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 Established 1948 Total awards3,908 RelatedWar Medal 1939–1945 Ribbon bar
The Southern Rhodesia Service Medal 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.
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.
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.
A total of 3,908 medals were awarded, mainly to those who had served part-time: 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.
Description It is a circular, cupro-nickel medal, in diameter. 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). The reverse was designed by Humphrey Paget and shows the coat of arms of Southern Rhodesia, surrounded by the words "+ FOR SERVICE IN SOUTHERN RHODESIA + 1939-1945". The ribbon, wide, is beetle green with red and black stripes at each edge, the colours of the Rhodesia Regiment.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. The medal was issued unnamed.
Clasps There are no clasps for this medal
References