OurStory

Some time ago an old friend, asked me if I knew of anything being done regarding the memory the Rhodesian farmers who had been murdered and those wives that were left to run the farms whilst their husbands did call ups.

He remembered the kindness and warmness that members of the air force, on operations on 7 and 4 Squadron, had received from the farming community, is something that, I think will remain, with him forever.

Who can forget the Farmers Wives who made sandwiches, hamburgers for the troops who were on their farms and those that were 'just passing through' on operations.. The "Bright Light" members will also never forget these folk.

His concern was that these folk never be forgotten and as such I started trying to see what I could do.

Thanks to Mike de la Rue (also RRAF and RhAF) I obtained a listing and re-typed it to what is detailed below.

I think every person whoever lived in Rhodesia will never forget these heroes of Rhodesia.

May they always Rest in Peace.

Eddy Norris
Cape Town - January 2005

Rhodesian Farmers
Roll of Honour
1964 - 1980

Title Initials Name Place Date

Mr. R Abbot Odzi 10-Apr-1978
Major EC Addams Odzi 14-Aug-1974
Mr. L Ashby Mzingwane 07-Jul-1976
Mr. J Ashworth Umtali 18-Jan-1978
Mrs. K. Backe-Hansen Matetsi 09-Sep-1976
Mr. DC Bagnall Headlands 14-Mar-1978
Mr. DA Baker Macheke 18-Aug-1979
Mr. A Barclay Gwanda/West Nicholson 12-Aug-1977
Mr. D Barclay Ayrshire 07-Dec-1977
Mr. SH Barnard Cashel 06-Dec-1978
Mr. RA Barton Melsetter 06-Apr-1977
Mr. D Bashford Karoi 24-Dec-1976
Mr. BS Bassett Rusape 19-Aug-1979
Mr. A Bathhurst Karoi 24-Dec-1976
Mr. CP Beale Nyamandhlovu 27-Jun-1979
Mr. A Beamish Horseshoe 02-Nov-1978
Mr. R Beamish Sipolilo Not Known
Mr. JA Bennett Shamva 23-Dec-1978
Mrs. M Bennett Shamva 23-Dec-1978
Minor Bennett Shamva 23-Dec-1978
Minor Bennett Shamva 23-Dec-1978
Mr. P Bezuidenhout Nuanetsi 14-Feb-1978
Mr W Bezuidenhout Gazaland 20-Dec-1978
Mr. KH Bicknell Selous 10-Apr-1978
Mr. ID Black Odzi 17-May-1978
Mr. J Blignaut Ayrshire 17-Jun-1977
Mr. H Blignaut Doma 20-Apr-1978
Mr. D Bordini Shamva 31-Jul-1978
Mrs. E Botha Gazaland 06-Jun-1978
Mrs. S Bother Somabula 18-Jul-1979
Mr. P Bouwer Tengwe 13-Jul-1978
Mr. B Brakenridge Gadzema 06-Jan-1978
Mr. B (Son) Brakenridge Gadzema 06-Jan-1978
Mrs. S (Senior)Brakenridge Gadzema 06-Jan-1978
Mr. C Brent Marula 20-Oct-1978
Mr. PJD Breytenbach Headlands 25-Jun-1979
Mr. M Brooke-Mee Gwelo 30-Mar-1979
Mr. LL Brooks Darwin 19-Mar-1979
Mr. IR Brown Sipolilo 28-Mar-1979
Mr. AP Burger Matetsi 12-Jun-1977
Mr. D Burton Lonely District 25-May-1978
Mr. N Cambell Marandellas 23-May-1976
Mr. CA Capell Shamva 09-Mar-1977
Mr. D Carshalton Gazaland 27-Aug-1976
Mr. MJ Chance Bindura 15-May-1979
Mr. C Chapman Melsetter 22-May-1977
