Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service
| Southern Rhodesia Service Medal | |
|---|---|
Obverse and reverse of the medal
| |
| Awarded by UK and Commonwealth | |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | Southern Rhodesia Defence Forces |
| Awarded for | Campaign service |
| Campaign | Home service, 1939 –1945 |
| Description | Cupro-nickel, 36mm diameter |
| Clasps | None |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1948 |
| Total awards | 3,908 |
| Related | War Medal 1939–1945 |
 | |
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal[1] 1939–1945 was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth. It was awarded to members of the Southern Rhodesia Defence Forces for home service during World War II.
Eligibility
[edit]After the war, the colony's government pressed the Dominions Office in London for a distinct Southern Rhodesian war medal for home service, to reward those who would otherwise not have received a campaign medal. In response, the Southern Rhodesia Service Medal was authorised in 1948 and distributed from 1949.[2]
The medal was awarded to members of the Southern Rhodesian Defence Forces who had at least six months full or part-time service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945, and who were not eligible for any other British World War II campaign medal.[2]
- A total of 3,908 medals were awarded, mainly to those who had served part-time:[3]
- Southern Rhodesia Territorial Force: 3,140
- British South Africa Police Reservists: 497
- Those who served with both bodies: 271
While most of the recipients were white, 62 Africans serving with the British South Africa Police received the medal.[3]
Description
[edit]- It is a circular, cupro-nickel medal, 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter.[4]
- The obverse has the crowned effigy of King George VI facing left, with the legend "GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE IMP." (George VI by the grace of God King of Great Britain and Emperor of India).[4]
- The reverse was designed by Humphrey Paget[2] and shows the coat of arms of Southern Rhodesia, surrounded by the words "+ FOR SERVICE IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA + 1939-1945".[4]
- The ribbon, 31.7 millimetres (1.25 in) wide, is beetle green with red and black stripes at each edge, the colours of the Rhodesia Regiment.[2]
- The medal was issued unnamed.[5]
Clasps
[edit]There are no clasps for this medal
References
[edit]- ^ ""The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal" was the official title of the award, see London Gazette: 2 July 1949, issue: 38663, page:3404".
- ^ a b c d Giles Penman. A medal for those without any medals: the Southern Rhodesia Service Medal 1939-45. Orders & Medals Research Society Journal, December 2016, pp 260-264.
- ^ a b Munday and Keith. The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal Roll to the Defence Forces of the Colony of Southern Rhodesia. p. 174. Published by the authors. 2011.
- ^ a b c Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. British Battles and Medals. p. 257. Published Spink, London. 1988.
- ^ John Mussell (ed). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 194. Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.
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