Southern Rhodesia on the 14 April 1980 and gazetted on the 17 April 1980 by Lord Soames, the interim

British Governor of the day, of the British Colony of Southern Rhodesia in the interim post UDI period and the changing of the Colony of Southern Rhodesia to Zimbabwe (Nov 1979-18th April, 1980).

Mugabe took power on the 18 April 1980 as Prime Minister.

I have been informed that a letter from Buckingham Palace which advised the granting of the Zimbabwe Independence Medal to someone in the British Forces. Part of it states: "I have the honour to inform you that The Queen has been

graciously pleased to give you Restricted Permission to wear the Zimbabwe Independence Medal which was conferred upon you by the Government of Zimbabwe."

Whether the Brits then decided to make the award a Zimbabwe one is quite possible reading the above statement which begs the question why did they decided to make an award days before Mugabe took over power instead of leaving it to the incoming government?

After the 18 April 1980 in the Order of Precedence, the Zimbabwe Independence Medal comes before all Rhodesian medals which would make it a Zimbabwe award however the facts are is that it was created by a British Governor ruling a British colony days before the so

called 'elected' Zimbabwean government took office. What I'm interested in "Is why?"

As the Zimbabwe Independence Medal was to take precedence over all the Rhodesian Awards and Medals was it the same for Zimbabwe? From what I have seen of recipients medal groups who served in the Rhodesian Security Forces and then served in the Zimbabwe Police

of military, the Zimbabwe Independence Medal is before all Zimbabwean and Rhodesian awards.

Judging by the above photo it's hard to see whether any of them know what the Order of Precedence is.

I assume that the pins there are very impractical for wearing? Is this a collectors copy? I know there were collectors sets in circulation after the fall....

This is a collectors copy that was made before the end of the war. The originals of the breast badges are hallmarked and the pin system is totally different to what is shown here. The Grand Officer of the Legion of Merit (G.L.M.) was also made from solid silver as was the one above that, the Grand Commander of the Legion of Merit (G.C.L.M.). The Grand Commander of the Legion of Merit (G.C.L.M.) however was gold plated on solid silver.

The Grand Master of the Legion of Merit (G.M.L.M.) breast star was made from gold. This was awarded to sitting President's only and when the individuals presidency ended he was awarded a Grand Commander of the Legion of Merit (G.C.L.M.) and the award of The Grand Master of the Legion of Merit (G.M.L.M.) stayed with the Office of president of Rhodesia. I hope that all makes sense.

However the original breast badges are very rare and one hardly sees one on the market. I have seen the reverse of a genuine breast badge for a Grand Officer of the Legion of Merit (G.L.M.)(Civil), that is how I know what the reverse looks like. The front of the breast badge is also much better looking than the collectors copies.

Thanks Mervyn. Email sent.

Zimbabwean Parachute Jump Instructors Beret to an officer of the Parachute Training School, circa 1981. Worn by a former Rhodesian PJI.

I was pleased to see this thread - posted before I joined - it contains some interesting berets and badges. Most of the badges - apart from SAS and Selous are still available - however, the berets are becoming scarce. One of the reasons camo is hard to find , is because it was illegal in South Africa - and this is where most of it landed-up.

For anyone needing info. - or, starting a collection, Col. Dudley Wall's two books are invaluable. Let me know if anyone needs the contact details?

I know Dudley and he's a good man. His latest edition book (3rd edition) is arguably the best book on Rhodesian militaria on the market today.

Here is another beret. Selous Scouts Officer's beret but with an OR beret badge instead of an Officer's beret badge. Belonged to a decorated WO2.

Here's a beret that you probably haven't seen. Rhodesian Parachute Jump Instructors Beret to an officer of the Parachute Training School.