Unofficial Rhodesian Infantry Combat Badge



Unofficial Rhodesian Infantry Combat Badge Initiative

In some countries, combat infantry veterans are entitled to wear a small metal badge above their medals to make a distinction from others who served in the same theatre of conflict in a non-infantry capacity.

CIB’s were introduced to recognize the unique role of infantry in that of all soldiers, it is the infantryman who continuously operated under the worst conditions and performs missions not assigned to any other soldier or unit. e.g.: to seek out and close with the enemy, to kill or capture him, to seize and to hold ground, to repel attack, by night and day, regardless of season, weather or terrain.

Official Australian and USA CIB’s

The Australian Infantry Combat Badge (ICB) is a small bronze coloured badge featuring a vertical/upright infantryman’s SLR bayonet, centralized on and over a wattle wreath.

The USA Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) is a silver and enamel badge consisting of an Infantry musket in raised metal on a light blue bar with silver border, on and over an elliptical oak wreath.

The Australian CIB was introduced in 1970 can be worn by all Infantrymen who were operationally deployed in all wars or war-like operations in which Australian Infantrymen participated from the Korean War onwards. The USA CIB was instituted during WW2.

Unofficial Rhodesian CIB

Sadly, the Rhodesian Govt. overlooked instigating this small but significant distinction, a deficiency which most Rhodesian combat infantry veterans were/are acutely aware. To address this oversight, production of the below described unofficial Rhodesian CIB has recently been instigated.

As will be noted, although the badge has been modelled on the US CIB, it has it’s own distinct character featuring an FN rifle in raised metal on a green bar, on and over an elliptical oak-leaf wreath and, the raised lettering RHODESIA central at the bottom of the wreath.

Symbolism

The bar is Green with silver border being representative of Rhodesia’s national colours; the FN-FAL was the standard issue assault rifle of the Rhodesian infantrymen; the oak is symbolic of steadfastness, strength and loyalty.

Views on the Unofficial Rho. CIB by RLIRA Patron Brigadier John “Digger” Essex-Clark, DSM.

"The omission of this tangible recognition of Infantry combat service in Rhodesia and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland should be rectified..........it is an excellent idea and many will be proud to wear it, official or not......Well done…..it is an excellent initiative "

Basic Eligibility (refer FAQ section for more details information)

There are three basic criteria which must be met for eligibility for the Rhodesian Combat Infantry badge, with these being:

a. Must have been an infantryman who completed basic infantry training.

b. Must be assigned to an infantry unit during such time as the unit was engaged in active ground combat.

c. Must actively participate in such ground combat and being employed in their primary roles as an

infantryman.

Frequently Asked Questions

Legal Status

Only the Rhodesian Govt. has (had) the authority to formally introduce (promulgate) awards such as a Rho. CIB and thus, its unofficial status is openly declared.

Some purists might argue that as the Rhodesian (Rho.) CIB was never officially promulgated, there is no legal entitlement for it to be worn. This may be so however, for those who meet the criteria, there is all the moral and spiritual entitlement in the world.

As the Rho. CIB has it’s own distinct character and thus cannot be said to be a direct imitation of any other officially sanctioned badge, and as the nation of Rhodesia no longer exists, there is no legal impediment to it being worn with civilian dress.

How, Where and by Whom was the unofficial Rho. CIB concept developed

The Rho. CIB is an Australasian Branch RLI Regt. Association initiative, developed and designed by a core working group, acting in consultation with a number of other RLIRA members, from both within the Australasian and, in other countries.

The principles & criteria upon which the Rho. CIB were formulated were taken directly from the official historical intent & assessment criteria of the Australian ICB and USA CIB and indeed, has even been slightly altered to accommodate a number of circumstances specific to the fluid Rhodesian War situation. Any further alteration to criteria (eg: to enable non-infantry or, non-combat personnel to be eligible) would make the symbolism and intent of the Rho. CIB meaningless.

Prior to settling upon a design, criteria had been identified which were:

A. The badge had to be clearly recognizable as a CIB type affair.

B. The badge had to have its own specific Rhodesian character.

C. The badge could not be mistaken for any existing CIB/ICB’s.

D. The badge had to be to an acceptable manufacture standard.

Is the Badge restricted to only ex-RLI servicemen

No, it is open to all appropriately experienced Rhodesian Army ex-infantrymen.

Is the Badge Restricted to only Regular Soldiers or Units

No, there is no differentiation made between TA or Regular service.

Designated Rhodesian Infantry Units

Infantry unit service is to include but not necessarily be limited to:

▪ BSAP Support Unit - PATU

▪ Grey Scouts

▪ Rhodesia Regiment

▪ Rhodesian African Rifles

▪ Rhodesian Light Infantry

▪ Selous Scouts

▪ Special Air Service

Eligibility of Infantry unit members who did not take part in ground combat

A number of Rho. infantry units were self-contained entities which involved having some of it's infantrymen multi-skilled in Motor Transport, Signals, Medical, Quarter Master or Catering type roles, etc.

If such persons completed basic infantry training and were assigned members of an infantry unit which was deployed into an operational area, they are deemed to have been performing both infantryman and specialist roles at the time.

