347:
responsible for protection of white-owned farms and later took over guard duties from the police at a number of fixed sites and lines of communication. An infantry battalion, the 1st
Battalion Guard Force, was formed in May 1978 and in the same year it took over responsibility for guarding some urban strongpoints and railway lines. In line with these new responsibilities it grew from around 1,000 men in 1977 to 3,500 (protecting more than 200 villages) in 1978. By the end of the Bush War in 1979 it numbered some 7,000 men. By this point the defensive role in the villages had been taken over partly by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Force Auxiliaries, a black pro-government militia, and the Guard Force was divided into 7 battalions. The battalions were issued 60mm French
364:
who were less keen on engaging the
Rhodesian Army. As the inhabitants of the villages endured poor living conditions and an often tyrannical rule by the Guard Force, they often welcomed their "liberation" by the guerillas. Historian Paul L. Moorcraft states that the Guard Force "often committed crimes against the populations they were charged with protecting" and concurs with Baxter's assessment of them as a rearline unit: "had they stood against a determined, well-trained enemy they would have had little chance". Standards were different in villages guarded by other units, such as the Ministry for Interior Affairs.
562:
409:
78:
60:
91:
644:
637:
630:
104:
117:
368:
deemed unfit for regular service, and reservists attached to the unit were often elderly. As such the white members of the unit were considered the "dregs of society". The efficiency and morale of the Guard Force was not helped by the fact that the men were usually posted outside of their home districts and received no pension benefits, unlike the police, army or air force, and lower pay than equivalents in these branches.
322:, who had been brought out of army retirement. Non-commissioned ranks were unique but similar to the army. The lowest enlisted rank was that of guard, above them were junior corporals, keep corporals, keep (or guard) sergeants, keep (or guard) senior sergeants, keep sergeant majors and keep (or guard) warrant officers in two classes (I and II). The Guard Force was initially equipped with obsolete
287:, which had been augmented with white national service men, who employed black district security assistants. By 1975 it had become apparent that the department lacked the capacity to provide ongoing security to the protected villages whilst also planning the resettlement of large swaths of the country into new villages. The Guard Force was established to assume the security role.
298:. The Guard Force was multi-racial with black and white personnel serving as officers and enlisted members, though the majority of its personnel were black. The unit took over half of the Ministry of Internal Affairs allocation of national servicemen and also absorbed many of its district security assistants as guards. The Guard Force focused on former black members of the
623:
614:
607:
600:
491:
484:
477:
470:
463:
456:
449:
318:
duty owing to leave and sickness. The villages were widely dispersed and each keep was often commanded by a non-commissioned officer. Junior officers sometimes had command of forward command posts, controlling several keeps. Above the junior officers were group headquarters under a commandant. The first commander of the Guard Force was Major
General
367:
The Guard Force suffered from morale and disciplinary problems. They were not helped by the quality of the men they received and the general reputation of the unit as inefficient. The national service men they were assigned were usually the lowest quality from that particular draft, including those
363:
The effectiveness of the Guard Force has been questioned by historians. Peter Baxter, writing in 2014, described it as a "a modestly trained paramilitary unit" that was intended for rearline duties but often found itself in action as the protected villages became targets for attack by the guerrillas,
246:
From 1977 the Guard Force was reformed, becoming more pro-active. Rather than an entirely static rural force it carried out patrols and ambushes and guarded key urban points and lines of communication. Infantry battalions were introduced in 1978 to better suit its new role. By the end of the Bush War
317:
The average protected village housed 4,000 people in a fenced area measuring 4 by 4 kilometres (2.5 mi × 2.5 mi). In the centre of the village was the "keep", a concrete bunker surrounded by a defensive earth wall. The keep's garrison consisted of 20 men but as few as 12 were often on
305:
The first recruits were brought into the Guard Force in August 1975 and were trained by former
Rhodesian Army personnel at the Interior Ministry's Chikurubi training base, which became the unit's new depot. The Guard Force was officially established as part of the Ministry of Defence on 1 February
346:
was appointed to command in
February 1977, as Rawlins became director of psychological warfare in the Rhodesian Army. In May the Guard Force was reorganised, moving from its purely static role into a more pro-active force that would carry out patrols and ambushes. From 1978 the force became
254:
The Guard Force was criticised as poorly trained and had low morale. Its white recruits came from classes of national servicemen and elderly reservists who failed to qualify for more prestigious duties. The men received lower pay than the army.
