Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 June 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 1125

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26 June 2008

Hammer Price:
£1,200

A rare campaign group of five awarded to Private M. G. van Tonder, who, having served briefly in the Royal Air Force in 1945, was among those selected for the elite 100-strong ‘C’ Squadron (Rhodesia) 22 S.A.S. in Malaya in the 1950s, and later enjoyed a long career as a Police Reservist

Rhodesian General Service Medal
(57350 F./R., (R.)); Rhodesian Police Reserve Long Service (5753C F./R.); Zimbabwe Independence Medal 1980, officially numbered ‘63481’; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (S.R. 1034 Pte., S. Rhod. Mil. F.), the first an officially re-impressed replacement issue, good very fine and better (5) £800-1000

M. G. Van Tonder was born in Southern Rhodesia in 1928 and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in July 1945, being demobilised shortly afterwards at the War’s end. In 1952, however, he volunteered, and was accepted, for the elite 100-strong ‘C’ Squadron (Rhodesia) 22 S.A.S. Squadron raised to fight in Malaya, a chapter in his career well-illustrated by accompanying original photographs - among fellow squadron members was Ron Reid-Daly, who later became O.C. of the Selous Scouts. Upon its return to Salisbury, the unit was officially disbanded, and Van Tonder returned to civilian life, joining the British South Africa Police as a Field Reservist in 1957. He remained similarly employed until 1981 and was awarded his Rhodesian Police Reserve L.S. Medal in January 1972, in addition to his Rhodesian General Service Medal and the Zimbabwe Independence Medal.

Sold with the recipient’s original R.A.F. Permanent Pass, original Malayan Scouts S.A.S. arm badge, Rhodesian S.A.S. “Wings”, various other badges and buttons, and several original and evocative photographs of the recipient in Malaya with “C” Squadron; together with full research and verification for each award.