The extract from a paper kept in the British Commonwealth Museum in England describes the following Guard Force awards : · Commanders Commendation · Successful Contact Badge A copy of the paper was made available by the Historian / Collector Mr. Craig Fourie . Successful Contact Badge : This badge was awarded to members who had been in a successful contact in the operational areas that resulted in enemy kills, or for a specifically enemy kill. This badge is made out of brass, oblong in shape, with the Guard Force colours painted on and a Roman sword stamped onto the centre of the badge. Both the sword and colours run horizontally. This badge when awarded, is worn on the right breast of the uniform. (a picture of this badge is depicted at the end of this article)
The following list of names of Guard Force soldiers who have been awarded the COMMANDER COMMENDATION and / or the SUCCESSFUL COMBAT BADGE has been provided by the Military Historian and Collector Mr. Craig Fourie. Commander’s Commendation : 118614 Sgt Ahrens JH GFRD
/ Chikurubi / Signals Squadron Cit.Ref (Right) 009799A Guard Alfeyo S Group 7 / Mudzi / Shinga 10 008251S Guard Alikajelo V Mrewa / Mtoko 3 020202V Comdt Atkinson RH 3 BN / Delta C 73 A/Comdt Axworthy M Area HQ F / Mtoko 75 054534A Guard Bobo T Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 65 082057R Comdt Campbell DM 3 BN / Foxtrot Coy 74 089293G Guard Chade AT 3 BN / Delta Coy 69 079858B Sgt Chagiya AT Regional HQ A / Bindura 26 091586Z Sgt Chakauya S Regional HQ A / Bindura 092740D Guard Chamanga R Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 094295T Sgt Chamunorwa G Group 4 / Honde 095609X Guard Changa S Regional HQ D / Khami [ Bulawayo ] 106123A Guard Chidwawaya T Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 125508W Guard Chiriseri G Regional HQ D / Khami [ Bulawayo ] 163490F Guard Dandawa J Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 103884B Sgt De Beer ZT Regional HQ A / Bindura / Shamva 183373S Guard Dingizulu E Mrewa / Mtoko 200456L Guard Durura Humani Ranch 237893D Cpl Fosi F 3 BN / Delta Coy 074092T Sgt Fox RH Group 7 / Mudzi / Shinga 251754V Guard Gariba N Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 251756X Guard Gariba O Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 265859B J/Cpl Gombe L 289120K Guard Hamandawana GD Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 295018W Guard Harrison M Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 300758K Guard Hazvizikani M Area HQ D-3 / Gwanda 351347Z Guard Jakonya L Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 335131H Guard Jarada C Group 3 / Chiredzi 365735M J/Cpl Kalinganiza K Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 369635B A/Sgt Kanongovere R Group 4 / Honde / A-Coy 387823W Guard Kindone E Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 070501 KC Lyons S Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 457542C Guard Magigwana S Regional HQ A / Bindura 474077A A/Sgt Mamberi T Regional HQ A / Bindura 511985E Guard Matariro R Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 513842Y Guard Mathe Humani Ranch 519358T Sgt Maurer KR Group 4 / Honde / Mutasa 562316M Guard Mose K Regional HQ C / Mashaba 583269M Guard Muchemwa M Regional HQ C / Mashaba 584337Y Guard Muchinapaya L Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 585716X Sgt Mudau R 3 BN / Delta Coy 601314B Guard Munganga C Area/Regional HQ M /Marandellas 602197L Guard Munhuwani L Regional HQ E / Gwelo 605111D Guard Munyonga C Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 490724V Guard Mupuma V Area HQ B-3 / Chipinga 608345T Guard Marambiwa Area HQ B-3 / Chipinga 624602P Guard Mutimuri EF Area HQ B-3 / Chipinga 624678X Cpl Mutimvi M 639635J Cpl Natali S Area/Regional HQ M /Marandellas 686889S Guard Nazvigo AT Group 1 / Madziwa [ Bindura ] 126423Q KC Neves JA Regional HQ A / Bindura 665029G Guard Ngwere G Group 6 / Mtoko 670394N Sgt Njonjo J Group 4 / Honde / Keep No. 3 676600J Guard Ntiwa W Regional HQ C / Fort Victoria 681415S J/Cpl Nyamayevu J 694212C Guard Owymo L Group 7 / Mudzi / Shinga 698896T Guard Pambura AT Regional HQ D / Khami [Bulawayo] 713321Y Guard Perei AT Regional HQ B / Umtali 741474Z Guard Rasawa B Regional HQ E / Gwelo 770174V Guard Ruzvidzo N Group 8 / Beitbridge 777856V Guard Sanangurayi W Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 800145X Guard Siamanga Area HQ C-2 / Nuanetsi 813424 A/Sgt Singano M GFRD / Chikurubi 853562J Guard Takawira AT 3 BN / Delta