The Independence Decoration was a

Rhodesia Rhodesia ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state, unrecognised state in Southern Africa that existed from 1965 to 1979. Rhodesia served as the ''de facto'' Succession of states, successor state to the ...

civil decoration Civil awards and decorations are awarded to civilians for distinguished service or for eminence in a field of endeavour. Military personnel might also be eligible for services of a non-military nature. There are various forms of civil awards and de ...

awarded to persons who played a notable and significant part in the

Unilateral Declaration of Independence A unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) or "unilateral secession" is a formal process leading to the establishment of a new state by a subnational entity which declares itself independent and sovereign without a formal agreement with the ...

in 1965.

Institution

The award was instituted in 1970 by Presidential Warrant, the first awards being made the same year.

Medal

The medal was a

sterling silver Sterling silver is an alloy composed mass fraction (chemistry), by weight of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver silver standards, standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. ''Fineness, Fine silver'' ...

circular medal worn on the breast. The obverse bore the arms of Rhodesia and the legend RHODESIA INDEPENDENCE ELEVENTH NOVEMBER 1965, while the reverse was blank. The medal was impressed in small capitals with the recipient's name on the rim, and was awarded with a case of issue, miniature medal for wear, and an illuminated certificate. The ribbon consisted of five equal stripes, green, white, gold, white, green. When the ribbon alone was worn, it bore a green rosette to distinguish it from the Independence Commemorative Decoration.

Recipients

29 awards of the Independence Decoration were made between 1970 and 1979. Twenty-eight awards were made in November 1970 to

Rhodesian Front The Rhodesian Front (RF) was a conservative political party in Southern Rhodesia, subsequently known as Rhodesia. Formed in March 1962 by white Rhodesians opposed to decolonisation and majority rule, it won that December's general election and s ...

politicians including P. K. van der Byl,

Des Lardner-Burke Desmond William Lardner-Burke (17 October 19091984) was a Rhodesian lawyer and politician. Early years Desmond Lardner-Burke was born in Kimberley in the Cape of Good Hope on 17 October 1909, and was educated at St. Andrew's College, Grahamst ...

and the other ten signatories of the

. No further medals were given out until April 1979, when an award was made to

Ken Flower Kenneth Flower , ID (30 June 1914 – 2 September 1987) was a Rhodesian police officer and intelligence chief. Biography Flower was born in Cornwall, England. After war service in British Somaliland and Ethiopia he returned to Rhodesia in ...

, the Head of the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organization. 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, an academic degree, accreditation ...

letters: ID.

List of recipients

* Frank Eric Barfoot, CBE *

Thomas Arnoldus Theron Bosman Thomas Arnoldus Theron Bosman, Legion of Merit (Rhodesia), GLM, Independence Decoration, ID, Queen's Counsel, QC (born 20 February 1912) was a Rhodesia, Rhodesian civil servant. He served as Solicitor general, Solicitor-General, Attorney-General fr ...

, QC * Noel Hugh Botha Bruce * Avon Montgomery Bruce-Brand, CBE * The Honourable Pieter Kenyon Fleming-Voltelyn van der Byl, MP * Gerald Bryan Clarke, CMG, ISO * The Honourable Ian Birt Dillon, MP * Brigadier The Honourable Andrew Dunlop, DSO * The Honourable Clifford Walter Dupont * The Honourable The Duke of Montrose * Sir Cornelius Greenfield, KBE, CMG * Senator The Honourable

Phillip van Heerden Phillip van Heerden, ID (born 19 January 1914) was a Rhodesian politician and farmer. He served as Minister of Lands, Minister of Mines, Minister of Natural Resources, Minister of Water Development, and Minister without Portfolio. Born in Klerksd ...

* The Honourable John Hartley Howman, MP * Lieutenant-Colonel William MacPherson Knox * The Honourable Desmond William Lardner-Burke, MP * The Honourable

Ian Finlay McLean Ian Finlay McLean, ID (born April 1919) was a Rhodesian politician. Born in Bulawayo, McLean was educated at Milton School. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United K ...

, MP * Senator

Stanley Ernest Morris Stanley Ernest 'Stan' Morris, GLM, ID, CMG was a Rhodesian civil servant and politician. He was Secretary for Internal Affairs until 1964, when he was replaced by Hostes Nicolle and appointed chairman of the Public Service Board, in a move perceived ...

, CMG * The Honourable Bernard Horace Mussett, MP * Senator Chief M. Mzimuni * William Hostes Herault Nicolle, OBE * Leo Cardwell Ross, MBE * The Honourable George Wilburn Rudland * The Honourable

Arthur Philip Smith Arthur is a masculine given name of uncertain etymology. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. A common spelling variant used in many Slavic, Romance, and Germanic languages is Artur. In Spanish and Ital ...

, MP *

Edgar Anthony Tweedie Smith Edgar is a commonly used masculine English given name, from an Anglo-Saxon name ''Edgar'' (composed of '' ead'' "rich, prosperous" and ''gar'' "spear"). Like most Anglo-Saxon names, it fell out of use by the Late Middle Ages; it was, however, ...

, QC * The Honourable

Ian Douglas Smith Ian Douglas Smith (8 April 191920 November 2007) was a Rhodesian politician, farmer, and fighter pilot who served as Prime Minister of Rhodesia (known as Southern Rhodesia until October 1964 and now known as Zimbabwe) from 1964 to 1979. He w ...

, MP * The Honourable Lance Bales Smith, MP * The Honourable John James Wrathall, MP * Chief Zwimba, MBE * Kenneth Flower

References

*Saffery, D., 2006. ''The Rhodesia Medal Roll''
Jeppestown Press
United Kingdom, {{ISBN, 0-9553936-0-4

External links

Orders, decorations, and medals of Rhodesia