An unusual Second World War Rhodesian pilot’s D.F.C. and Bar group of eight awarded to Squadron Leader K. D’A. Taute, Royal Air Force, afterwards a Brigadier in the Rhodesia Staff Corps, whose first D.F.C. was an immediate award for operations over France and Belgium in 1940, when he was ‘shot through the leg in two places’ but still managed to bring his aircraft home: his was also the first D.F.C. awarded to a Rhodesian in the 1939-45 War

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., with Bar for Second Award, the reverse of the Cross officially dated ‘1940’ and the Bar ‘1944’; 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals; Rhodesia, General Service Medal (7325 Flt. Lt. F. D. Taute); Rhodesia, Police Reserve Faithful Service Medal (6766D. F./R. K. D. Taute); Zimbabwe, Independence Medal 1980, officially numbered ‘20160’, very fine or better (8) £2500-3000

D.F.C. London Gazette 30 July 1940. The recommendation states:

‘On 5 June 1940, Flying Officer Taute was the pilot of an aircraft carrying out bombing attacks at dusk against enemy forces in the area of Albert - Bapaume - Peronne. He encountered not only intense A.A. fire but was attacked by enemy fighters who pressed home their attacks with great persistence. During this engagement the Air Gunner was severely wounded and Flying Officer Taute himself was shot through the leg in two places, one bullet remaining in his leg. In spite of his wounds he displayed great skill in handling his aircraft, finally shaking off the enemy fighters. On the return journey he landed at Manston in order to hand over his wounded Air Gunner to the care of the medical authorities. He then flew his aircraft back to Wattisham where he landed in the dark and walked to the operations room in order to make his report before going to the sick quarters to have his own wounds dressed. I consider that Flying Officer Taute, who is a Rhodesian, displayed outstanding courage and a deep devotion to duty. I recommend the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

Bar to D.F.C. London Gazette 29 December 1944. The recommendation states:

‘This officer has been a Flight Commander throughout his tour with this squadron, achieving some important successes through his courage and determination. In June 1944, he completed an outstanding attack on a troop train at Mesidon. On 22 August 1944, he delivered an effective attack on railway installations at Chagny, where he bombed a goods train and destroyed two locomotives. Later in the same month, Squadron Leader Taute hit and set on fire many vehicles while attacking a very large concentration of mechanical transport at La Haye. He is a fine pilot, whose skill and gallantry have inspired his Flight and caused great damage to the enemy.’

Keith D’Alroy Taute was born at Fort Victoria in July 1916, where he was educated at the Government School and then at Chaplin Senior School in Gwelo. Briefly a cadet in the British South Africa Police, he successfully applied for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, and became one of 12 similarly selected Rhodesians to sail for England in 1938.

His D.F.C. was the first of the War to a Rhodesian and was won for services with No. 107 Squadron, a Blenheim unit operating out of Wattisham, Suffolk. Like other components of No. 2 Group, the Squadron was heavily engaged over the Low Countries and France between May and June 1940, and afterwards in operations against Germany.

Taute next attended a flying instructor’s course at Upavon and returned to Rhodesia to assist in the training of new aircrew. But in 1943 he returned to the U.K. to the Empire Central Flying School, prior to commencing a second tour of operations, initially with No. 21 Squadron but afterwards with No. 464 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron, a Mosquito unit of 2nd Tactical Air Force. Among other famous raids No. 464 participated in the low-level strikes against the Gestapo H.Qs at Aarhus and Copenhagen, but, as evidenced by the recommendation for the Bar to Taute’s D.F.C., he actually appears to have participated in other specialist attacks in support of the Allied advance in North West Europe. Demobilised in September 1946, he returned home to Southern Rhodesia.

Seconded to the Department of Civil Aviation, Taute was instrumental in the formation of the Southern Rhodesia Government Communications Squadron, which afterwards became the Southern Rhodesia Air Force - it was he who organised the purchase of three war-surplus R.A.F. Ansons and ferried them back to Rhodesia in 1948. He was also responsible for establishing a new base, named “New Sarum”, a title derived from the R.A.F.’s “Old Sarum” on Salisbury Plain, and he was serving as the C.O. of the same establishment on his retirement in September 1956.

Taute was afterwards a member of the Police Field Reserve and later still of the Air Force Volunteer Reserve. In common with all aircrew personnel he had originally been allocated to the Rhodesia Staff Corps and eventually attained the rank of Brigadier.