The Legion of Merit was a Rhodesian order of merit awarded to both civilian and military recipients for service to Rhodesia.
Institution The award was instituted in 1970 by Presidential Warrant, the first awards being made the same year. The last awards were made in June 1980. The civil class was suspended from a green and gold ribbon. The military class differed by featuring a red stripe on the green and gold ribbon.
Classes There were five classes of the order: Grand Commander (GCLM) Grand Officer (GLM) Commander (CLM) Officer (OLM) Member (MLM)
The incumbent President of Rhodesia served as Grand Master of the Legion of Merit. Recipients of the order were entitled to the post-nominal letters indicated above. It was retained by the government of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia as well, the President of that state also serving as Grand Master.
Zimbabwe
The Legion of Merit was superseded in April 1981Zimbabwe Government Statutory Instrument No. 197A of 1981, 17 April 1981. by the Zimbabwe Order of Merit, which is awarded to civilians as well as military personnel for eminent achievement and services to Zimbabwe.
Notable recipients
While the higher grades of the order were used almost exclusively by Ian Smith's Rhodesian Front government to reward political service, recipients of the lower and middle grades included a number of notable military leaders, community leaders and civil servants.
Grand Commanders There were only 5 GCLMs: RecipientOfficeNote(s)Ian SmithPrime Minister of RhodesiaClifford DupontPresident of RhodesiaAutomatically awarded GCLM on retirement from office.John WrathallPresident of RhodesiaAutomatically awarded GCLM on retirement from office.Gerald ClarkePrincipal Secretary to the Cabinet of RhodesiaJosiah GumedePresident of Zimbabwe RhodesiaAutomatically awarded GCLM on retirement from office.
No GCLMs were ever awarded in the Military Division.
Grand Officers There were 28 GLMs (Civil Division): RecipientOfficeCivil DivisionS. E. MorrisChief Native Commissioner, SenatorW. H. H. NicolleSecretary for Internal AffairsRubidge StumblesSpeaker of the HouseN. H. B. BruceGovernor of the Reserve Bank of RhodesiaJack Howman Minister of Defence, Minister of Information, Minister of TourismLeo Cardwell Ross Secretary for Information, Immigration and TourismLance Smith MinisterD. W. YoungSecretary to the Treasury;Desmond Lardner-Burke Minister of Justice, Minister of Law and Order;Douglas Lilford Founder and Vice President, Rhodesian FrontE. A. T. SmithSecretary for JusticeT. A. T. BosmanAttorney General of RhodesiaHarold HawkinsCommander of the Rhodesian Air Force, Ambassador to South AfricaRoger Hawkins MinisterB. H. MussettMinister of TransportC. N. WetmoreSecretary J. F. GaylardSecretaryA. P. SmithMinisterDavid SmithMinister of FinanceP. K. van der Byl Minister of DefenceP. D. W. R. SherrenCommissioner of PoliceN. H. B. CambitzisRhodesia FrontGeorge Holland Hartley Speaker of the HouseMark Partridge Minister for Natural ResourcesJack William Pithey Acting President of Rhodesia, President of the Senate, Secretary of JusticeHenry Everard Acting President of RhodesiaW. M. IrvineMinister of Transport and PowerKen FlowerHead of the Central Intelligence OrganisationMilitary DivisionLt. Gen. Peter WallsHead of the Rhodesian Security Forces
Commanders
There were 32 CLMs (Civil Division) and 4 CLMs (Military Division). RecipientOfficeNote(s)Civil DivisionJanet Smith -Wife of Prime Minister Ian SmithMilitary DivisionCol. Ronald Reid-DalyCommanding officer of the Selous Scouts
Others There were 126 OLMs (Civil Division).
There were 35 OLMs (Military Division) and 10 OLMs (Military Division) (Combatant).
There were 300 MLMs (Civil Division), 55 MLMs (Military Division) and 10 MLMs (Military Division) (Combatant).
References
External links Orders, Medals and Decorations of Zimbabwe and Rhodesia Image on medals.org.uk