Miss C Chessworth Figtree 14-Aug-1977
Mr. E Claasen Odzi 29-Sep-1977
Mr. MD Cleave Juliasdale 01-May-1979
Mr. CM Cloete Filabusi 31-Oct-1976
Mrs. M Cloete Filabusi 31-Oct-1976
Mr. PJ Cloete Centenary 08-Aug-1978
Mr. V Conlon Mazoe 11-Jan-1979
Mr. D Cookson Centenary Feb-1977
Mr. JF Coomans Cashel 06-Dec-1977
Mr. DL Courtney Mrewa 06-Apr-1978
Mr. B. Couve Shamva 06-Jun-1973
Mr. G Crane Goromonzi 19-Mar-1979
Mr. WP Cremer Bindura 26-Jan-1977
Mr. K Cremer Gazaland 18-Aug-1978
Mr. DI Crombie Macheke 08-Aug-1978
Mr. P Crouch Ayrshire 17-Dec-1976
Mr. A Cumming Matetsi 05-Nov-1976
Mrs. SA Cummings Norton 07-Jan-1978
Miss SC Cummings Norton 07-Jan-1978
Mr. SL Davies Gwaai Valley 26-Jul-1976
Mr. CJJ Davies Umtali 20-Aug-78
Mr. D de Coupelay Macheke/Virginia04-Jun-1978
Mr. A de Nadai Mayo 21-Aug-1978
Mr. BJ Dean Melsetter 30-Sep-1977
Mr. CA Delaney Melsetter 30-Sep-1977
Mr. D Dodd Ayrshire 06-Apr-1977
Mr. JS Donald Umtali 26-Apr-1976
Mr. S Donnelly Karoi 21-Jun-1978
Miss J Douglass Melsetter 22-Aug-1978
Mr. H du Plessis Gazaland 28-Jan-1979
Mrs. FM du Toit Gutu 23-Jul-1978
Mr. DWS Dunn Shamva 13-Sep-1977
Mr. BLT Eastwick Centenary 17-Aug-1979
Mr. S Edridge Wedza 11-Sep-1979
Mr. IJ Eksteen Inyazura 11-Jan-1979
Mrs. JM Eksteen Inyazura 11-Jan-1979
Mr. T Elton Cashel 19-May-1978
Mr. PH Fairbanks Gazaland 02-Sep-1978
Mr. F Falzol Karoi 12-Jun-1978
Mr. G Farge Gazaland 24-Oct-1976
Mr. H Fenzel Melsetter 16-Apr-1978
Mr. E Fletcher Centenary 17-Feb-1974
Mrs. B Fletcher Centenary 17-Feb-1974
Mr. TV Forbes Mount Darwin 23-Apr-1973
Mr. F Forward Sinoia 16-Sep-1979
Mr. FNJ Fourie Tengwe 14-Aug-1978
Mr. H Franken Selukwe 17-Jul-1978
Mr. BT Furber Gwanda 16-Apr-1979
Mr. DA Galloway Melsetter 24-Oct-1978
Mr. K Gifford Gazaland 06-Jul-1978
Miss N (Baby)Glenn Melsetter 29-Sep-1977
Mr. RDC Greef Plumtree 15-May-1977
Mrs. MA Greef Plumtree 15-May-1977
Mr. T Greyvenstein Mayo 16-Sep-1976
Mr. FA Grobler Matopos South 17-Jun-1978
Mrs. AE Grobler Matopos South 17-Jun-1978
Mr. PJ Gunn Middle Sabi 05-Oct-1978
Miss M Habig Gazaland 06-Jun-1976
Miss L Habig Gazaland 06-Jun-1976
Miss Y Habig Gazaland 06-Jun-1976
Mrs. R Hacking Odzi 08-Jan-1979
Mr. EJ Hands Shamva 10-Apr-1978
Mr. PL Hanson Melsetter 20-Oct-1977
Mr. T Hartley Headlands 08-Jul-1979
Mr. HTJ Hastings Shamva 11-Mar-1977
Mrs. MH Hastings Shamva 11-Mar-1977
Mr. J Henry Gazaland 31-Dec-1977
Mr. AA Hess Karoi 25-May-1978
Mr. A Hill Wedza 26-Jun-1977
Mr. JR Hill Gokwe 11-Dec-1978
Mrs. M Hofmeyr Fort Victoria 06-Jul-1979
Mr. KF Hogg Fort Victoria 19-Jun-1979
Mr. H Holstenberg Melsetter 20-Oct-1977
Mrs. AC Horton Nyamandhlovu 29-Aug-1977
Mr. W Houston Inyazura 14-Mar-1979
Mr. P Hovell Mazoe 13-Jan-1979
Mr. AV Howe Umvukwes 24-Jun-1975
Mr. JE Hudson-Beck Melsetter 12-Aug-1976
