This resulted in the Royal Family paying an unusual state visit to the colony at the end of the war in thanks to the efforts of the Rhodesian people. During the war, Southern Rhodesian pilots proportionally earned the highest number of decorations and ace appellations in the Empire. Southern Rhodesia's own units, most prominently the Rhodesian African Rifles (made up of black rank-and-filers and warrant officers, led by white officers abbreviated RAR), fought in the war's East African Campaign and in Burma. Southern Rhodesia was in fact the first Commonwealth country to officially declare war on the Axis powers. Pro rata to population, this was the largest contribution of manpower by any territory in the British Empire, even outstripping that of Britain itself. 237 Squadron RAF and the Special Air Service (SAS). Ībout 10,000 white Southern Rhodesians (15% of the white population) mustered into the British forces during the Second World War, serving in units such as the Long Range Desert Group, the Rhodesian Armoured Corps, No. The British South Africa Police were trained as both policemen and soldiers until 1954. Between the World Wars, the Permanent Staff Corps of the Rhodesian Army consisted of only 47 men. The 1st Battalion was formed in Salisbury with a detached "B" company in Umtali and the 2nd Battalion in Bulawayo with a detached "B" Company in Gwelo. With the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers disbanded in 1927, the Rhodesia Regiment was reformed in the same year as part of the nation's Territorial Force. The Defence Act of 1927 created a Permanent Force (the Rhodesian Staff Corps) and a Territorial Force as well as national compulsory military training. The majority of the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers were disbanded in 1920 for reasons of cost, the last companies being disbanded in 1926. The primary infantry weapon of the Rhodesian Army was the FN FAL battle rifle, which was camouflaged as seen here. Around 5,000 white Rhodesian military and intelligence personnel were recruited by South Africa in 1980 as part of Operation Winter.Ī re-enactor portrays a Rhodesian Light Infantry trooper, circa 1979. After the internationally recognised independence of Zimbabwe in April 1980, the Rhodesian security forces, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army were integrated to form the new Zimbabwe Defence Forces. The Lancaster House Agreement and the return of Rhodesia to de facto British control on 12 December 1979 changed the security forces' role altogether during the five-month interim period, they helped the British governor and Commonwealth Monitoring Force to keep order in Rhodesia while the 1980 general election was organised and held. The security forces fought on behalf of the unrecognised government against the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army-the military wings of the Marxist–Leninist black nationalist Zimbabwe African National Union and Zimbabwe African People's Union respectively-during the Rhodesian Bush War of the 1960s and 1970s. Britain and the United Nations refused to recognise this, and regarded the breakaway state as a rebellious British colony throughout its existence. After the break-up of the Federation at the end of 1963, the security forces assumed the form they would keep until 1980.Īs the armed forces of Rhodesia (as Southern Rhodesia called itself from 1964), the Rhodesian Security Forces remained loyal to the Salisbury government after it unilaterally declared independence from Britain on 11 November 1965. These became the armed forces of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia on its formation in 1923, then part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland military in 1953. The Rhodesian Security Forces of 1964–80 traced their history back to the British South Africa Company armed forces, originally created during company rule in the 1890s. Despite the impact of economic and diplomatic sanctions, Rhodesia was able to develop and maintain a potent and professional military capability. The Rhodesian Security Forces consisted of a ground force (the Rhodesian Army), the Rhodesian Air Force, the British South Africa Police, and various personnel affiliated to the Rhodesian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Rhodesian Security Forces were the military forces of the Rhodesian government. Ministry of Internal Affairs Guard Force.
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