The RLI Regimental Birthday on 1 February 1979 was celebrated by a moving dedication and unveiling ceremony of "The Trooper". (The life-size statue, cast by Romillo Fiorini from a sculpture made by Capt Mike Blackman, was erected in the Holy Ground at 1 RLI Barracks. Facing North). The ceremony 'took the form of a parade with representative guards from each of the Commando's, with 'Maj. Pat Armstrong, OLM, as the Parade Commander. The troop's marched on to the specially prepared Holy Ground to the accompaniment of the Band of 'the Rhodesian African Rifles. Major 'the 'Reverend C. W. A. Blakeway, 2 Bde. Chaplain led a large crowd of spectators, relatives and friend's in prayer. The names on the Roll's of Honour for each Commando we're then read by the CSMs of the Commandos. A combined church choir then sang "All 'Through the Night". The Commander of the Army, Lt. Gen. J. S. V. Hickman CLM, MC, then read the lesson, which was followed by the address by the Commanding Officer, 1 RLI, Lt. Col. I. R. Bate, MLM. On behalf of the Officers and men of the 1 RLI, I extend a warm welcome to all our ERE members, members of the Regimental Association, next of kin of the Regiment, and to members of the public who have kindly made the effort to attend our parade. It is with great pride that we honour today those men of the Regiment who have made the supreme sacrifice and dedicate this statue to their memory. This statue, to be known as "The Trooper", represents the courage and endurance of highly-skilled men who fight the enemy with dedication and professionalism. Our sincere prayer is that it will serve 'as a constant reminder to all who see it of their sacrifice. To the dismal jimmies who say that why build a monument that will be destroyed on the advent of majority rule, I would say 'to them that, whilst there is so much as a single breath of life left in one RLI soldier, this statue will remain. Whilst we honour those who have died, we honour just as highly you who continue to fight against the cowardly communists who are trying to disrupt our country. I believe that, man for man, you are, and have always been and always will 'be, more than a match for every terrorist that Nkomo or Mugabe may care to send. Statistics can be misleading but, as an example of your value 'to the country as a whole, these figures are of interest: "The national kill" rate of CTs from 1-3O January 1979 is 189. Of this figure, the RLI, supported by Air Force and other ground units, have accounted for 105. Just over 50%. "Following a contact on 18 March 1968, Platoon Warrant Officer Herod referred to 1 RLI soldiers as "They have the faces of boys but they fight like Lions." That simple statement from a highly-respected African Soldier still stands good today. "The people of Rhodesia are relying on you to help them through these troubled times, and I expect and require of you all an even greater effort to close with and destroy the inhuman butchers who form the dark alliance of the Patriotic Front. We have the normal right to resist those who are determined to destroy us. "To counter the darkness that, aces Rhodesia, we need something more than professionalism and ability, and I believe that we must place our faith in God. I, like many others, am convinced that God is involved in this battle. We have witnessed many incidents to prove this, and those of you who have lost loved ones in this war will understand this. Today we thank God that He is involved with us in our time of need. It is with deep pride that we dedicate this statue to our comrades in arms who have fallen. They shall never be forgotten. Lt. Col. I. J. Bate, MLM, then asked one of the most highly decorated members of the Battalion, L. Cpl R.N Phillips, SCR, to unveil "The Trooper." Wreaths were then laid by the President of the RLI Association, Lt. Col. J. Salt, the Commando-Commanders and the Commanding Officer. The Parade then marched off to the Regimental March, "The 'Saints." Cpl Russell Phillips, SCR pulls the cord for the Rhodesian Flags to drop away from the Statue at the Unveiling Ceremony on February 1, 1979. The Major the Rev W. Blakeway (left) delivers his dedication speech at the Unveiling of the Statue. The Commanding Officer of 1 Bn. RLI, Lt Col I. R. Bate, M1JM (centre) is flanked by Cpl Phillips SCR.. Insert by ORAFs Rededication of the RLI Trooper Statue The RLI Troopie statue, forged in honour of those who served and those who fell with the Regiment in Rhodesia will be rededicated and given a permanent home in a ceremony to take place over the weekend of the 27 of September in Hatfield House London. Insert by John Essex-Clark (Former Patron of the RLI Association) The RLI Trooper and our Colours will now remain on permanent display in the United Kingdom, as our tangible legacies and reminders of our loyal and worthy past, to all the world, long after all of us who once served in the RLI have stopped breathing. ================================================================================== Extracted, by ORAFs, from the "The Cheetah" the magazine of the RLI Apologies for the low quality photographs. Thanks to Digger Essex-Clark and George Dempster for their assistance. 