588:
435:
581:
428:
574:
421:
351:, but these were of limited range (1,000 metres; 3,300 ft) and they were issued with only five rounds per weapon. Rhodesia transitioned to a black majority government in April 1980, as
311:
310:. The Guard Force was initially given only one duty, the security of protected villages. Guard Force's jurisdiction did not extend to all villages, some, as in the
1211:
1177:
1159:
1206:
371:
In its later years the quality of Guard Force training increased. In June 1978 a combined
Protection Brigade was formed of territorial
1201:
375:
troops and members of the Guard Force, in an attempt to use veteran officers of the former to bring up standards in the latter.
1143:
1113:
1086:
1026:
990:
963:
893:
866:
822:
763:
276:
920:
272:
247:
in 1979 it numbered 7,000 men. The Guard Force became redundant with the transfer to black-majority rule (as
231:. The Guard Force was set up from 1975 (and formally established on 1 February 1976) to provide security to
17:
372:
1105:
Transforming
Settler States: Communal Conflict and Internal Security in Northern Ireland and Zimbabwe
224:
227:. Coming under the Ministry of Defence it was organised on similar lines to, but separate from, the
299:
1181:
1163:
518:
331:
169:
8:
307:
151:
508:
280:
264:
240:
179:
1139:
1135:
Class, work and whiteness: Race and settler colonialism in
Southern Rhodesia, 1919–79
1109:
1082:
1022:
986:
959:
916:
889:
862:
818:
759:
528:
291:
96:
982:
The
Rhodesian Front War: Counter-insurgency and Guerrilla War in Rhodesia, 1962-1980
295:
782:
Fighting
Against Chimurenga: An Analysis of Counter-insurgency in Rhodesia, 1972-9
267:
the white minority-led government resettled large numbers of black citizens into "
1133:
1103:
1076:
1059:
1042:
1016:
980:
953:
936:
910:
883:
856:
839:
812:
780:
753:
713:
686:
666:
661:
656:
348:
691:
671:
319:
228:
195:
109:
1195:
955:
The Bear at the Back Door: The Soviet Threat to the West's Lifeline in Africa
643:
636:
629:
268:
232:
133:
566:
413:
343:
323:
207:
161:
283:). The protected villages were initially guarded by personnel from the
523:
513:
498:
681:
676:
352:
248:
243:. Guard Force units took over security duties from Ministry staff.
122:
83:
65:
841:
Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: House of Commons official report
503:
327:
165:
755:
Counter-Insurgency in Rhodesia (RLE: Terrorism and Insurgency)
294:
who had served to guard local areas in Kenya during the 1950s
284:
236:
239:
to separate black rural civilians from guerillas during the
1044:
Gung-ho: The Magazine for the International Military Man
941:. International Defence & Aid Fund. 1977. p. 9.
622:
613:
606:
599:
490:
483:
476:
469:
462:
455:
448:
290:
The Guard Force was modelled on the predominantly black
718:. Command and General Staff School. 2011. p. 39.
314:, remained under the guard of the Interior Ministry.
1058:Assembly, Zimbabwe Parliament House of (May 1980).
1014:
838:Commons, Great Britain Parliament House of (1977).
355:, and by May the Guard Force was being disbanded.
330:automatics from the army and eventually brand new
302:for recruitment to positions as local commanders.
785:. Historical Association of Zimbabwe. p. 12.
337:
1193:
938:Focus on Political Repression in Southern Africa
258:
326:bolt-action rifles but later received worn out
1108:. University of California Press. p. 93.
