Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service

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.

Southern Rhodesia Service Medal

Obverse and reverse of the medal
Awarded by UK and Commonwealth
TypeCampaign medal
EligibilitySouthern Rhodesia Defence Forces
Awarded forCampaign service
CampaignHome service, 1939 –1945
DescriptionCupro-nickel, 36mm diameter
ClaspsNone
Statistics
Established1948
Total awards3,908
RelatedWar Medal 1939–1945
Ribbon bar

Eligibility

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]

While most of the recipients were white, 62 Africans serving with the British South Africa Police received the medal.[3]

Description
  • 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

There are no clasps for this medal

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References
  1. ""The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal" was the official title of the award, see London Gazette: 2 July 1949, issue: 38663, page:3404".
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Joslin, Litherland and Simpkin. British Battles and Medals. p. 257. Published Spink, London. 1988.
  5. John Mussell (ed). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 194. Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon.
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