The Meritorious Conduct Medal was a

Rhodesia Rhodesia (, ), officially from 1970 the Republic of Rhodesia, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa from 1965 to 1979, equivalent in territory to modern Zimbabwe. Rhodesia was the ''de facto'' successor state to the British colony of S ...

military decoration Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...

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 1853 – 26 March 1902) was a British mining magnate and politician in southern Africa who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. An ardent believer in British imperialism, Rhodes and his Br ...

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 Umtali) is the most populous city in the province of Manicaland, and the third most populous city in Zimbabwe, having surpassed Gweru in the 2012 census, with an urban area, urban population of 224,802 and approximately 260,567 ...

). * The crew members of

Air Rhodesia Flight 825 Air Rhodesia Flight 825 was a scheduled passenger flight that was shot down by the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA) on 3 September 1978, during the Rhodesian Bush War. The aircraft involved, a Vickers Viscount named the ''Hunyani'', ...

. * A police officer and three NCOs from 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 ...

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, 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 The Bronze Cross of Zimbabwe is a gallantry decoration that was instituted in 1981 to replace the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia. It forms part of the Zimbabwean honours system. Recipients of the Bronze Cross of Zimbabwe are entitled to the use of the ...

, 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