Coy 855958N Guard Tamboneyi J Regional HQ E / Gwelo 870033M Guard Tazvinza J Group 8 / Beitbridge 881425V Cpl Ticharwa N Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 883206 Guard Tima E Group 8 / Beitbridge 897889Q Guard Tsikira P Mrewa / Mtoko 901306E Guard Tuta M Group 8 / Beitbridge 947414X WO2 Wilson KA GFRD / Chikurubi 960087X J/Cpl Zava M Group 8 / Beitbridge 966034L Sgt Ziwire K Area/Regional HQ M / Marandellas 966490G WO Zondiwe P Group 8 / Beitbridge The following soldiers of the above list were additionally awarded the Successful Combat Badge [ SCB ] : Guard Alfeyo S Guard Durura Sgt Fox RH Guard Hazvizikani M Guard Mathe Guard Munyonga C Cpl Mutimwi M J/Cpl Nyamayevu J Guard Owyimo L Guard Pereti AT Guard Siamanga WO Zondiwe P
RHODESIAN GUARD FORCE - AWARDS There are two awards, Guard Force specific : · Commander’s Commendation : Awarded by the Commander Guard Force as acknowledgment for distinguished service and devotion to duty. · Successful Contact Badge : Awarded by the Commander Guard Force to soldiers of the Rhodesian Guard Force who have been involved in a contact resulting in the death of CTs. The following data is an extract of : Force Orders by Commander W.A. Godwin OLM, DMM, OBE Nos 18-22, Serial No 9, dated 25 April 1979 A copy of this Force Orders was preserved and handed over by Sgt J Winkler in 2015. SUCCESSFUL CONTACT BADGE : The following list spells out Force number, Rank, Name, Date and place of Contact. Kaunye / Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 02 Nov 1978 161243N Guard Dabis A. 479553C Guard Mangena N. 585331D Guard Mudadi J. 646059M Guard Ndali K . 791431R Guard Shamu B. 889892Y Guard Thomas T. 963089K A/Cpl Zipesho J. Kawazwa / Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 24 Oct 1978 223189T Guard Pani I. 243783F Guard Friday L. 376938P Guard Kaurayi S. 475855H Guard Mande M. 601780L A/J/Cpl Mungoza P. 628627P A/J/Cpl Muviringi S. 764026M Guard Rozwa G. Nyamazuwe / Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 16 Feb 1979 278271S Guard Guduburo C. 325823E Guard Hwata F. 383937Z Guard Kenneth C. 366083P Guard Kanakembizi W. 599093K Guard Mumba J. 605320F Guard Munyuki J. 637928Z Guard Naison I. 684866T Guard Nyathi C. 776098J Guard Samson F. 870064W Guard Tasvivingira S. 915395T Guard Veru P. Uzumba / Mtoko / Mrewa / OP Hurricane - 09 Mar 1979 181231P J/Cpl Diba I. 161243N Guard Dabis A. 181380B Guard Dibiya M. 185279P A/Cpl Dlulumuteto B. 201423H A/J/Cpl Dzafunwa B. 359848N Guard Josiah E. 378365Q Guard Kayomgo OL. 425882P A/Cpl Lucas M. 463278M Guard Majoni C. 467922K Guard Makoni C. 538210K J/Cpl Mhindwa WS. 540806G Guard Mhuru L. 585331P Guard Mudadi J. 607567Y Cpl Mupuwa K. 611456A Guard Muronzi R. 678895D Guard Nyahuma P. 688819D A/Cpl Nyoni G. 805236P Cpl Sibanda T. 817402E Guard Soweto B. 853974G Guard Takawira T. 860064D Guard Tasvivingira S. 966951H Guard Zulu P. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 11 Jan 1979 120004N Cpl Perkins S. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 06 Feb 1979 869586B Jnr/Comdt Taylor P. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 16 Feb 1979 - 09 Mar 1979 234331C Comdt Flanagan D. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 22 Feb 1979 124041X Jnr/Comdt II Van der Walt C.P. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 09 Mar 1979 738907J Asst Comdt Ralston B. 154217B Sgt Cranston D.J. 121779S Sgt Childs J. 124526D Cpl Van Wyk J. 121926C Cpl Corke D.S. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 16 Mar 1979 751113B Jnr Comdt II Rigby S.A.C. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 22 Mar 1979 235779F Asst Comdt Fogarty G. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 28 Mar 1979 147939C Sgt Dutoit Cook J . Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 29 Mar 1979 197343C Sgt Dubus J. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 31 Mar 1979 948920W Sgt Winkler J. Mtoko / OP Hurricane - 05 Apr 1979 119256A Cpl Bryer S. The above mentioned Successful Contact Badges were awarded during the transition period of Guard Force when we changed from being responsible for the protection of Protected Villages to the more offensive COIN Infantry role. The unit involved was GP 6 MTOKO under Comdt D Flanagan [ Australian] . At
this stage we don’t have a complete list of all SCBs awarded to our soldiers. An example of the SCB badge is shown below (from the collection of the late John Radford, ex Asst Cmmdt, Rhodesian Guard Force. 
