Specimen Rhodesia Medal

Rhodesia Medal. Impressed around edge with the word 'SPECIMEN'.

The Rhodesia Medal was awarded to police, civilians and service personnel who formed the Commonwealth Monitoring Force (CMF) in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe during 1979-80. This peacekeeping operation (known as 'Operation Agila') was tasked with overseeing, but not enforcing, the ceasefire between the Rhodesian Security Forces and the Patriotic Front, a guerrilla force seeking independent rule for the nation which was to become known as Zimbabwe. The CMF was eventually a force of over 1000, most being supplied by the United Kingdom, although New Zealand, Fiji and Kenya also provided observers. The Australian commitment was 151, (all members of the Army) comprising 35 officers and 116 NCOs and warrant officers. Successful elections, held from 27 to 29 February 1980, resulted in a victory for Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, (ZANLA) and the bulk of the Australian observers were withdrawn on 3 March. Zimbabwe became an independent nation under Prime Minister Mugabe on 17 April of the same year. Qualification for the Rhodesia Medal was fourteen days' service in country, and approximately 2 500 were issued in total.