Orders, Decorations and Medals

An extremely rare Rhodesia Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry (P.C.G.) group of five awarded to Constable S. M. Manyawu, Zimbabwe Republic Police, late British South Africa Police, the third recipient of Rhodesia’s highest Police decoration for remarkable bravery after receiving multiple wounds in a terrorist attack

Zimbabwe Independence Medal (34532); Zimbabwe Long & Exemplary Service Medal (22150 Cst. Manyawu S.M.); Zimbabwe Service Medal (22150 Cst. S. M. Manyawu); Rhodesia Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry (22150 Cst. Manyawu S.M.), this stamped ‘(R)’ for official replacement issue and with officially re-impressed naming; Rhodesia General Service Medal (22150 Cst. Manyawu S.M.), this stamped ‘(R)’ for official replacement issue and with officially re-impressed naming, 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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One of only five Rhodesia Police Crosses for Conspicuous Gallantry ever awarded.

Rhodesia Police Cross for Conspicuous Gallantry (P.C.G.) Force Orders 207/1977, the citation for which states:

‘On 19 July 1976, Constable Manyawu was carrying out a vehicle patrol accompanying a Patrol Officer in the Mutema Tribal Trust Land when at approximately 9 a.m. the vehicle was ambushed from the front and both sides by a terrorist group. The vehicle was extensively damaged by small arms fire and Constable Manyawu was wounded five times in both thighs, right lower leg, right wrist and the left side of his neck and the Patrol Officer suffered serious bullet wounds to his face, shoulder and back. Despite these injuries Constable Manyawu returned the terrorist fire until his weapon jammed and then took over the Patrol Officer’s rifle and continued firing until the terrorists broke off the engagement. The Patrol Officer, due to his injuries, was in no condition to assist. Constable Manyawu then helped the wounded Patrol Officer to a nearby township and requested assistance which was repeatedly refused. Constable Manyawu’s concern was to get medical aid for the Patrol Officer and, although seriously wounded himself, he set off on foot and walked 3 ½ kilometres to a school where he collapsed and was revived by the school teachers. His route took him through an area known to have contained terrorists including the party with whom he had recently been engaged. At 1 p.m. the attention of a low flying plane was attracted and medical assistance obtained for Constable Manyawu who in turn indicated where he had left his wounded comrade.

The actions of Constable Manyawu in immediately returning the terrorist fire, preventing them from completing the ambush and saving not only his own life but that of the Patrol Officer, followed by his disregard for his own safety in walking through hostile country whilst severely wounded to obtain aid for his comrade, showed tremendous strength, determination, courage and conspicuous gallantry of the highest order.’

Sylvester Madenda Manyawu was born in Inyanga, Rhodesia in 1948, a member of the M’Manyika Tribe and attended St. Barbara’s Mission near Rusape. Fluent in Ndebele, Nyanja and English, as well as his native Shona, he passed out of the B.S.A.P’s Tomlinson Training Depot in September 1974 and was posted to Salisbury Central Control Room. He subsequently served as a Patrol Car Observer & F.I.C. Documentation, in which capacity he received a letter of appreciation from a member of the Public, via the Commissioner, for his polite and considerate manner.

In January 1976, Constable Manyawu volunteered for Ground Coverage duties in the Operational Area and his application was approved by Assistant Commissioner Alan Rich, Officer Commanding Salisbury Province. Duly appointed, Manyawu served in the Thrasher Operational Area in the south-east of the country and it was while so employed that he won his P.C.G. for the above cited deeds in July 1976.

Sold with original letters from the Office of the President of Rhodesia, inviting the recipient to an investiture at Government House Salisbury for the award of his P.C.G., a program schedule from the Office of the President, and a copy of the original detailed gallantry citation from the Office of the President, together with original invitations for the Opening of the Rhodesian Parliament in 1977, and an Official Reception for the Speaker, all with water damage; and a quantity of research.