Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Rhodesian Order of the Legion of Merit, O.B.E. group of nine awarded to Colonel the Hon. G. H. Hartley, Royal Rhodesia Regiment, later Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Parliament of Rhodesia

Rhodesia, Order of the League of Merit, Civil Division, Grand Officer’s (G.L.M.) set of insignia, neck badge, 48mm, silvered, gilt, and enamel, with full neck riband, in case of issue; Star, 76mm, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel, with four reverse fixing loops, in case of issue; Rhodesia Independence Commemorative Decoration (G. H. Hartley) with case of issue; Great Britain, The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt, gilding almost all completely rubbed; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1953; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, silver and silver-gilt, the reverse engraved ‘Lt. Col. G. H. Hartley.’, with integral top ‘Southern Rhodesia’ riband bar, mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s related miniature awards, the Efficiency Decoration a G.VI.R. 1st issue award, with ‘Territorial’ top riband bar, nearly extremely fine (10) £1,500-£1,800

G.L.M. ‘Colonel the Hon. George Holland Hartley, Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Parliament of Rhodesia.’
The recommendation states: ‘Colonel Hartley has firmly upheld the dignity and the best traditions of Parliament and earned the respect of all Members of Parliament for his impartiality. Colonel Hartley has filled the post of Speaker with great distinction, Sir.’

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1955.

George Holland Hartley was born in Bollington, Cheshire, on 7 July 1912, and emigrated with his family to Southern Africa in 1928. Employed in civilian life in the Native Affairs Department, he was called up to the Rhodesian Army in 1940 and, due to his proficiency in African languages, was seconded to the Rhodesian African Rifles, in which he was commissioned Second Lieutenant on 28 August 1942. He served with the Regiment during the Second World War in Burma, as part of the 14th Army, where he took part in the battle of Tanwe Chung against the Japanese, was promoted in the field to Captain, and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 19 September 1946). Returning to Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, he relinquished his commission on 6 February 1946 and resumed his administrative duties with the Native Affairs Department, but the following year volunteered as part of the Guard of Honour for the Royal Visit to Southern Rhodesia. Appointed Commander of the Guard, he was also appointed to conduct the Royal party to meet the various Native Chiefs and leading members of each tribe, carrying out the role of introducer and interpreter.

Hartley continued to serve in the 1st Battalion, Royal Rhodesia Regiment, eventually becoming the 1st Battalion’s Commanding Officer, and was awarded both the Efficiency Decoration and the 1953 Coronation Medal. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1955 New Year’s Honours’ List, later that year he transferred to the Reserve of Officers and was appointed as Officer Commanding Troops Mashonaland, a position he held until 1959. He entered politics in 1960, and the following year was elected as Member of Parliament for Victoria Province. In 1968 he was appointed Deputy Speaker, and in 1972 he was advanced to Speaker of the House of Assembly, in which capacity he served until 1980. For his services to Southern Rhodesia, he was appointed a Grand Officer of the Order of the League of Merit in 1980. He died on 17 January 1995.

Sold with the named bestowal Document for the O.B.E., dated 1 January 1955; with Governor General’s letter regarding the award of the O.B.E., dated Salisbury, 22 December 1954; named bestowal certificate for the Coronation Medal; the recipient’s Certificate of Release of an Officer, dated Salisbury, 9 April 1946; letter of appreciation to the recipient from Major-General S. Garlake, HQ, Central Africa Command, on the recipient’s posting to the Reserve of Officers, dated 7 May 1956; various correspondence regarding the recipient’s Second War awards and Mentioned in Despatches; a number of official photographs, mainly relating to his time as Speaker of the House of Assembly; various other ephemera; and a pair of Rhodesia Regiment cuff-links, silver, both numbered ‘63’, with the two back-plates additionally engraved ‘Colonel G. H. Hartley 1980’