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An Exceptionally Rare Silver Cross of Rhodesia Pair, to 2nd Lieutenant B.M. Thompson Rhodesian African Rifles. Silver Cross o

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Lot 31

An Exceptionally Rare Silver Cross of Rhodesia Pair, to 2nd Lieutenant B.M. Thompson Rhodesian African Rifles. Silver Cross of Rhodesia (Posthumous) 1978; also, a Rhodesian GSM to 123730 Tpr.P.A.Thompson, brother of the above (2 - framed and glazed)Footnote: - Recommendation approved by Lieutenant-General J.S.V. Hickman, Commander of the Army: 'Second Lieutenant Thompson joined the 2nd Battalion, The Rhodesian African Rifles in March 1977. He was involved in over thirty-five contacts with terrorists in which more than 170 terrorists were eliminated. On twenty-nine occasions he parachuted into the contact area, often in high winds and onto hazardous dropping zones. On 12th September 1977, Second Lieutenant Thompson and four patrols were flown by helicopter into a narrow valley from which fire had been directed at the aircraft. Hardly had they deployed when the aircraft were called away in response to another incident and he was left in command with no air support. In a series of sweeps through rocky and cave-ridden terrain eight terrorists and twelve terrorist recruits were killed and thirty-one recruits captured. During the action Second Lieutenant Thompson suspected the presence of a terrorist in a very narrow crevice in the rock-face. Taking off his webbing he squeezed into the crevice and was engaged by a terrorist from such close range that he actually struck the terrorist's rifle aside as the latter was firing. As the terrorist tried to make good his escape, Second Lieutenant Thompson shot him dead along with three others in the same area. Four soldiers were wounded in this intense action, and the success of the whole engagement was due largely to the personal leadership and aggression of Second Lieutenant Thompson. On 27th February 1978 he personally killed three of seven terrorists accounted for. On that occasion he charged at the head of his men into thick bush under heavy enemy fire. On 4 March 1978 he again killed three of thirteen terrorists killed by the Company, once again in thick, rough country with all encounters taking place at point blank range. On 6 June 1978 eight terrorists and fifty terrorist recruits were contacted in thick riverine bush. Second Lieutenant Thompson's patrol accounted for most of the enemy group. Once again, he led his men at the double in the face of fire from the terrorists, running almost into the supporting fire from the air, in his determination to close with and destroy the enemy. Finally, on 27 June 1978, Second Lieutenant Thompson's patrol was ordered to sweep a streamline in which at least three terrorists were known to be hiding. Almost immediately they came under heavy close-range fire and the machine-gunner was badly wounded in the stomach and arm. Still under fire Second Lieutenant Thompson moved forward and dragged the wounded man under cover. He then led his patrol forward and killed two of the terrorists. The third terrorist ran off down the stream and in the ensuing chase Second Lieutenant Thompson and one of his men were tragically killed. At all times when under fire Second Lieutenant Thompson displayed leadership and gallantry of the highest order. His conduct in all circumstances was an inspiration to all who served with him.'

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