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Zimbabwe Army and its predecessor

Last modified: 2002-02-16 by jarig bakker
Keywords: zimbabwe | rhodesia | zimbabwe army | rhodesian army |
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Zimbabwe Army

This evening I have seen a news report about a media conference held by the Zimbabwe Army in support of President Mugabe. Behind the general were two flags, the one on theright (sinister) being the national flag, the one on the left (dexter) is not on FOTW-ws, and I assume this is the army flag. It is red, with a central badge (probably bearing crossed swords, partially surrounded by wreaths, topped by the Zimbabwe Bird without the red star, all in golden yellow). Anyone have a closer look?
Miles Li, 10 Jan 2002

Rhodesian Army till 1970

[Rhodesian Army till 1970] by Richard Allport, resized by Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002

The Rhodesian Army flag, used at HQ, and other sites where it was necessary to represent the army as a whole rather than specific units, followed the basic design of the flag used by the British Chief of Defence, which had three horizontal stripes - dark blue (Navy), red (Army), and light blue (Air Force), with a badge in the centre comprising elements of each service. The Rhodesian Army flag used the colours yellow, red and blue for the stripes. Red is the colour representing the army, and the yellow and blue represented the BSAP [British South Africa Police] as the second force used in a very effective para-military role during the bush war, and in the early years the country's first and only military force. In recognition of this fact the BSAP always took pride of place on the right of the line when parading with the military.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 by R Allport, SAVA Journal 5/96.
Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002


Rhodesian Army badge till 1970

[Rhodesian Army badge till 1970] by Richard Allport, resized by Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002

The Rhodesian army badge was on the centre of the flag, with two crossed asegais taking the place of the traditional British symbol ofcrossed swords. The first version of the flag, used up to 1970, displayed the Queen's Crown above and below the BSAC [British South Africa Company] lion, with the simple motto 'RHODESIA' on a yellow scroll beneath. Interestingly, the lion on the badge was yellow, as in the original BSAC badge, rather than the more customary red colour, or the white version used on cloth army patches. A smaller version of this flag also existed, with the badge covering the entire width of the flag and this was probably used as a car flag.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 by R Allport, SAVA Journal 5/96.
Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002


Rhodesian Army after 1970

[Rhodesian Army after 1970] by Richard Allport, resized by Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002

After 1970 when Rhodesia became a republic, the 'Royal' prefixes of regimental names where dropped and symbols, including many flags, were changed to a new purely Rhodesian design.  The Army flag's basic colours remained the same, but the crowns were removed and the badge was changed to show the lion and tusk above a green shield with a white pickaxe, with the 'RHODESIA' scroll below.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 by R Allport, SAVA Journal 5/96.
Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002


Rhodesian Army badge after 1970

[Rhodesian Army badge after 1970] by Richard Allport, resized by Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002

Rhodesian Army till 1980

[Rhodesian Army till 1980] by Richard Allport, resized by Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002

On the last flag used by the Rhodesian Army up to 1980 (date of introduction unfortunately unknown) the crossed assegais were removed and the army's lion and pickaxe shield placed in the centre of the flag, again with a yellow lion and now yellow pickaxe on e green field, with a scroll below this with the words 'Rhodesian Army'.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 by R Allport, SAVA Journal 5/96.
Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002


Rhodesian Army badge till 1980

[Rhodesian Army badge till 1980] by Richard Allport, resized by Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002

The badge shown on this last version of the army flag is very similar to the shoulder patch worn on uniforms of the Rhodesian Amry, an illustration of which also accompanies this message.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 by R Allport, SAVA Journal 5/96.
Devereaux Cannon, 7 Feb 2002






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