Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Warrant Officer Class 2 C. Roberts, Southern Rhodesia Forces, attached 6th South African Armoured Division, who was mentioned in despatches for the Mediterranean theatre of war

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, this last officially inscribed, ‘SR. 598105 C. Roberts’, extremely fine (6) £80-120

Clifford Roberts was born in Bindura in August 1915 and enlisted in the Southern Rhodesia Forces in November 1939. Posted overseas as a P.O.W. camp guard, he was advanced to Sergeant in July 1941 and joined the Southern Rhodesia Armoured Regiment in the following month. Next transferring to the Armoured Car Regiment in February 1942, he was attached to 3rd Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron from April to September of the same year, latterly in the rank of Squadron Quarter-Master Sergeant. Having then returned home on leave, he was re-embarked for Suez in January 1943, where he joined 6th South African Armoured Division as a Warrant Officer Class 2, in which capacity he went on to participate in the Italian campaign and won a “mention” in recognition of ‘gallant and distinguished service in the Mediterranean’ (London Gazette 23 May 1946 refers). Roberts was eventually discharged at Bulawayo in June 1945, all but his Africa Service Medal being issued unnamed by the Rhodesian authorities; sold with copied service records.