Orders, decorations, and medals of Rhodesia facts for kids
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.
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:
| 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 | - |  |
- | 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 | - |  |
- | 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, three months after Zimbabwe's independence. However, Rhodesian long-service decorations continued to be given to police officers and service personnel until June 1982.
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.
See also
- Orders, decorations, and medals of Zimbabwe
