Southern Rhodesia Commando

[ByoRhodie]

Hi Guys

Does anyone have any history on the Southern Rhodesia Commando please. I know of the write up in Radford's book. If anyone has Vol II of The War Diaries of Southern Rhodesia, does it have an index and is the SRC mentioned please?

Any notes on the badges (collar only??) and their makers would be great too please.

Thanks

Wayne

[Chingola]

Hi Wayne,i believe Marks history probably the best known,he might have got this from the late Steve Stephens of the Gweru War Museum.the silver badge,numbered like the normal larger brass version was worn as lapel or button hole insignia.it was also made by Keay's Jewellers in Salisbury and is numbered.both rare items as we know.superb and rare photo of the brass badge worn by Hugh Hein on his left sleeve in our first LRDG Rhodesia book,only photographic reference ive ever seen,page 110.
regards

[warrior]

Have only ever seen two of these badges. One in a UK collection and the other in Bulawayo in 2008. A very rare badge! I have seen some history somewhere and will have a dig.

[ByoRhodie]

Thanks Guys, makes about 10 or so badges I know of in existance. No doubt there are others around

Wayne

[Madziro]

Hullo Wayne

Saw your request for info. I have both volumes of the SR War History. The 2nd vol has an index but the SR Commando is not mentioned. There is mention of Rhodesian members of British commandos including one in 5 Commando.

The SR Comdo badge in my collection is the one that Hugh Hein wore (as in the photo of him in the LRDG book). I spoke to him about the unit at the time of writing the Rhodesian badge book and this is the info that he gave me:

The Southern Rhodesia Commando was formed in Rhodesia during early 1941 as a part time unit for the express purpose of defending Rhodesia against the Japanese who were expected to use Madagascar as a springboard into Mozambique and then into Rhodesia. The threat was real as the Japanese had already been active in Madagascar, having sunk ships in and around Madagascar and off the Mozambique coast. Training was given over an initial period of six weeks and then on a continuous period as required. Thereafter the soldiers went back to their places of work and were on permanent standby. Regular retraining took place. Emphasis was placed on survival, living off the land and deploying in small numbers behind enemy lines in order to harass them. An experiment was made with bicycles to deploy the members of the SR Commando but this was not found to be successful and the soldiers resorted to deploying on foot. The unit was in existence for a period of approximately eighteen months.

Regards

Dudley