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The Rhodesia Medal Obverse The Rhodesia Medal Reverse

The Rhodesia Medal

Overview

The Rhodesia Medal was instituted in 1980 to recognise service in Rhodesia, prior to and during the independence elections.

On 23 and 25 December 1979, 74 New Zealand military personnel arrived in Rhodesia to serve as cease-fire monitors under the command of Colonel David Moloney, New Zealand Army. These personnel left the operational area on 5 March 1980 after the successful settlement of the Rhodesian dispute and the establishment of the independent state of Zimbabwe.

Description

The medal is silver in colour and circular in shape. The obverse bears the crowned bust of Queen Elizabeth II.  On the reverse is a sable antelope with the inscription ‘THE RHODESIA MEDAL 1980’.

The ribbon is sky-blue with thin central stripes of red, white and dark-blue.

There are no clasps or bars for this medal.

Eligibility

Specified service between 1 December 1979 and 20 March 1980.

For further information:

 The Institution of the Rhodesia Medal for Service in Rhodesia, December 1979 - 20 March 1980, issued August 1980 (PDF, 76 KB)

Queries & requests

  • Related publications

    For a detailed discussion of the involvement of New Zealand military personnel as part of the Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Rhodesia please consult John Crawford ̧ In The Field for Peace: New Zealand’s Contribution to International Peace-Support Operations: 1950-1995, published by the New Zealand Defence Force in 1996. See pages 24 to 26. This book is available in public libraries throughout New Zealand.

  • Wearing this medal

    The Rhodesia Medal is worn as a campaign medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear.  Campaign medals are worn in order of date of participation in the campaign, operation, or peacekeeping mission for which the medal was awarded.  This includes United Nations, NATO mission, and European Union mission medals.  As a result, different individuals may mount their medals in different orders depending on when they served in each theatre. 

    For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:

  • Applying for this medal

    NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) issues war, operational and service medals to current and former NZDF members.

    If you or someone you know may be eligible, you can apply through our application page.

    Apply for unclaimed medals

  • Checking if this medal was issued

    Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record.  NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.

    Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page. 

    Request a service record