The Meritorious Conduct Medal 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 ...
n
military decoration
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.
Civil decorations award ...
for brave and gallant conduct.
Institution
The award was instituted in 1970 by Presidential Warrant, the first awards being made the same year. The last awards were made in December 1979.
Medal
The medal was a medal whose obverse was identical to the relief portrait of
Cecil Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes ( ; 5 July 185326 March 1902) was an English-South African mining magnate and politician in southern Africa who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. He and his British South Africa Company founded th ...
on the
Rhodesian General Service Medal but struck in bronze rather than cupro-nickel, with a blank reverse. The ribbon was purple. The medal was impressed in small capitals with the recipient's name on the rim, and was awarded with a case of issue and miniature medal for wear.
Recipients
A total of 93 awards of the Meritorious Conduct Medal were made, thirteen posthumously. Notable recipients included
* The city of Umtali (now
Mutare
Mutare, formerly known as Umtali until 1982, is the capital and largest city in the province of Manicaland. It is the third most populated in Zimbabwe. Having surpassed Gweru in the 2012 census, with an urban area, urban population of 224,802 ...
).
* The crew members of
Air Rhodesia Flight 825.
* A police officer and three NCOs from the
Rhodesian SAS killed when the explosive device they were transporting blew up prematurely.
* John M Harvey British South Africa Police
Recipients are entitled to the
post-nominal letters
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 ...
M.C.M.
Zimbabwe
The Meritorious Conduct Medal was abolished in September 1981.
[''Zimbabwe Government Statutory Instrument No. 677 of 1981'', 14 September 1981.] Its status as the most junior of the Republic of Zimbabwe's awards for gallantry was taken by the
Bronze Cross of Zimbabwe, which is also awarded to civilians and members of the Zimbabwean armed forces and police officers, and has an identical plain purple ribbon.
References
External links
Orders, Medals and Decorations of Zimbabwe
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meritorious Conduct Medal
Military awards and decorations of Rhodesia
1981 disestablishments in Zimbabwe
1970 establishments in Rhodesia
Awards established in 1970