The Silver Cross of Rhodesia was Rhodesia's second-highest military decoration for conspicuous gallantry.
| Silver Cross of Rhodesia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Military decoration |
| Awarded for | Conspicuous Gallantry |
| Country | Rhodesia |
| Post-nominals | SCR |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Established | 1970 |
| First awarded | 1974 |
| Last awarded | 1980 |
| Total | 34 |
| Total awarded posthumously | 3 (Martin Pearse SAS, Bruce Thompson 2RAR and Bruce Snelgar 1RLI) |
 Ribbon of the Silver Cross | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Conspicuous Gallantry Decoration |
| Next (lower) | Bronze Cross of Rhodesia |
It was the equivalent of the Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Conduct Medal and Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, with all ranks eligible.
Institution
editThe award was instituted in 1970 by Presidential Warrant, the first awards being made in 1974. The last awards were made in June 1980.
Medal
editThe medal was a sterling silver cross with an enamelled roundel in the centre bearing a lion's head, suspended from a ribbon woven half-red and half blue, with green edges and narrow white stripes at the inner edge of the green 
. The medal was impressed in small capitals with the recipient's name on the reverse, and was awarded with a case of issue, miniature medal for wear, and an illuminated certificate.
Recipients
editA total of 34 awards of the Silver Cross of Rhodesia were made,[1] three posthumously. Notable recipients included Martin Pearse, who was killed in Lusaka in 1979 during the attempted assassination by the Rhodesian SAS of the ZAPU insurgent leader Joshua Nkomo.
Robert C. MacKenzie was awarded the medal in 1979 for his role in commanding the Beira fuel depot attack.[2]
Recipients were entitled to the post-nominal letters SCR.
Zimbabwe
editThe Silver Cross of Rhodesia was superseded in October 1980[3] by the Silver Cross of Zimbabwe, which is also awarded for conspicuous bravery, but which is open for award to civilians as well as military personnel.
Notes
edit- ^ Rhodesia Medal Roll, p28
- ^ "Invisible Crimes" (PDF). Africa Policy Information Centre. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ Zimbabwe Government Statutory Instrument No. 677 of 1981, 14 September 1981.
References
edit- Pittaway, J, and Fourie, C., 2003. SAS Rhodesia, Dandy Agencies, South Africa. ISBN 0-620-29347-0
- Saffery, D., 2006. The Rhodesia Medal Roll, Jeppestown Press, United Kingdom. ISBN 0-9553936-0-4