1064:. order of the House of Assembly. p. 403.
1015:Moorcraft, Paul L.; McLaughlin, Peter (2010).
811:Abbott, Peter; Botham, Philip (20 July 2011).
582:
429:
1138:. Manchester University Press. p. 207.
1127:
1125:
1010:
1008:
1006:
1004:
1002:
810:
778:
747:
745:
27:Former arm of the Rhodesian Security Forces
1047:. Charlton Publications. 1983. p. 31.
743:
741:
739:
737:
735:
733:
731:
729:
727:
725:
589:
575:
436:
422:
1131:
1122:
999:
908:
814:Modern African Wars (1): Rhodesia 1965–80
1057:
881:
806:
804:
802:
800:
798:
796:
794:
792:
751:
306:1976 with a headquarters established at
1102:Weitzer, Ronald John (1 January 1990).
1101:
854:
844:. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 1065.
837:
722:
14:
1194:
1074:
978:
951:
1018:The Rhodesian War: A Military History
789:
618:
444:
1212:Organizations disestablished in 1980
1132:Ginsburgh, Nicola (18 August 2020).
235:. These had been established by the
861:. Paragon Publishing. p. 142.
24:
1081:. Helion and Company. p. 42.
752:Cilliers, Jakkie (17 April 2015).
25:
1223:
1207:Organizations established in 1976
642:
635:
628:
621:
612:
605:
598:
560:
489:
482:
475:
468:
461:
454:
447:
407:
358:
279:guerrillas (as in the July 1974
115:
102:
89:
76:
58:
1202:Paramilitary forces of Rhodesia
1170:
1152:
1095:
1068:
1051:
1035:
1021:. Stackpole Books. p. 58.
972:
945:
882:Thompson, Leroy (21 May 2019).
277:Zimbabwe African People's Union
273:Zimbabwe African National Union
1075:Baxter, Peter (19 July 2014).
929:
902:
888:. Bloomsbury USA. p. 34.
875:
848:
831:
772:
706:
338:Transition to more active role
13:
1:
699:
259:Creation as a defensive force
251:) in 1980 and was disbanded.
1178:"Guard Force Rank Structure"
1160:"Guard Force Rank Structure"
285:Ministry of Internal Affairs
237:Ministry of Internal Affairs
7:
1078:Bush War Rhodesia 1966-1980
985:. Mambo Press. p. 25.
952:Walker, Sir Walter (1978).
909:Moorcraft, Paul L. (1981).
10:
1228:
675:
627:
546:
393:
384:Commissioned officer ranks
373:Rhodesian Defence Regiment
312:Chiweshe Tribal Trust Land
817:. Bloomsbury Publishing.
779:Evans (M.A.), M. (1981).
690:
685:
680:
670:
665:
660:
655:
648:
641:
634:
620:
611:
604:
597:
557:
552:
549:
527:
522:
517:
512:
507:
502:
497:
488:
481:
474:
467:
460:
453:
446:
404:
399:
396:
320:G. A. D. "Andrew" Rawlins
225:Rhodesian Security Forces
203:Second and Last Commander
202:
190:
185:
175:
157:
147:
139:
129:
71:
53:
45:
37:
32:
394:General / flag officers
378:
300:Rhodesian African Rifles
41:1 February 1976–May 1980
958:. Valiant. p. 63.
855:Marston, Roger (2010).
271:" to isolate them from
915:. Sygma. p. 165.
1061:Parliamentary Debates
662:Deputy keep commander
567:Rhodesian Guard Force
414:Rhodesian Guard Force
332:Heckler & Koch G3
170:Heckler & Koch G3
672:Keep senior sergeant
667:Keep warrant officer
524:Junior Commandant II
519:Assistant Commandant
84:Republic of Rhodesia
979:Ellert, H. (1989).
