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Rhodesia Regiment 1899-1981

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Weight 2.7 kg
Dimensions 30.0 × 22.0 × 3.1 cm
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Pages

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ISBN9781920143893 Barcode9781920143893
Overview
As the 19th century and Queen Victoria’s long reign drew to a close, volunteer squadrons of the Rhodesia regiment, recruited by Colonel Baden-Powell, were positioned along the border with Bechuanaland, to defend Rhodesia against Boer aggression.  

As the 19th century and Queen Victoria’s long reign drew to a close, volunteer squadrons of the Rhodesia regiment, recruited by Colonel Baden-Powell, were positioned along the border with Bechuanaland, to defend Rhodesia against Boer aggression. In 1914 Rhodesians again rallied to the Crown with the formation of two battalions of the Rhodesia Regiment to counter the German presence in South West and East Africa. Shortly after, many volunteered to join the Allied forces on the Western Front.

During the Second World War the indomitable combat prowess and leadership talents of Rhodesia Regiment volunteers were strongly evident in many theatres, including North Africa, Somaliland, the Middle East, Italy, the Adriatic, Western Europe and South East Asia. In 1947 the Crown bestowed the ultimate accolade, with the title ‘Royal’ prefixed to the regiment. Through the 1950s and ’60s, the experiences of Rhodesians in successive areas of conflict—Malaya, Suez, Aden and Nyasaland—significantly enhanced aspects of Rhodesia’s territorial army, particularly with regard to counter-insurgency warfare.

Conscription ensured combat-readiness for the growing number of battalions and independent companies established throughout the country, providing a solid basis for the regiment to play a vital role in countering the ZANLA/ZIPRA guerrilla insurgencies of the 1960s and ’70s. Coordinated by Hugh Bomford, this definitive history has, over a period of seven years, been compiled by a core group of dedicated people, with over 400 other contributors. Thousands of illustrations complement the in-depth text, with several appendices covering rolls of honour, honours and awards, leadership rolls, intake records, and uniforms and embellishments.

Peter Baxter, Hugh Bomford & Gerry van Tonder

Peter Baxter is an author, historian and African field, mountain and heritage travel guide. Born in Kenya and educated in Zimbabwe, he has lived and travelled over much of southern and central Africa. He has guided in all the major mountain ranges south of the equator, helping develop the concept of sustainable travel, and the touring of battlefield and heritage sites in East Africa. His interests include British Imperial history in Africa and the East Africa campaign of the First World War in particular. His first book was Rhodesia: Last Outpost of the British Empire; he has written several books in the Africa@War series, including France in Centrafrique, Selous Scouts, Mau Mau, SAAF’s Border War and Somalia: US Intervention, 1992–1994.

Hugh Bomford, born in Rhodesia, grew up in a family with a proud background of military service. At 17, he did his national service before serving with 1 and 4 (Indep) Companies Rhodesia Regiment from April 1976 to October 1977. He then did the obligatory ‘six weeks in, six weeks out’ call-ups, serving with A  Company 4th (Manicaland) Battalion Rhodesia Regiment. When the family farm came under constant threat from terrorist activity, he was loaned to the local Police Anti-Terrorist Unit. Hugh takes a keen interest in military history and from this interest developed his involvement in what has become the Rhodesian Services Association, of which he is the editor and quartermaster, based in New Zealand.

Gerry van Tonder was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia and joined Internal Affairs in 1975, stationed variously at Karoi, Chikurubi and Sipolilo, based at Fort Harrison in the Zambezi Valley, and Mt Darwin where he served in the Intelligence Section. In 1977 he undertook the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ sponsored degree programme, graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Administration (Hons). He was the Returning Officer for Rushinga during the Zimbabwe election, through the period of transition from the ceasefire and return of the ZANLA insurgents to assembly points. He is co-author of Rhodesian Combined Forces Roll of Honour, 1966–1981.

Additional information

Weight 2.7 kg
Dimensions 30.0 × 22.0 × 3.1 cm
Format

Pages

Size

PublisherRhodesian Services Association Publication Date02/06/2014

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