Four: Superintendent B. Royikop, Zimbabwe Republic Police, late British South Africa Police, a recipient of the Commissioner’s Special Commendation Silver Baton for Bravery after two close engagements with terrorists

Zimbabwe Independence Medal (10976); Zimbabwe Service Medal (17072 Insp. Royikop B.B.); Rhodesia General Service Medal (17072 Const. Royikop); Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C. (017072F P./O. B.B. Royikop), together with Commissioner’s Special Commendation “Silver Baton” mounted on green riband for wearing, good very fine and better (5) £300-350

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

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Commissioner’s Special Commendation Force Orders 19/1977, the citation for which states:

‘Patrol Officer Merrifield and Sergeant Royikop displayed exemplary conduct and courage of a high order while under fire in two separate engagements with terrorists.

On 13 May 1976, Patrol Officer Merrifield was leading a section which initiated and maintained contact with a large group of terrorists, pending the arrival of reinforcements. During the engagement which lasted some 5 ½ hours, Patrol Officer Merrifield assisted in the evacuation, under fire, of a wounded member of the Security Forces whilst Sergeant Royikop gave support.

On 18 May 1976, the section was ambushed and the calmness and initiative of Patrol Officer Merrifield and Sergeant Royikop enabled the section to make a tactical withdrawal, at the same time maintaining contact until assistance arrived. A further successful engagement ensued.

Patrol Officer Merrifield and Sergeant Royikop are granted the right to wear the insignia of the Silver Baton.’

Subsequent press coverage revealed just how harrowing one of these encounters proved:

‘He [Royikop] was with Ground Coverage operating in Mtoko. His stick consisted of P.O. Merrifield and five army soldiers. They visited a kraal to follow up on information that terrorists had spent the night. They were directed to a hill feature and on receipt of good information made communication with J.O.C. Mtoko to request support. The J.O.C. instructed them to initiate contact with the terrorists immediately and the Fireforce would be dispatched. As they approached the hill feature through a thickly wooded riverbed, they came under heavy fire. The army soldiers did not provide any support and actually withdrew very quickly leaving Royikop and Merrifield pinned down. R.P.G. rockets were exploding in the trees around them and they had to use hand signals as they were deafened by the sound. They were engaged for some five hours and were running low on ammunition - Royikop had one magazine and Merrifield only ten rounds left. The Fireforce arrived and the G-car was fired on. A Rhodesian African Rifles trooper was shot in the air and killed as he parachuted from the Dakota into the contact area. Apparently 50 terrorists were involved in this incident. It was Royikop’s very first contact and he reckons the Fireforce arrived in the nick of time!’

Bernard Royikop, who was born in the Melsetten district of Rhodesia in July 1940, was educated at St. Joseph’s Mission and joined the British South Africa Police in November 1962. Having then passed through the African Police Training School as ‘Best Man’ in his squad, he was posted to the District Branch and served in Bindura, Shamva, Mrewa, Nyamapanda and Marandellas, mainly in a Ground Coverage role gathering intelligence, work that led to at least three “contacts” and favourable mention in a report delivered by the C.O. of the C.I.D. in 1965, in addition to his Commissioner’s Special Commendation - contemporary reports describe him as a ‘very strong and competent leader who demands that his subordinates always give their best’. His promotions were to African Sergeant 2nd Class in 1972, Sergeant-Major in 1979, Patrol Officer in 1980, Inspector in 1981 and Superintendent in the following year. He retired on a pension in July 1985 (Force Orders 245/85 refer).

Sold with the recipient’s original Certificate of Service and handwritten account of the “Silver Baton” incidents, together with a full file of research.