3 BATTALION GUARD FORCE.
We have at this stage [ JAN 2015 ]
not much information about the unit and we are desperately looking for a former
soldier of this unit or any other information available. Even small bits and
pieces of information would help.
What do we know at this stage :
A/Comdt
Mark Axworthy , Officer Commanding RHQ “ F “ / MTOKO supplied
the following information :
3 BN was formed in mid 1979. It
went straight into a full infantry role in the second half of 1979, initially
in the Sub-JOC Mtoko area and from mid-1979 in other parts of Mashonaland. Its
HQ at Stamford Farm close to Salisbury was essentially administrative. The unit
consisted of six companies, independently deployed on active operations. I
don’t know if all companies were full operationally deployed. They were
organized and flexible deployed in much the same way as the BSAP Support Unit .
Each company had four platoons, one of each was always on R&R on a
six-weeks-on, two- weeks off cycle, thereby allowing the company to remain
permanently in the field. Each company was fully motorized, including at least
three Crocodiles, a Puma flatback, a Kudu X and a Land Rover. Weaponry now
included a full issue of lMG MAGs, 60 mm Commando Mortars, 42Z rifle grenades,
hand grenades etc.. Communications by using A-76 radios.
When the unit was formed in 1979,
it had triangular penants screen printed for each of its six companies.
3 BN was the model for future
Guard Force development. At the end of 1979 the majority of the Guard Force was
deployed on Farm Protection. A new policy was to be introduced for a structured
farm militia to be trained and equipped by the BSAP using farm labourers. This
would release the Guard Force soldiers deployed on Farm Protection for an
infantry role. For example, at the ceasefire AHQ “ F “ had been partly replaced
by the new farm militia in the Mtoko / Mrewa area and was due to become the
first Farm Protection Unit fully converted to an infantry role.
The plan was to create a total of
eight Infantry Battalions by converting the five RHQs into five additional
infantry battalions, but the ceasefire prevented any further move in this
direction.
This would have made an all
Infantry trained, equipped and structured Guard Force consisting of eight
Infantry Battalions little distinguishable
from the diluted RAR of eight Battalions under consideration by late
1979 or the eight Battalions of RR, which were largely manned by soldiers by
the same date. The logical conclusion would have been to absorb Guard Force
into the Rhodesian Army.
Symbolic of this new infantry role
was a sleeve badge [ not mentioned in any of the Rhodesian uniform books ].
This was designed, approved and ordered in late 1979 and the first sample was
received in early 1980.. However it was never introduced because of the end of
the War. It was to be the same size and shape as the Rhodesian Army “ Lion and
Pick “ flash worn in the same place. Its background field was to be horizontal
brown/red/brown stripes like the Guard Force stablebelt and its device was top
be a vertical, yellow, Roman sword with “ IV “ on its hilt. The design of the
sword was to be the same as on the “ Bastion “ cap badge. However, the
crenelated tower found on the “ Bastion “ cap badge was no longer to be used.
This was symbolic of Guard Force’s
move from a defensive protective function to a more offensive Infantry role.
At the same time a pullover of Army pattern, but in the same neutral brown colour
as INTAFs V-neck pullovers was trialled.
The above contribution by A/Comdt
Mark Axworthy is based on his experiences,
knowledge and access to the monthly Commander’s Conferences were such
issues were discussed. Like most of our articles on our website we cannot back up all inputs with some official
documentation and must therefore rely on the memories of our former Guard
Force soldiers. It is therefore very important that we can get input from other
Guard Force soldiers to confirm, add on , delete or correct previous inputs.
Other informations
confirmed by documents :
OPS ORDER OP QUARTZ [ OP THRASHER ] 27 FEB 1980:
3 BN C-COY Odzi area
3 BN E-COY
Wedza
3 BN D-COY Chipinga / Rusape /
Wedza to protect European Farming Area Wedza / Marandellas.
LIST OF COMMANDERS
COMMENDATIONs :
Comdt R H Atkinson 3 BN
D-COY
Comdt D M Campbell
3 BN F-COY.
