Rhodesia Medal
Conflict
Peace Keeping Service In Rhodesia 1979 - 1980.
Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.
History
The Rhodesia Medal was a British campaign medal presented for peace keeping service in Rhodesia. The medal was instituted in 1980 by the British Government in consultation with Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Kenya, and was awarded to those who took part in 'Operation AGILA', ('Operation MIDFORD' for the New Zealand forces).
The role of the multi-national force was to keep peace between 22,000 guerrilla fighters and the Rhodesian forces during the ceasefire run-up to the 1980 elections.
The medal is awarded for service of at least 14 days between 1 December 1979 and 20 March 1980, to members of the military and police forces, as well as eligible civilians, who participated in the lead-up to Zimbabwean independence.
Description
The medal is circular, 36mm in diameter and was struck in rhodium plated cupro-nickel. The obverse of this medal bears the crowned effigy of Queen Elizabeth II and the inscription; ‘ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID. DEF.’ (meaning Elizabeth II, by the grace of God, Queen and Defender of the Faith).
The reverse of the medal depicts a sable antelope surrounded by the inscription; ‘THE RHODESIA MEDAL’ and the year; ‘1980’.
The ribbon suspender is of a plain, straight and non-swivelling style attached to a fastening that surmounts the medal.
The recipient's details can be found on the medal's rim impressed in capital letters. Some were issued un-named.
Ribbon
The ribbon is 32mm wide and sky-blue in colour with three central vertical stripes of red, white and blue.
Bars/Clasps
None were authorised for this medal, but a single bronze oak leaf emblem was issued to be worn on the ribbon to signify that the recipient had been ‘Mentioned in Dispatches’.
Further relevant historical context can be found at the foot of this entry.
Dealer Retail Value *
Rhodesia Medal **
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£475.00
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For valuations for medals attached to an attributable group please ‘contact us’.
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* It should be noted that the values quoted above reflect the average price that a medal dealer may expect to sell this medal for - please see the ‘things you should know’ web page for more details about valuing medals.
** The individual medal value will vary considerably based on the recipient’s details.
Further Historical Context
This section contains information on:-
- The Rhodesian Bush War.
The Rhodesian Bush War - The Rhodesian Bush War - also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation - was a civil war that took place from July 1964 to December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia (latterly Zimbabwe Rhodesia).
The conflict pitted three forces against one another: the Rhodesian government, under Ian Smith (later the Zimbabwe Rhodesian government of Bishop Abel Muzorewa); the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, the military wing of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union; and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army of Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union.
The war and its subsequent Internal Settlement, signed in 1978 by Smith and Muzorewa, led to the implementation in June 1979 of universal suffrage and end of white minority rule in Rhodesia, which was renamed Zimbabwe Rhodesia under a black majority government. However, this new order failed to win international recognition and the war continued.
Negotiations between the government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, the British government and Mugabe and Nkomo's united "Patriotic Front" took place at Lancaster House, London in December 1979, and the Lancaster House Agreement was signed.
The country returned temporarily to British control and new elections were held under British and Commonwealth supervision in March 1980 (Operations AGILA and MITFORD in the case of the New Zealand operation). ZANU won the election and Mugabe became the first Prime Minister of Zimbabwe on 18 April 1980, when the country achieved internationally-recognised independence.