A scarce Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (P.M.M.) group of five awarded to Detective Sub-Inspector Aroni, Zimbabwe Republic Police, late British South Africa Police, a recipient of three Commissioner’s Commendations in a career of 33 years in Special Branch and the Criminal Investigation Department

Zimbabwe Independence Medal (09416); Zimbabwe Service Medal, unnamed; Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (12046 D./Sgt. Maj. Aroni); Rhodesia General Service Medal (12046 D./Stn./Sgt. Aroni); Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C., with 2 Bars (12046 D./Stn./Sgt. Aroni), good very fine and better (5) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Keith Holshausen Collection.

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Only 10 awards of the Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (P.M.M.) were made to Detective Sergeant-Majors out of a total of 234 Medals; and only 59 Second Bars to the Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. out of a total of approximately 2,570 Medals.

Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (P.M.M.) Force Orders 553 of 1973.

Aroni, a member of the Mzeruru Tribe from Goromonzi District, joined the British South Africa Police in June 1948, an early annual report stating that ‘he should make an excellent African Constable, clean, smart, and of good conduct.’ And so it proved, for he went on to enjoy a career of over 30 years with the Force, most of them as a member of Special Branch and the Criminal Investigation Department, and latterly as a Detective Sub-Inspector, in which rank he retired in June 1981. He was, as one ex-C.O. observed, a “natural” for under cover work, for ‘in plain clothes he does not look a policeman’. And in addition to his P.M.M., he was the recipient of three commendations:

Commissioner’s Commendation (Force Orders 396 of 1961):

‘African Detective Aroni of the Criminal Investigation Department, Salisbury, for painstaking and thorough investigations into a murder case presenting most difficult aspects which occurred following a beer drink on a farm near Macheke on the 26 March, last year. The body of the deceased has never been found and only by dint of lengthy questioning of those attending the beer drink did the circumstances of the crime become apparent. The persistence of the investigating details who, throughout the enquiries, displayed a high standard of teamwork, eventually resulted in the three accused making statements implicating one another and at the High Court, Salisbury, one of the accused was convicted of murder and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour.’

Commissioner’s Commendation (Force Orders 380 of 1963):

‘For diligence, tenacity of purpose and untiring efforts displayed during the investigations into Goromonzi Crime Reports 78-81 of May 1962: Arson.’

Commissioner’s Commendation (Force Orders 369 of 1964):

‘For the thorough, painstaking and persistent investigations carried out as a team into a series of six cases of arson, four cases of incitement to commit arson and one case of subornation of perjury. The members of the team, by dint of intelligent detective work, which entailed long hours of extra duty, secured the arrest of nine persons on charges of arson.’

Aroni’s record was also endorsed on several occasions for ‘Good Work Performed’, including cases involving petrol bombing, intimidation and the murder of Chief Charewa in October 1963. Later in his career, his application for promotion to the rank of Detective Sub-Inspector drew the following comments:

‘This man is well respected by those with whom he comes into contact. He has a strong personality and he has earned the respect of both his juniors and members of the public in general. He was recently commended by a Regional Magistrate, who has known him many years, for his consistent fair dealing with accused whom he deals with, as well as his confident and articulate manner in giving evidence. His intelligence is limited but he has qualities of shrewdness and cunning which serve him well. He is a member of ‘the old school’. He can always be relied on to carry out any task to the best of his ability. He tackles his work with a refreshing enthusiasm and will pursue his investigations to their utmost limit. He is a born policeman and seems to place his work over all other considerations. He is a skilled and able investigator who has frequently drawn praise for his superior ability in this regard. I consider that this man is a good Detective Sergeant-Major. I have a great regard for his abilities in the investigation field which I honestly consider to be superior. He has recently been awarded the P.M.M. for his services to the Force which I consider to have been well earned.’

Sold with the recipient’s original Certificate of Service, together with card mounted photographs of members of the Advanced Training Course for Detective Sergeants & Detective Constables, 1968, and staff of the Criminal Investigation Department & Special Branch, Marandellas, 1980, and a quantity of copied research.