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

• Orders, decorations, and medals of Zimbabwe

Notes

1. Department of Internal Affairs (INTAF)