Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare “Gallantry” Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (P.M.M.) pair awarded to Auxiliary Constable Mhungu, British South Africa Police (African Reserve)

Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (201374 Aux./Const. J. (sic) Mhungu); Rhodesia General Service Medal (201374 A./Cst. Mhungu), good very fine (2) £350-400

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

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Only two awards of the Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (P.M.M.) for gallantry are known to exist, out of a total of 234 Medals.

Rhodesia Police Meritorious Service Medal (P.M.M.), as per Commissioner of Police’s letter dated 20 November 1978. The original recommendation, contained in a letter from B.S.A.P. Lomagundi District Headquarters, addressed to Officer Commanding Police, Mashonaland Province, dated August 1978, states:

‘I attach hereto reports in respect of the above named [Auxiliary Constables Mhungu and Chawasarira], in support of their display of determination and courage, which resulted in the death of a terrorist. On 17 August 1978, the above named, who are both members of the Karoi Ground Coverage Section, were on patrol in the Karoi European farming area, were in civilian clothes, and armed with revolvers. They had been briefed to locate a lone terrorist operating in the farming area, thought to be responsible for the murder of a European male adult. They received information that lead them to a kraal in the nearby Urungwe Tribal Trust Land. Here they became separated for a brief moment and African Police Reservist Chawasarira found himself confronted by the terrorist they were seeking, who was armed with an A.K. rifle. The terrorist attempted to shoot this detail, who promptly grabbed the A.K. rifle and struggled with him. Chawasarira called for Mhungu to come to his assistance, which he did and called upon the terrorist to surrender. The terrorist failed to comply and continued struggling with Chawasarira, whereupon Mhungu fired his revolver and the terrorist sustained a head wound. The terrorist then attempted to abscond, leaving behind his weapon in the possession of Chawasarira, who was fumbling with the safety catch in order to fire this weapon at the escaping terrorist. Mhungu then removed the weapon from Chawasarira and fired two shots at the terrorist, causing him to fall to the ground and thereby allowing Chawasarira to close with the terrorist and shoot him dead. Throughout the whole of this operation the two details concerned acted on their own initiative and with no means of communication and therefore little hope of any assistance. They were in an area which has long suffered a terrorist presence. They had no immediate back-up.

Ballistic evidence has linked the terrorist weapon with the murder of Mr. Fourie on 14th August, 1978. The elimination of the terrorist has done much to restore the low morale of the farming community following the murder of Mr. Fourie. It is respectfully requested that the two details concerned be recommended for the award of the Commissioner’s Commendation with right to wear a bronze baton, and that they receive a suitable monetary award.’

The Honours & Awards Committee subsequently discussed awarding the recipient and his comrade the Meritorious Conduct Medal, but ultimately opted for P.M.Ms.

Smart Phenias Mhungu, who was born in October 1947, a member of the Mzezuru Tribe from the Urungwe area of Rhodesia, joined the British South Africa Police African Reserve at Karoi in 1968. He received his P.M.M. at a parade held at the B.S.A.P’s Morris Depot; sold with related research, including a copied confidential report regarding the P.M.M. incident.