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.
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]
Descriptionedit
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 Southern Rhodesia Service Medal" was the official title of the award, see London Gazette: 2 July 1949, issue: 38663, page:3404".
^ abcdGiles 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.
^ abMunday 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.
^ abcJoslin, 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.
January 01, 1970
southern, rhodesia, medal, service, southern, rhodesia, service, medal, 1939, 1945, campaign, medal, british, commonwealth, awarded, members, southern, rhodesia, defence, forces, home, service, during, world, southern, rhodesia, service, medal, obverse, revers. 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 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 Ribbon bar Contents 1 Eligibility 2 Description 3 Clasps 4 ReferencesEligibility editAfter 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 editIt 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 editThere are no clasps for this medalReferences 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 amp 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service amp oldid 1170231190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
