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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 504

A rare Bronze Cross of Rhodesia pair awarded to Lieutenant G. J. Schrag, 2nd Rhodesian African Rifles, for his gallantry in commanding an attack on two enemy camps on 31 October 1976, when he went into a river bed alone and killed two terrorists at a range of less than ten metres; he also served in 'C' (Rhodesia) Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment

Rhodesia, Bronze Cross of Rhodesia (Lt. G. J. Schrag); General Service Medal, with Silver Pick Commendation (2Lt G. J. Schrag), mounted as worn, good very fine (2)

Provenance:
Christie's, April 1992.

B.C.R. awarded 29 July 1977, the citation states:

'On October 31 1976, a Platoon led by Lt.Schrag was involved in a two-phase, set-piece attack on two enemy camps, each of which included a large group of terrorists.

Despite coming under heavy fire from the first camp, Schrag led the assault with great determination, forcing the enemy to break and run. Having secured the first camp, the platoon swept through the second camp, coming under close-range fire from two terrorists who had hidden in a river bed beyond the camp. The Platoon went to ground, but Lt. Schrag charged into the river bed alone and killed both terrorists at a range of less than ten metres.

He then led his platoon in a sweep of very thick cover where a further four terrorists were killed. Enemy small arms and mortar fire was intense throughout the engagement.'

Military Forces Commendation (Operational) awarded 31 March 1978, the citation states:

'On 7 August 1977, a PATU call sign walked into Rugoyi Police Base in the Makoni TTL with radio failure, but reporting a presence of thirty CTs, the night before at locstst VQ 455454, not too far from St.Killian's Mission.

Fire Force was deployed and a mixed group of CTs and civilians broke cover. The K-Car went into action and two sticks of paras were dropped in very high winds. After Platoon Warrant Officer Wilson broke a bone in his foot the drop was discontinued.

Lt. Schrag co-ordinated the troops on the ground and in a series of contacts four CTs were killed. Lt. Schrag was then shot in the shoulder and acting L/Cpl G.S.Murray, of 5 Indep., took over. Lt.Schrag and L/Cpl Murray did very good work in the contact.'

Graham John Schrag grew up in Umtali and served in 'C' Squadron Special Air Service, Rhodesian Signals and 2nd Rhodesian African Rifles. It was with that last unit that he served most of his time and was awarded both of his decorations, being presented the Bronze Cross on 15 March 1978.

Afterwards, he was worked in various places around the world including Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Southern Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. Somewhere along the line he also had homes in Thailand, Andorra and Cyprus. Schrag died in Switzerland on 12 October 2012.

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Estimate
£2,500 to £3,000

Starting price
£2300