It is not necessary for such persons to have participated in an actual ground combat for them to be eligible provided that, during a deployment with an infantry unit, elements of that unit were involved in ground combat action.

Would members of non-infantry parent units (EG: Signals, Engineers, Artillery, Armoured Cars, Medical, etc) that, were temporarily attached to infantry units, be entitled to the badge?

Generally, non-infantry attached personnel do not meet the eligibility requirement “were employed in their primary role as infantrymen", however in exceptional circumstances, eligibility may demonstrate provided:

▪ All other requirements were met.

▪ Service had been indistinguishable from that of an infantryman.

▪ A basic course of infantry training had been competed.

The reason for making the distinction between infantry and non-infantry is simply that Infantry Combat Badges are a long established custom in various countries and, being an ex-infantry organization, our orientation and emphasis is understandably infantry.

Some countries have Army Combat Badges to recognize personnel from non-infantry units with combat experience and thus, we would support any organization who might wish to introduce similar – refer below Rhodesian Combat Badge comments.

What about personnel from other arms of the Rhodesian Security Forces such as, but not limited to: BSAP, Airforce, Intaf, Guard Force, etc.?

Whilst unquestionably there were many Rhodesian non-infantry designated units that performed operational infantry-like roles and that, the Rhodesian war was fought by ALL arms of the Security Forces, there is a long standing tradition for ICB’s to be restricted to members of designated infantry (or special forces) units.

This said, we would whole-heartedly support and provide assistance to any Rho. Ex-Services organization that might wish to organize something appropriate to recognize combat experience by applicable personnel. It has been suggested that a Rhodesian Combat Badge could be appropriate in-order that it encompass all groups that undertook combat roles, eg: BSAP, Airforce, and Others.

Evidence of Eligibility

Due to deficiencies and loss of Rhodesian service records, claims of eligibility, and wearing of the Rho. CIB needs to be on an understanding of honour & trust.

Applicable Operations

Whilst primarily intended for recognition of service during the Rhodesian War of 1965-80, the Rho. CIB is open to Rhodesian Infantry applicable service in any wars, campaigns or war-like operations in which Rhodesian Forces were formally deployed. EG: Matabele Wars 1893 + 1896, Boer War 1899-02, WW1 1914-18, WW2 1939-45, Malaya 1951-58, Egypt 1952, Cyprus 1959, Kuwait 1959, Aden 1959, Northern Rhodesia/Congo Border 1961.

Wearing the Rho. CIB

The Rho. CIB is primarily intended for ceremonial, commemorative or other special occasions when medals may be worn with civilian clothing. The badge should be worn on the left side, centrally placed approximately 1cm immediately above medal riband or medals or, without medals, as a lapel badge.

Aren’t CIB’s Too Much Of An “Americanism”?

Americans were not the first to come up with the idea of providing some sort of dress accruement to acknowledge combat experience by troops.

For centuries the British have been recognizing the battle experience of certain units by means of Hackles, Plumes, Metal Badges, Cloth Badges, Cloth Patches and, Coloured Backings to Badges etc.

It may be of additional interest to hear that during the war, Guard Force introduced a "Combat Badge" to distinguish GF personnel who were involved in contacts with the enemy.

The GF Combat Badge is somewhat similar in design to the Rho. CIB, being a metal and enamel rectangular shaped breast badge (about the same dimensions as our Rho. CIB but with no wreath) featuring a sword laying horizontal in the rectangle.

The unofficial Rho. CIB is thus no more an Americanism than say, the Selous Scouts metal Para Wings, which was worn on the breast.

Why Does The Rho. CIB Look So Much Like The USA CIB?

When the Rho. CIB was originally being designed it was felt the greatest demand would be by those who had the most opportunity to proudly wear same, with this group being identified as the Oz & NZ based ouens, who attend ANZAC DAY ceremonies.

With this in mind, designers were very conscious that the Rho. CIB, whilst having to be readily recognizable as a CIB type badge, should (for obvious reasons) not be seen as a look-alike Oz ICB.

 

The first design consisted of crossed daggers surmounting a wreath however, this design had to be scrapped when it was discovered that it looked almost identical to the recently introduced Oz Army Combat Badge, which consists of crossed swords surmounting a wreath.

The next design is the current version which, although it has many similarities to the USA CIB, has it’s own distinct characteristics.

What Has Been The Response To The CIB Initiative?

The initial response has been enormously positive with, the first strike of 100 badges being totally sold out within three (3) weeks of word beginning to circulate amongst the Oz & NZ Rhodesian Ex-Services community.

CIB’s have been ordered by personnel from ALL the designated Rhodesian Infantry Units and, with numerous orders also having come in from UK, USA, SA and Asia.

Demand has been so strong that the initial strike was increased to 150 badges.

CIB Purchase

CIB’s may be purchased for AUD$20.00 per badge, inclusive of postage to anywhere within Australia or NZ.

To enable CIB’s to be obtained by as many as possible, initial orders have bee restricted to a maximum of two (2) CIB’s per person.

As it is anticipated that the additional 50 CIB’s will also be quickly pre-sold (manufacturer ETA for delivery being 26th March), pre-ordering & payment of badges is strongly recommended.

For further information, contact Tony Young ozemedic@.au

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