Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Order of St. John pair awarded to Commissioner C. I. Bull, Matabeleland District, St. John Ambulance Brigade, who conferred honour on Rhodesia by becoming the first Rhodesian to be awarded the Service Medal of the Order

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Commander’s (Brother’s) neck badge, silver and enamel, lion and unicorn emblems in angles, with neck riband, in case of issue; St. John Service Medal, with four Additional Award Bars (1364. D/Supt. C. I. Bull. Rhodesian Rlys. Dis. S.J.A.B.O. 1934) minor edge nicks, nearly extremely fine (2) £140-180

Order of St. John, Commander London Gazette 11 July 1961.

Claude Ivan Bull was born at Uitenhage, South Africa on 3 October 1902 and enrolled in the St. John Ambulance Brigade at Pretoria on 13 April 1920. He served as a first-aider during the Rand Revolt in 1923, before moving to Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia in 1926, where he was employed by the Rhodesian Railways. On his arrival he joined the Bulawayo Raylton Ambulance Division, the first to be formed in Rhodesia. He was also the trainer and captain of the first team to compete in the Selborne Shield ambulance competitions. He was awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St. John in 1932, the first Rhodesian to be so honoured, and received additional award bars in 1942, 1951, 1953, and 1958. He served throughout the Second World War as Production Assistant to the Director of Production, Munitions and Military Equipment, and on the cessation of hostilities he established an engineering company in Bulawayo. Bull was appointed an Officer of the Order of St. John in June 1953 (London Gazette 26 June 1953), being elevated to Commander in July 1961, and latterly served as Commissioner of the Matabeleland District of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. He died in Bulawayo on 18 February 1969.