Mr. T Hulley Tengwe 23-Feb-1979
Mr. RC Hunt Melsetter 20-Oct-1977
Mr. HJ Hurley Centenary 21-Dec-1977
Mr. DB Hutchinson Lalapanzi 29-Dec-1978
Mrs. DI Hutchinson Lalapanzi 29-Dec-1978
Master B Hutchinson Lalapanzi 29-Dec-1978
Master V Hutchinson Lalapanzi 29-Dec-1978
Mr. DC James Gwelo 27-Apr-1976
Mr. JM Jeffreys Marandellas 07-Jul-1979
Mr. LM Jellicoe Centenary 04-Feb-1973
Mr. LM Jellicoe Centenary 09-Jul-1978
Master I Johnson Umvukwes 26-Dec-1977
Mr. JD Jordaan Odzi 17-Sep-1979
Mr. A Joubert Wedza 30-Mar-1973
Mr. GD Joubert Ayrshire 22-Dec-1978
Mr. BJS Kearns Bindura 15-Apr-1979
Mr. P Kenchington Middle Sabi 03-Feb-79
Mr. RD Kennedy Mzingwani 07-May-1979
Mrs. I Klenhans Centenary 24-Jan-1973
Mr. PJD Knight Doma 17-May-1975
Mr. TF Koen Centenary 02-Feb-1978
Mr. DP Lamb Cashel 11-Sep-1979
Mr. M Langeman Melsetter 22-Jan-1977
Mr. S Le Vieux Chiredzi 07-Feb-1978
Mr. P Lentner Shamva 18-Feb-1979
Mr. JHC Liddle Bindura 01-Oct-1978
Mrs. MEG Liebenberg Shangani 11-Apr-1979
Mr. RJ Liebermann Marandellas 04-Jun-1978
Mr. WP Lilford Karoi 09-Nov-1977
Mr. DH MacKay Melsetter 01-Jan-1977
Mr. DG MacKenzie Shamva 01-Feb-1977
Mr. T Margarson Gwelo 15-Nov-1978
Mrs. LM McFedden Plumtree 07-Sep-1976
Mr. IDN McGiles Penhalonga 21-Jul-1979
Miss SG McRoberts Shamva 11-Mar-1977
Mr. FJ Mee Inyanga 26-Oct-1978
Mrs. MA Mee Inyanga 26-Oct-1978
Mr. HM Meyer Plumtree 29-Sep-1978
Mrs. EL Meyer Plumtree 29-Sep-1978
Mr. D Moorcroft Bindura 15-Dec-1978
Mr. K Mrowic Que Que 25-May-1978
Mr. DS Muir Mount Darwin 13-May-1978
Mr. GJ Muller Centenary 25-Dec-1978
Mr. GI Murdoch Selous 18-Jun-1977
Mr. GJ Myburgh Mayo 26-Jan-1977
Mr. SP Naude Somabula 17-Oct-1976
Mr. PS Naude Centenary 21-Oct-1976
Mr. FJ Nel Tengwe 23-Nov-1977
Mr. AC Newman Melsetter 15-Oct-1976
Mr. JD Nicholoson Nyamandhlovu 25-May-1978
Mrs. Y Nicol Gazaland 17-Mar-1978
Mr. M Nielsen Karoi 17-Dec-1976
Mr. CD Northcroft Shamva 20-Dec-1977
Mr. PAJ Oberholzer Melsetter 04-Jul-1964
Mr. C Ogilvy Shamva 13-Sep-1977
Mr. CH Olivey Melsetter 15-May-1978
Mr. FJ Oosthuizen Gwelo 16-Sep-1978
Mr. JE Oostindien Macheke 15-Aug-1979
Mrs. W Palmer Mrewa/Mtoko 19-Oct-1976
Mr. JFB Payn Matopos South 21-Sep-1978
Mr. NG Payne Bindura 26-Jan-1977
Mrs. FI Pearson Selukwe 28-Dec-1978
Mr. TMS Peech Macheke/Virginia13-Jul-1978
Miss LA Philips Insiza 12-Jul-1977
Mr. F Pitcher Bindura 14-Jun-1976
Mr. P Potgieter Doma 09-Jul-1978
Mr. F Pretorius Nuanetsi 18-Apr-1978
Mr. NHE Prince Tengwe 23-Mar-1978
Mr. K Prinsloo Chiredzi 16-Apr-1977
Mr. RWG Puckrin Insiza 30-Oct-1978
Mr. P Purcell-Gilpin Headlands 04-Mar-1979
Mr. A Purcell-Gilpin Headlands 04-Mar-1979
Mr. WE Reaci Gatooma 15-Jan-1978
Mr. WA Reinsford Nyamandhlovu 10-Aug-1979
Mr. J Reyneke Gazaland 08-Mar-1978
Mr. EA Richardson Belingwe 24-Mar-1977