885:The G3 Battle Rifle
529:Junior Commandant I
152:Salisbury, Rhodesia
281:Operation Overload
269:protected villages
265:Rhodesian Bush War
241:Rhodesian Bush War
233:protected villages
223:was an arm of the
180:Rhodesian Bush War
1145:978-1-5261-4389-1
1115:978-0-520-06490-4
1088:978-1-910294-86-4
1028:978-0-8117-0725-1
992:978-0-86922-436-6
965:978-0-86884-032-1
895:978-1-4728-2862-0
868:978-1-899820-81-8
824:978-1-84908-962-3
765:978-1-317-49925-1
697:
696:
534:
533:
509:Senior Commandant
292:Kikuyu Home Guard
214:
213:
97:Zimbabwe Rhodesia
16:(Redirected from
1219:
1186:
1185:
1180:. Archived from
1174:
1168:
1167:
1162:. Archived from
1156:
1150:
1149:
1129:
1120:
1119:
1099:
1093:
1092:
1072:
1066:
1065:
1055:
1049:
1048:
1039:
1033:
1032:
1012:
997:
996:
976:
970:
969:
949:
943:
942:
933:
927:
926:
906:
900:
899:
879:
873:
872:
852:
846:
845:
835:
829:
828:
808:
787:
786:
776:
770:
769:
749:
720:
719:
710:
646:
639:
632:
625:
616:
609:
602:
591:
584:
577:
565:
564:
563:
541:
540:
504:Deputy Commander
493:
486:
479:
472:
465:
458:
451:
438:
431:
424:
412:
411:
410:
400:Junior officers
397:Senior officers
388:
387:
349:commando mortars
296:Mau Mau Uprising
196:G. A. D. Rawlins
121:
119:
118:
108:
106:
105:
95:
93:
92:
82:
80:
79:
64:
62:
61:
30:
29:
21:
1227:
1226:
1222:
1221:
1220:
1218:
1217:
1216:
1192:
1191:
1190:
1189:
1176:
1175:
1171:
1158:
1157:
1153:
1146:
1130:
1123:
1116:
1100:
1096:
1089:
1073:
1069:
1056:
1052:
1041:
1040:
1036:
1029:
1013:
1000:
993:
977:
973:
966:
950:
946:
935:
934:
930:
923:
907:
903:
896:
880:
876:
869:
853:
849:
836:
832:
825:
809:
790:
777:
773:
766:
750:
723:
715:Military Review
712:
711:
707:
702:
687:Junior corporal
595:
570:
561:
559:
442:
417:
408:
406:
381:
361:
340:
261:
217:
191:First Commander
116:
114:
113:
103:
101:
100:
90:
88:
87:
77:
75:
59:
57:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1225:
1215:
1214:
1209:
1204:
1188:
1187:
1184:on 5 May 2021.
1169:
1166:on 5 May 2021.
1151:
1144:
1121:
1114:
1094:
1087:
1067:
1050:
1034:
1027:
998:
991:
971:
964:
944:
928:
921:
901:
894:
874:
867:
847:
830:
823:
788:
771:
764:
721:
704:
703:
701:
698:
695:
694:
689:
684:
679:
674:
669:
664:
659:
657:Keep commander
653:
652:
647:
640:
633:
626:
619:
617:
610:
603:
596:
594:
593:
586:
579:
571:
555:
554:
551:
548:
545:
539:
538:
532:
531:
526:
521:
516:
511:
506:
501:
495:
494:
487:
480:
473:
466:
459:
452:
445:
443:
441:
440:
433:
426:
418:
402:
401:
398:
395:
392:
386:
385:
380:
377:
360:
357:
339:
336:
260:
257:
229:Rhodesian Army
215:
212:
211:
204:
200:
199:
194:Major General
192:
188:
187:
183:
182:
177:
173:
172:
159:
155:
154:
149:
145:
144:
143:Static defence
141:
137:
136:
131:
127:
126:
110:United Kingdom
73:
69:
68:
55:
51:
50:
47:
43:
42:
39:
35:
34:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1224:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1183:
1179:
1173:
1165:
1161:
1155:
1147:
1141:
1137:
1136:
1128:
1126:
1117:
1111:
1107:
1106:
1098:
1090:
1084:
1080:
1079:
1071:
1063:
1062:
1054:
1046:
1045:
1038:
1030:
1024:
1020:
1019:
1011:
1009:
1007:
1005:
1003:
994:
988:
984:
983:
975:
967:
961:
957:
956:
948:
940:
939:
932:
924:
922:9780868760063
918:
914:
913:
905:
897:
891:
887:
886:
878:
870:
864:
860:
859:
851:
843:
842:
834:
826:
820:
816:
815:
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
784:
783:
775:
767:
761:
758:. Routledge.
