An Important Collection of Awards to the SAS and Special Forces

A rare Posthumous Meritorious Conduct Medal pair awarded to Warrant Officer Bob Bouch, M.C.M., “C” Squadron, Rhodesian Special Air Service Regiment

Meritorious Conduct Medal (721196 WO2 R. A. Bouch); Rhodesian General Service Medal (721196 WO2 R. A. Bouch) extremely fine (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Awards to the SAS and Special Forces.

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M.C.M. (Posthumous) Government Gazette 23 October 1970. ‘For brave and gallant conduct over and above the call of duty in the defence of his country until the time of his death.’

Bob Bouch was one of the founding members of “C” Squadron, Rhodesian SAS when it was reformed in 1960. He was then a Colour Sergeant and, after attending the British SAS course at Hereford, became Chief Instructor responsible for physical fitness and unarmed combat. An Irish giant of a man, Bouch was also known as ‘Troat’, as whenever he instructed in unarmed combat he constantly urged his pupils to seize the enemy by the ‘troat’ and squeeze the life from him. After UDI, Bouch and the remnants of the SAS became involved in the Rhodesian Counter Intelligence Operations (CIO) into Zambia. These top secret operations were carried out by only six or seven white operatives, including Bouch.

In October 1966, the SAS Commander, Captain Brian Robinson, together with WO Bob Bouch, Colour Sergeants Mick Cahill and Geordie Wright, together with Chief Superintendent John Wickenden, a policeman seconded to the unit for the operation, formed a team chose to travel to Lusaka, the Zambian capital, where they were to destroy the ZANU headquarters. The plan was to cross the Zambesi just below the Chirundu Bridge by canoe. The explosive device, which had been made up in Salisbury, was transported to Chirundu by vehicle. Then the collapsible canoes and the explosive device were portered to the crossing point.

The five men began assembling the canoes and making the final preparations. The SAS Commander moved away from the others for a moment and began to tie his bootlace. Just as Captain Robinson bent down, a terrific explosion tore through the air. The explosive device had accidentally detonated prematurely, and the SAS Commander was knocked unconcious. He came to with his hair alight and both ear drums perforated and the scene that greeted him was not a pretty one. Bob Bouch, Mick Cahill and John Wickenden were dead. Geordie Wright was still alive but it was obvious there was no hope for him. The cause of theexplosion was never discovered but it is thought that the vehicle trip through the heat of the Zambesi valley must have damaged or unseated the built-in time mechanism. The four men were each awarded posthumous Meritorious Conduct Medals.