Mr. PJ Richardson Gwanda 27-Nov-1978
Mr. AJ Ritson Selukwe 06-Aug-1977
Mr. J Roberts Penhalonga 22-Apr-1978
Mr. A Robertson Gwelo East 21-Aug-1977
Mr. I Rosenfels Marula 29-Mar-1978
Mr. DC Rosenfels Marula 08-Feb-1979
Mr. C Rosenfels Kezi 24-Apr-1979
Mr. P Rouse Centenary 18-Feb-1974
Mr. NJ Royston Karoi 18-Feb-1978
Mrs. EM Rushmore Nyamandhlovu 06-Sep-1977
Mrs. MOA Scott Gwelo 07-Feb-1979
Mr. LR Shakespeare Karoi 23-Aug-1977
Mr. RS Smallman Melsetter 11-Sep-1978
Mrs. C Smit Beatrice 30-Jan-1979
Master A Smit Somabula 18-Jul-1979
Mr. J Smit Beatrice 30-Jan-1979
Mr. RM Smith Insiza/Shangani 28-Jul-1976
Mr. P Snyders Vumba 09-Oct-1975
Mr. J Souter Nuanetsi 23-Jan-1979
Mr. T Speight Umvukwes 18-Jul-1979
Mr. DM Stacey Karoi 09-Mar-1973
Mr. A Stander Nuanetsi 22-Feb-1978
Mr. H Stander Nuanetsi 05-Aug-1978
Mr. A Stander Beit Bridge 15-Aug-1978
Mr. SJ Stander Beit Bridge 19-Jun-1979
Mr. JU Stanley Tengwe 05-Apr-1978
Infant Son GP Starling Mtepatepa 30-Mar-1979
Mr. CA Steyn Cashel 04-Apr-1978
Mr. FC Steyn Cashel 18-Dec-1978
Mr. P Steyn Odzi 13-Feb-1979
Mr. V Stockkil-Gill Marandellas 27-Oct-1974
Mr. J Stopforth Gwelo East 23-Sep-1977
Mr. JN Strydom Headlands 09-Mar-1978
Mr. J Strydom Inyanga 02-Feb-1979
Mr.. E Swanepoel Melsetter 22-Aug-1978
Mr. G Swartz Gazaland 12-Apr-1978
Mr. R Swemmer Macheke/Virginia03-Jun-1978
Mr. JKG Syme Melsetter 13-Sep-1978
Mr. JF Thompson Karoi 19 Dec-1979
Master CC Tilley Mashonalnd South11-Jan-1978
Miss CC Tilley Mashonalnd South03-Sep-1978
Mr. CC Tompson Nuanetsi 14-Feb-1978
Mrs. VE Trinder Nyamandhlovu 03-Sep-1979
Mrs. H Turner Gazaland 09-Jan-1979
Miss S Turner Gazaland 09-Jan-1979
Mr. DP Valentine Melsetter 12-Aug-1976
Mr. MA Van Aard Macheke/Virginia30-Jan-1978
Mr. SP Van Blerk Headlands 26-May-1978
Mrs. G Van Blerk Headlands 26-May-1978
Miss L Van Blerk Headlands 26-May-1978
Mr. S Van der Merwe Nuanetsi 15-Feb-1979
Mr. JJF Van Maarseveen Cashel 04-Dec-1977
Miss MA Van Reenen Macheke/Virginia15-Sep-1978
Mr. JJF Van Vuuren Matopos South 22-May-1976
Mr. MJ Van Vuuren Matopos South 22-May-1976
Mr. RC Vassard Chipinga 12-May-1979
Mr. B Vermeulen Headlands 11-Jan-1978
Mr. JH Viljoen Gadzema 16-May-1966
Mrs. Viljoen Gadzema 16-May-1966
Mr. KD Viljoen Melsetter 01-Oct-1977
Mrs. EA Viljoen Melsetter 01-Oct-1977
Mr. DJ Vincent Centenary 03-Apr-1973
Mr. E Volker Arcturus 05-Aug-1979
Mr. JLS Vorster Melsetter 23-Jan-1978
Mr. D Ward Mazoe 23-Jun-1978
Mrs. S Watkins Nuanetsi 9-Dec-1979
Mr. G West Gazaland 12-Nov-1976
Master M Wilger Nyamandhlovu 03-Sep-1978
Miss L Wilger Nyamandhlovu 03-Sep-1978
Mrs. CJ Willers Gazaland 10-Jun-1978
Mr. RS Williams Inyanga 17-Jan-1978
Mr. BH Williams Inyati 03-Aug-1978
Mr. N Willis Shamva 14-Feb-1974
Mr. JFB Wolfaard Nuanetsi 09-Feb-1978
Mr. J Wright Odzi 10-Sep-1977

