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The Keith Holshausen Collection A rare Rhodesia Member of the Legion of Merit (M.L.M.) and Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.) pair awarded to Senior Game Scout Sergeant Keni “Kenny” Kasaruro, Rhodesia National Parks and Wildlife Management, a legendary tracker who was decorated for his gallantry in terrorist ambush and mine incidents Rhodesia Member of the Legion of Merit, Civil Division, unnamed as issued, with wearing bar, in its case of issue; Rhodesia Meritorious Service Medal, Civil Division (Keni), with wearing bar, in its case of issue, together with his original Tracker Badge, good very fine or better (3) £600-700 Footnote Just five Rhodesia Members of the Legion of Merit (M.L.M.) were made to African recipients, out of a total of 294 awards. Member of the Legion of Merit (M.L.M.), Civil Division Rhodesian Government Notice 1004/78 of 15 September 1978, the citation for which states: ‘Senior Scout Keni of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management. For a number of years Senior Scout Keni has been stationed in a sensitive area and has been involved in numerous incidents with terrorists. He has shown conspicuous courage, resourcefulness and determination beyond the call of duty.’ Rhodesia Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.), Civil Division Rhodesian Government Notice 1279/76 of 11 November 1976, the citation for which states:‘For brave and gallant conduct over and above the call of duty in a non-combatant role. On the 13 June 1975, at Mana Pools, Ranger Jones and Winhall trod on and detonated an anti-personnel mine. At the time of the incident Sergeant Keni showed bravery and complete disregard for his own safety by immediately dashing into the area of the explosion and pulling both Rangers clear. He then showed initiative and presence of mind in applying limited first aid, and taking complete command of the entire situation. Both Rangers stated that it was largely due to Sergeant Keni’s efforts that the injury sustained by Ranger Jones did not prove fatal.’ Keni “Kenny” Kasaruro, who was born in 1938 and came from the Karoi area of Rhodesia, completed 34 years of exemplary service with the Rhodesia Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, in which he won acclaim for his work as a tracker. In fact accounts of Keni’s gallant deeds appear in several histories stemming from the Bush War period, including The Incredibles, the history of the 1st Battalion, The Rhodesia Light Infantry, by Geoffrey Bond, in which he is credited with being ‘a bloody good tracker’, not least on the occasion he led his section to terrorists who had been operating in the vicinity of Angwa River during Operation Cauldron - as a result two of them were killed (see chapter entitled “The Young Lions” for further details). But probably one of the best descriptions of Keni at work is to be found in Shadows in an African Twilight, by Kevin Thomas, in which Ranger Steve Edwards recounts the gallantry of Keni in the aftermath of a terrorist ambush at Mana Pools in the Zambezi Valley in March 1977: ‘Our truck driver was killed instantly in the initial salvo when Z.I.P.R.A. sprung the ambush, and his truck came to an immediate halt on the left side of the road, right in the middle of the killing ground. Due to the road camber, the open top of the truck leant towards the killer group, offering a totally unprotected target. When the ambush was initially sprung, we took a number of casualties amongst the Game Scouts including five killed. Some of those killed had debussed right into the killing ground. Gerry Bell had arrived soon after, and seeing the stationary truck, thought it had a puncture. According to Game Scout Sergeant Kenny [Keni], who was travelling with Gerry, when they pulled up alongside the truck they realised there had been an ambush, but at that point Z.I.P.R.A. immediately subjected them to a heavy volume of fire. Gerry was hit in the left side of his chest, near the armpit, he slumped forward, groaned once, and then s