757:
756:
748:
746:
744:
742:
740:
738:
736:
734:
732:
730:
728:
726:
717:
716:
709:
705:
693:
688:
683:
682:Keep corporal
678:
677:Keep sergeant
673:
668:
663:
658:
654:
651:
645:
638:
631:
624:
615:
608:
601:
592:
587:
585:
580:
578:
573:
572:
569:
568:
556:
543:
542:
536:
535:
530:
525:
520:
515:
510:
505:
500:
496:
492:
485:
478:
471:
464:
457:
450:
439:
434:
432:
427:
425:
420:
419:
416:
415:
403:
390:
389:
383:
382:
376:
374:
369:
365:
359:Effectiveness
356:
354:
350:
345:
335:
333:
329:
325:
321:
315:
313:
309:
303:
301:
297:
293:
288:
286:
282:
278:
274:
270:
266:
256:
252:
250:
244:
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
216:Military unit
209:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
184:
181:
178:
174:
171:
168:
167:
163:
160:
156:
153:
150:
146:
142:
138:
135:
134:Ground Forces
132:
128:
124:
111:
98:
85:
74:
70:
67:
56:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
31:
19:
1182:the original
1172:
1164:the original
1154:
1134:
1104:
1097:
1077:
1070:
1060:
1053:
1043:
1037:
1017:
981:
974:
954:
947:
937:
931:
911:
904:
884:
877:
857:
850:
840:
833:
813:
781:
774:
754:
714:
708:
649:
558:
550:Junior NCOs
547:Senior NCOs
405:
370:
366:
362:
344:W. A. Godwin
341:
316:
304:
289:
262:
253:
245:
220:
218:
208:W. A. Godwin
164:
650:No insignia
544:Rank group
537:Other ranks
391:Rank group
324:Lee-Enfield
263:During the
221:Guard Force
210:(1977–1979)
198:(1976–1977)
176:Engagements
162:Lee-Enfield
148:Garrison/HQ
33:Guard Force
18:Guard Force
1196:Categories
912:Contact II
700:References
514:Commandant
342:Brigadier
206:Brigadier
186:Commanders
72:Allegiance
858:Own Goals
553:Enlisted
499:Commander
308:Salisbury
158:Equipment
112:(1979–80)
86:(1976–79)
46:Disbanded
353:Zimbabwe
334:rifles.
249:Zimbabwe
123:Zimbabwe
66:Rhodesia
49:May 1980
54:Country
1142:
1112:
1085:
1025:
989:
962:
919:
892:
865:
821:
762:
328:FN FAL
166:FN FAL
130:Branch
125:(1980)
120:
107:
99:(1979)
94:
81:
63:
38:Active
692:Guard
379:Ranks
1140:ISBN
1110:ISBN
1083:ISBN
1023:ISBN
987:ISBN
960:ISBN
917:ISBN
890:ISBN
863:ISBN
819:ISBN
760:ISBN
275:and
219:The
140:Type
1198::
1124:^
1001:^
791:^
724:^
1148:.
1118:.
1091:.
1031:.
995:.
968:.
925:.
898:.
871:.
827:.
768:.
590:e
583:t
576:v
437:e
430:t
423:v
20:)
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