Orders, decorations, and medals of Rhodesia

The Rhodesian honours system was established at the time that Rhodesia unilaterally declared itself a republic in March 1970, when a system of military and civil decorations and awards was instituted by Presidential Warrant in November 1970.[1]

Prior to 2 March 1970, Rhodesians were conferred awards in the British honours system.

List of honours

The list of Rhodesian honours and decorations, in order of precedence, is as follows:

Caption
Name Postnominal Civilian
Ribbon		 Military / Police
Ribbon		 Service
Grand Cross of Valour GCV - Grand Cross of Valour (Rhodesia) GCV ALL
Conspicuous Gallantry Decoration CGD - Conspicuous Gallantry Decoration CGD Civilian
Grand Commander of the Legion of Merit GCLM Legion of Merit GCLM None Awarded Both
Grand Officer of the Legion of Merit GLM Legion of Merit GLM Legion of Merit GLM Both
Independence Decoration ID Independence Decoration ID - Civilian
Independence Commemorative Decoration ICD Independence Commemorative Decoration ICD - Civilian
Commander of the Legion of Merit CLM Legion of Merit CLM Legion of Merit CLM Both
Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry PCG - Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry PCG Police
Silver Cross of Rhodesia SCR - Silver Cross of Rhodesia SCR Military
Prison Cross for Gallantry RPC - Prison Cross for Gallantry RPC Military
Officer of the Legion of Merit OLM Legion of Merit OLM Legion of Merit OLM Both
Member of the Legion of Merit MLM Legion of Merit MLM Legion of Merit MLM Both
Police Decoration for Gallantry PDG - Police Decoration for Gallantry PDG Police
Bronze Cross of Rhodesia (Army) BCR - Bronze Cross of Rhodesia BCR Military
Bronze Cross of Rhodesia (Airforce) BCR - Bronze Cross of Rhodesia BCR Military
Bronze Cross of Rhodesia (Guards) BCR - Bronze Cross of Rhodesia BCR Military
Police Cross for Distinguished Service PCD - Police Cross for Distinguished Service PCD Police
Defence Cross for Distinguished Service DCD - Defence Cross for Distinguished Service DCD Military
Rhodesia Prison Cross for Distinguished Service PSC - Prison Cross for Distinguished Service PSC Prison
Meritorious Conduct Medal MCM - Meritorious Conduct Medal MCM Military
Rhodesia Prison Medal for Gallantry RPM - Prison Medal for Gallantry RPM Prison
Medal for Meritorious Service MSM Medal for Meritorious Service MSM Medal for Meritorious Service MSM Both
Police Medal for Meritorious Service PMM - Police Medal for Meritorious Service PMM Police
Defence Forces' Medal for Meritorious Service DMM - Defence Forces' Medal for Meritorious Service DMM Military
Rhodesia Prison Medal for Meritorious Service PMS - Prison Medal for Meritorious Service PMS Prison
President's Medal for Chiefs[2] - President's Medal for Chiefs - Chiefs
President's Medal for Headmen - President's Medal for Headmen - Chiefs
Military Forces' Commendation - - Military Forces' Commendation RMFC Military
Director’s Commendation (Prisons) - - Director’s Commendation (Prisons) Prison
Police Long Service Medal (Rhodesia) - - Police Long Service Medal Police
Exemplary Service Medal ESM - Exemplary Service Medal ESM ALL
Prison Long Service Medal (Rhodesia) - - Prison Long Service Medal Prison
Police Reserve Long Service Medal (Rhodesia) - - Police Reserve Long Service Medal XX
Medal for Territorial or Reserve Service - - Medal for Territorial or Reserve Service Military
Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Rhodesia) - - Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal Fire Brigade
Rhodesia Badge of Honour - Rhodesia Badge of Honour Rhodesia Badge of Honour ALL
President’s Medal for Shooting Pres MS - President’s Medal for Shooting (Rhodesia) Pres MS ALL
General Service Medal - - General Service Medal Police
General Service Medal - - General Service Medal Military
Prison General Service Medal - - Prison General Service Medal Prison
Rhodesian District Service Medal - Rhodesian District Service Medal[a] - INTAF

Details and recipients

Around 12,000 awards were given out between 1970 and 1981. The last Rhodesian gallantry awards were awarded in June 1980,[1] three months after Zimbabwe's independence. However, Rhodesian long-service decorations continued to be given to police officers and service personnel until June 1982.[3]

The most highly decorated soldier in the Rhodesian Army was Major Grahame Wilson, second-in-command of the Rhodesian SAS, who was awarded the Grand Cross of Valour, Silver Cross of Rhodesia and Bronze Cross of Rhodesia.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Department of Internal Affairs (INTAF)

References

  1. ^ a b Rhodesia Medal Roll, p7
  2. ^ "President's Medal for Chiefs". Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. ^ Rhodesia Medal Roll, p8
  4. ^ SAS Rhodesia, p283
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