Chris Schulenburg

Captain

Chris Schulenburg

GCV SCR
Captain; Chris Schulenburg; GCVSCR
Nickname(s)	Schulie
Born	Union of South Africa
Allegiance	Rhodesia
Service/branch	Rhodesian Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Selous Scouts; Rhodesian Special Air Service
Battles/wars	Rhodesian Bush War
Awards

CaptainChris F. SchulenburgGCV SCRis a South-African born former Rhodesian Army soldier. He is one of only two recipients of theGrand Cross of Valour,Rhodesia's highest military honour and also received theSilver Cross of Rhodesia.Schulenburg received the Grand Cross of Valour in 1978 for an action in which he penetrated an enemy position before returning to his unit and leading a successful assault.

Early career

Schulenburg was known asSchulie.A South African by birth, he joined theRhodesian Armyas a sergeant in theRhodesian Light Infantry.He later transferred to theSelous Scoutsas a lieutenant and was key in establishing a dedicated reconnaissance troop in that unit.^[1]The Selous Scouts often conducted clandestine operations within Rhodesia and abroad during theRhodesian Bush War.Schulenburg often participated in these operations, specialising in long-range reconnaissance missions in which he would be accompanied only by a single black scout.^[2]At least one of these missions took him deep into neighbouringMozambique.^[3]On another occasion, as a lieutenant, commanding a remote post he established a small poultry farm to provide his men with fresh eggs. The poultry relocated frequently with the unit.^[4]

In January 1973,ZANLAfighters attacked a group of white Rhodesian land inspectors nearMount Darwin,killing two and capturing a third, Gerald Hawkesworth, together with his black staff. The staff were released or escaped but Hawkesworth was taken intoMozambique.The Rhodesian government received permission from the Portuguese (Mozambiquewas then aPortuguese colony) to follow the group and Rhodesian Army personnel saw them cross theZambezi River.A parachute assault was launched to attempt to recover Hawkesworth. Lieutenant Schulenburg led one of two four-manpathfindergroups that were first to land. One man in his group, Sergeant Frank Wilmot, was killed when his parachute failed to open. The paratroopers killed a ZANLA member carrying a note requesting permission fromFRELIMO,a Mozambican nationalist force, to transit the area with Hawkesworth but were unsuccessful in locating or rescuing him.^[5]Schulenburg received theSilver Cross of Rhodesiaon 26 September 1975 for actions while serving with theRhodesian Special Air Service.^[6]

Grand Cross of Valour

On 24 March 1978, Schulenburg received Rhodesia's highest award for gallantry, theGrand Cross of Valour.^[6]He was the first recipient of the award and one of only two recipients in its history (the other being SAS commanderGrahame Wilson).^[7]^[8]Schulenburg received the award for actions whilst serving as a captain in theSelous Scouts.He conducted a number of reconnaissance operations on the north-east Rhodesian border. On one occasion, he penetrated an enemy position to count the number of defenders and note their weaponry. Upon returning to his unit, which was cut-off from support and outnumbered, he led a successful frontal assault on the position. Schulenburg's black soldiers wrote to the Selous Scouts commanding officer Lieutenant-ColonelRonald Reid-Dalyto express their admiration for Schulenburg, noting "no man who has done what he has done should still be alive".^[6]Schulenburg has been described by historiansPaul MoorcraftandPeter McLaughlinas "the most distinguished, and decorated, Rhodesian soldier".^[2]

The Rhodesian Bush War ended in 1979 with theLancaster House Agreementand subsequent transition to black-majority rule asZimbabwe.^[9]Schulenburg returned to South Africa, and by 1983 was theTransvaalregion liaison officer of theSelous Scouts Regimental Association.^[10]

Awards

Grand Cross of Valour (Rhodesia)(GCV)
Silver Cross of Rhodesia(SCR)

References

^Reid-Daly, Ron (2002).Pamwe Chete: The Legend of the Selous Scouts.Covos-Day Books. p. 247.ISBN 978-1-919874-33-3.
^^a ^bMoorcraft, Paul L.; McLaughlin, Peter (2010).The Rhodesian War: A Military History.Stackpole Books. p. 52.ISBN 978-0-8117-0725-1.
^Greeff, Jack (2001).A Greater Share of Honour.Ntomeni Publications. p. 67.ISBN 978-0-620-27999-4.
^Historia.2004. p. 142.
^Wessels, Hannes (19 October 2015).A Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia.Casemate. p. 53.ISBN 978-1-61200-345-0.
^^a ^b ^cClarke, John (12 September 2000).Gallantry Medals & Decorations of the World.Pen and Sword. pp. 1765–176.ISBN 978-0-85052-783-4.
^Alexander, E. G. McGill; Barron, Gary K. B.; Bateman, Anthony J. (1986).South African Orders, Decorations, and Medals.Human & Rousseau. p. 137.ISBN 978-0-7981-1895-8.
^Dennison, André; Wood, J. R. T. (1989).The War Diaries of André Dennison.Ashanti Pub. Limited. p. 159.ISBN 978-0-620-13545-0.
^"Zimbabwe profile – Timeline".BBC News.19 March 2019.Retrieved8 December2021.
^"The Selous Scouts Regimental Association".Selousscouts.com.

[1] Reid-Daly, Ron (2002).Pamwe Chete: The Legend of the Selous Scouts.Covos-Day Books. p. 247.ISBN 978-1-919874-33-3.

[moorcraft-2] Moorcraft, Paul L.; McLaughlin, Peter (2010).The Rhodesian War: A Military History.Stackpole Books. p. 52.ISBN 978-0-8117-0725-1.

[3] Greeff, Jack (2001).A Greater Share of Honour.Ntomeni Publications. p. 67.ISBN 978-0-620-27999-4.

[4] Historia.2004. p. 142.

[5] Wessels, Hannes (19 October 2015).A Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia.Casemate. p. 53.ISBN 978-1-61200-345-0.

[clarke-6] Clarke, John (12 September 2000).Gallantry Medals & Decorations of the World.Pen and Sword. pp. 1765–176.ISBN 978-0-85052-783-4.

[7] Alexander, E. G. McGill; Barron, Gary K. B.; Bateman, Anthony J. (1986).South African Orders, Decorations, and Medals.Human & Rousseau. p. 137.ISBN 978-0-7981-1895-8.

[8] Dennison, André; Wood, J. R. T. (1989).The War Diaries of André Dennison.Ashanti Pub. Limited. p. 159.ISBN 978-0-620-13545-0.

[9] "Zimbabwe profile – Timeline".BBC News.19 March 2019.Retrieved8 December2021.

[10] "The Selous Scouts Regimental Association".Selousscouts.com.

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