The Grand Cross of Valour was
Rhodesia's highest
military decoration, awarded for conspicuous valour by members of the Security Forces in combat.
It was the equivalent of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, which it replaced, and was formerly conferred on Rhodesian soldiers prior to 1965.
Institution
The award was instituted in 1970 by Presidential Warrant, the first being made in 1978. The second and final investiture was in June 1980.
Medal
The medal was a 9 ct gold cross with an enamelled roundel in the centre bearing a
lion's head, hung from a V-shaped suspender from a scarlet ribbon woven with a central green stripe edged in white, with a gold stripe between the red and white. 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
Just two awards of the Grand Cross of Valour were made.
The first recipient was Acting Captain
Chris F. Schulenberg of the
Selous Scouts
The Selous Scouts was a special forces unit of the Rhodesian Army that operated during the Rhodesian Bush War from 1973 until the reconstitution of the country as Zimbabwe in 1980. It was mainly responsible for infiltrating the black majority ...
. Following the country's recognised independence as Zimbabwe in 1980, the Grand Cross of Valour was awarded to Major
Grahame Wilson , second-in-command of the
Rhodesian SAS
The Rhodesian Special Air Service or Rhodesian SAS was a Rhodesian special forces unit. It comprised:
*C Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment (Malayan Emergency (1951–1953)
*"C" Squadron (Rhodesian) Special Air Service (1961–1978)
*1 (Rho ...
, and Rhodesia's most highly decorated soldier.
Recipients were entitled to the
post-nominal
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, academic degree, accreditation, ...
letters G.C.V.
Zimbabwe
The Grand Cross of Valour was superseded in October 1980
by the
Gold Cross of Zimbabwe, which is presented for conspicuous bravery in perilous conditions, but which can be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel.
See also
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grand Cross Of Valour
Military awards and decorations of Rhodesia
Courage awards
1970 establishments in Rhodesia
1980 disestablishments in Zimbabwe
Awards established in 1970