A Tribute in Verse

News time, seven forty-five. Pray there's no communiqué, Has yet another farmer died, A soldier or a child?

It's a funny life to live, immersed in a terrorist war, Wearing pistols like a vestment.
First thing on in the morning, Last thing off at night. The Rhodesian farmers' law

By why do farmers do it? Is it love of the land that keeps them going on? If it were just the terrorists it would be bad enough, with nights on the town a thing of the past, and guns beside the bed, drills for the children to crawl to safety,

His wife can fire a grenade But other troubles plague them all,
Like how much rain there's going to be, Will the prices fall again, will there be any rain at all?
He's fighting off the insects that gorge upon his maize, inspecting lands that border on the hostile TTL's,
It's even hard to fetch the children home for exit weekends For petrol has a stranglehold on his monthly needs.

But ask a 'towny', what's a farmer? and he'll tell what he thinks, 'He's a winger and a moaner, always calling on the Government, He can't be all that broke, he's got a Mercedes Benz.'

But the farmers feel forgotten as they face the daily war, Death is very real to them, too many have gone before them.

Does the 'towny' have and ugly wall of sandbags twelve feet high that spoils the garden and ruins the view,but protects his family's lives?

And on his way to work does the 'towny' keep a lookout behind each passing tree Does he feel the rushing adrenalin,

Does he touch the safety catch, Praying there's no terrorist that he's about to see?

And the puddles townies walk through Farmers keep away from like the plague. Who knows in which small water spot a landmine might be laid?

The 'towny' has an income at the end of every month, And as the cost of living rises he knows that it won't be long before they up his pay cheque, so he won't feel the crunch.

But the farmer feel those prices, he has to do the sums, he buys fuel in hundreds of litres and fertilizer in tonnes.

He cannot raise his selling price because he feels the pinch, he can only hassle Government and hope they'll see some sense.

And because he makes a profit for three years on the run, might mean that in a bad year,
it's toad-in-the-hole and mince and cubed chuck stew - and goodbye to the Mercedes to eke the money through.

But being a farmer's not all bad, or else he wouldn't

He sees the sun rise over the veld with dew upon the sand, and knows that every good thing there has come from hard and pleasant work in this, God's lovely land.

He has caring and the friendship that comes from farming stock and knows that help he's freely given, when in trouble will come freely back.

His wife knits for the troopies, and bakes for local funds. She's always ready with a teapot and cakes and tea and buns.

She goes to first-aid classes and learns to set up drips, how to bandage gunshot stomachs. how to manage when the hospital is forty miles away and the road is full of danger in the darkness.

She may one day have a chopper land on her front lawn to casevac her family after fighting in the night, and she must know how to fight back for her life, she may be the only one to cope if there is no 'bright light'* She helps to man the radio, knows how to fire a gun, she goes on monthly chinwags and life still has its fun.

Farming families aren't perfect, and they don't claim to be, but I think they're bloody marvellous!

Don't you agree with me?

Libby Railton Norton

ORAFs records its thanks to the Farmers Union, Lbby Railton, Mike de la Rue and all those who assisted with special thanks to Johnny Ness for giving me the idea.