'The Saints go marching on' "The Trooper" will forever remain in the hearts and souls of true Rhodesians forever. ORAFs hopes that "The Trooper" will soon be calling the Saints together so they can all go 'Marching In" May they all be Resting in Peace and Standing Easy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The RLI Association (UK) kindly made details of the RLI "Less We Forget" available to ORAFs. Sincere thanks to Martyn Hudson. 1 BATTALION RHODESIAN LIGHT INFANTRY LESS WE FORGET No. Rank Surname Initials Date of Death 4208 Tpr Ridge E.N.F 18 March 1968 4298 Tpr Binks R.A. 26 March 1968 4241 Tpr Wessels C.D. 26 March 1968 3841 Tpr Thornley M.E. 10 April 1968 4099 Tpr Brading A.T. 22 January 1970 3108 Tpr Meyer G.D. 27 April 1971 4522 Cpl Wentzel T.H.C. 27 April 1971 4013 L/Cpl Moorcroft L.W.H. 27 April 1971 4533 Cpl Moore N.D.R. 29 December 1972 4297 Tpr Donegan K.A. 18 September 1973 PR78524 Tpr Casal C.A. de A 24 October 1973 6353 Tpr Van Staden J.J. 15 March 1974 6250 L/Cpl Lord C.P. 19 September 1974 6041 Tpr Aves M.A. 31 October 1974 781001 2 Lt Steane N.D. 2 April 1975 726212 Cpl De Beer M.J. 19 July 1975 725702 Cpl Coey J.A. 19 July 1975 103738 Tpr Potgieter E. 19 July 1975 726606 L/Cpl Pfeil H.G. 20 August 1975 100097 Tpr Parkin G.J. 24 February 1976 725494 Sgt White P.C.O.(BCR) 28 February 1976 726854 L/Cpl Cookson D.J. 28 February 1976 727333 Tpr Diedricks C. 28 February 1976 V2145 Capt Pitch L.P. 17 May 1976 727215 Tpr Hope R.J. 11 October 1976 107059 Tpr Fanner G.R. 31 October 1976 726724 L/Cpl Lamb M.C. 7 November 1976 728075 Tpr Da Costa F.D. 15 November 1976 725437 Cpl Locke K.P. 6 December 1976 725132 Cpl Alexander R.E. 16 December 1976 727379 Tpr MacKenzie D.G. 1 February 1977 94232 Tpr Vaughan A.E. 17 February 1977 728340 Tpr Warnick E.S.L. 9 April 1977 727392 Tpr MacDonald E.A.C. 15 May 1977 728197 Tpr Clarke G.W. 15 May 1977 727562 Tpr Edmunds C.J. 30 May 1977 107452 Tpr Barclay D.I.F. 7 July 1977 727613 Tpr Turkington G. 16 August 1977 726518 Cpl O'Driscol A.G. 23 August 1977 726869 L/Cpl Garnett P.M. 4 October 1977 100055 Tpr Betts M.D. 13 December 1977 725838 Cpl Travers R.J. 18 December 1977 781130 Lt Countney P.M. 24 December 1977 727999 Tpr Quinn G.D. 30 December 1977 728333 Tpr Le Vieux S. 7 February 1978 729674 Tpr Ellis M.D. 3 March 1978 728515 Tpr Battaglia F.P. 6 March 1978 111392 Tpr Zietsman A.I. 11 May 1978 781236 2 Lt Falzoi F.G. 12 June 1978 729601 Tpr Botes A.J. 22 June 1978 727588 Sgt Marneweck J.C. 8 August 1978 728864 Tpr Clark S.J. 28 August 1978 728721 Tpr Byrne J.P. 26 October 1978 113664 Tpr Millar A.J. 26 October 1978 7285677 Tpr Little B.W. 5 January 1979 v3945 2Lt Rosenfel D.C. 8 February 1979 727896 L/Cpl Overbeek M. 4 April 1979 729659 Tpr Moore M.A. 17 April 1979 726942 Cpl Van Niekirk N.J.(BCR) 18 April 1979 122175 Tpr Gildenhuys R.O. 18 April 1979 729752 Tpr Poole R.F. 19 April 1979 730180 Tpr Stanley A.J. 20 April 1979 728586 Tpr Muir D.S. 12 May 1979 730045 Tpr Chance M. 15 May 1979 730053 Tpr Myburgh K.H. 16 May 1979 728892 Tpr Lang C.F. 4 June 1979 123360 Cpl Rice P.O. 4 June 1979 726466 L/Cpl Nel E.F. 4 June 1979 126683 Tpr Francis R. 10 June 1979 729874 Tpr Elsaesser W.E. 16 June 1979 125542 Tpr McKend B.J. 16 June 1979 727941 Sgt McCall H.J. 16 June 1979 729803 Tpr Dwyer S.M. 16 June 1979 124307 Tpr Briel J.A. 6 September 1979 730092 Tpr Colman A.J. 6 September 1979 123929 Tpr Crow J.M. 6 September 1979 119928 Tpr Enslin B.L. 6 September 1979 729689 Cpl Fry G.H. 6 September 1979 729937 Tpr King S.E. 6 September 1979 123027 Tpr Neasham C.G. 6 September 1979 730099 Tpr Prosser D.R. 6 September 1979 780949 Capt du Plooy J.M 6 September 1979 728831 Tpr Furness H.L.H. 14 October 1979 123471 Tpr Houghton A.P. 21 October 1979 124298 Tpr Greyvesteyn A.W. 15 December 1979 PUGNAMUS AMO LEO (To Fight Like Lions) (BCR) Holder of the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia for valour