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
NamePostnominalCivilian
Ribbon		Military / Police
Ribbon		Service
Grand Cross of ValourGCV-Grand Cross of Valour (Rhodesia) GCV ALL
Conspicuous Gallantry DecorationCGD-Conspicuous Gallantry Decoration CGD Military
Grand Commander of the Legion of MeritGCLMLegion of Merit GCLM None AwardedBoth
Grand Officer of the Legion of MeritGLMLegion of Merit GLM Legion of Merit GLM Both
Independence DecorationIDIndependence Decoration ID -Civilian
Independence Commemorative DecorationICDIndependence Commemorative Decoration ICD -Civilian
Commander of the Legion of MeritCLMLegion of Merit CLM Legion of Merit CLM Both
Police Cross for Conspicuous GallantryPCG-Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry PCG Police
Silver Cross of RhodesiaSCR-Silver Cross of Rhodesia SCR Military
Prison Cross for GallantryRPC-Prison Cross for Gallantry RPC Military
Officer of the Legion of MeritOLMLegion of Merit OLM Legion of Merit OLM Both
Member of the Legion of MeritMLMLegion of Merit MLM Legion of Merit MLM Both
Police Decoration for GallantryPDG-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 ServicePCD-Police Cross for Distinguished Service PCD Police
Defence Cross for Distinguished ServiceDCD-Defence Cross for Distinguished Service DCD Military
Rhodesia Prison Cross for Distinguished ServicePSC-Prison Cross for Distinguished Service PSC Prison
Meritorious Conduct MedalMCM-Meritorious Conduct Medal MCM Military
Rhodesia Prison Medal for GallantryRPM-Prison Medal for Gallantry RPM Prison
Medal for Meritorious ServiceMSMMedal for Meritorious Service MSM Medal for Meritorious Service MSM Military
Police Medal for Meritorious ServicePMM-Police Medal for Meritorious Service PMM Police
Defence Forces' Medal for Meritorious ServiceDMM-Defence Forces' Medal for Meritorious Service DMM Military
Rhodesia Prison Medal for Meritorious ServicePMS-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 MedalESM-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 ShootingPres 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 ' [lower-alpha 1]-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. 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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