Namelist of members of the Rhodesian Guard Force who were awarded Honours or Awards by the President of Rhodesia . The list does not include members, who , while serving with other elements of the Rhodesian Security Forces , received Honours or Awards before the 01 February 1976, the date when Guard Force was officially gazetted as an autonomous Force under the Ministry of Defence . The namelist is extracted from the book “ David Saffery, Rhodesia Medal Roll - Honours and Decorations of the Rhodesian Conflict 1970 – 1981 “, published by Jeppestown Press, London 2006. Inevitably this list may contain errors and any corrections will be appreciated. Officer of the Legion of Merit [ O.L.M. ] For distinguished service to Rhodesia. 11 November 1978 Brigadier W.A . Godwin The Member of the Legion of Merit [ M.L.M. ] For distinguished service to Rhodesia. 15 September 1978 Comdt R. Hallack 13 April 1979 Comdt J.D. Flannagan 07 December 1979 861137S Snr Comdt R.O.Tarr The Bronze Cross of Rhodesia [ B.C.R. ] For gallantry. 09 June 1978 KC T.H.E. Henwood 13 April 1979 KC S.A.C. Rigby 30 November 1979 791548C Guard T. Shamu The Meritorious Conduct Medal [ M.C.M. ] For brave and gallant conduct in a non-combatant capacity. 09 March 1979 315708K J/Cpl R. Hombasha 30 November 1979 004308G KC T.G. Johnson 950389B KC O. Mugany 07 December 1979 780004E Guard K.L. Santi The Defence Force Medal for Meritorious Service [ D.M.M. ] For meritorious service. 11 November 1978 Snr Comdt C.P. Craig Snr Comdt V.T. Bratton Comdt R. Coleman Comdt N.D. Langdale Comdt K. Williams 13 April 1979 Snr Comdt H.J. McKenzie-Fraser 07 December 1979 321670X Snr Comdt J.H.B. Hughes 5107152 Asst Comdt S. Matambo 558185X Asst Comdt I.J.J. Moore 667776 Comdt C.R. Nicholls The Military Forces’ Commendation For an act of bravery, distinguished service or continuous devotion to duty. Operational 09 June 1978 Cpl N. Chidizingwa A/Cpl E.R. Matashu 11 November 1978 Jnr Comdt L.W. Sowden 13 April 1979 KC S.C. O’Brien Sgt B.N. Ralston A/J/Cpl T. Mujere 25 May 1979 Comdt B.G. Abrahams [ RO ] 07 December 1979 A/Snr Comdt H. Schobesberger Non – Operational 11 November 1977 Asst Comdt L.O.W. Nelmes 13 April 1979 Asst Comdt E.C. Wilde WO1 A. Jubane 07 December 1979 630659Y S/Sgt G. Muzara 060004P Comdt C.H. Bower
Rhodesia General Service Medal [R.G.S.M. ] Awarded for service on operations undertaken for the purpose of combating terrorist or enemy incursions into Rhodesia. Recipients had to qualify for one or more of the following to be eligible : · After completion of initial training, have served in the Security Forces or in any other military force for periods amounting in the aggregate to at least 91 days; OR · Have completed an aggregate of 14 days’ operational service in the Security Forces or any other military force OR · were engaged in active combat or was in close contact with terrorists or the enemy. Awards were not gazetted and no full roll of recipients has ever been published. It can be assumed that the majority of Guard Force soldiers were eligible to receive this award.
The official Commanders Commendations in the adjacent column have been kindly provided by Mr. Craig Fourie. | Commanders Commendation : First awarded 8th December 1978 and by 2nd June 1980, 73 Commanders Commendation awards have been made. The images below records these commendations in detail. A fair number of commendations resulted from unsolicited submissions from the Civil Sector. On receipt of the commander’s commendation, a badge was issued to the recipient and was worn on the right breast. The badge was oblong, made out of brass plate, with the Guard Force colours of two brown stripes with a red stripe in between running horizontally. The Guard Force badge is stamped onto the centre of the badge, The certificate is printed onto white bond paper with red edging, wording is in black and the Guard Force badge in gold.                                       KC Eddie Mendes Commendation |
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