Crago, David Jeremy (Lieutenant Colonel, b.1955)

Collection relating to the service of Lieutenant (later Lieutenant Colonel) David Jeremy Crago, while serving on Operation Damon with the Australian Service Contingent Rhodesia, Commonwealth Monitoring Force, Rhodesia, 1979-1980.

Wallet 1 of 1 - Collection consists of material gathered by Lieutenant Crago. These items document his peace keeping duties with the Commonwealth Monitoring Force, Rhodesia (CMF) during the transition of power from white minority rule to black majority rule in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia.
Folder 1 of 3 contains letters, lecture notes, talks and slides, and administrative and tactical papers relating to the CMF, Rhodesia.
Folder 2 of 3 contains copies from editions of the Pangolin Times: No. 11, 18th February 1980 "Visit of Australian Chief of Operations" and No. 8, 7th February, 1980 "Unstinted and Courageous Efforts", which includes a sexually explicit image.
Folder 3 of 3 contains a number of graphic leaphlets: "Massacre of the Innocents", "The Tragedy of Terrorism" and "Liberation in Africa" that document the casualties of war in Rhodesia with accompanying photographs. It also contains "The 1980 Election Simplified" and "British Army Review, Number 65, August 1980 - The House Journal of the Army".

Oversize Custom Box 1 of 1 - Consists of official documents and published material relating to the service of Lieutenant Colonel David Jeremy Crago on Operation Damon with the Australian Service Contingent Rhodesia, Commonwealth Monitoring Force, Rhodesia.

Oversize Flat Folder 1 of 1 - Consists of two election posters relating to the service of Lieutenant Colonel David Jeremy Crago on Operation Damon with the Australian Service Contingent Rhodesia, Commonwealth Monitoring Force, Rhodesia.

In December 1979, the CMF was established by the Commonwealth to supervise the implementation of the Lancaster House Agreement between the government of Southern Rhodesia and the guerilla forces of the Patriotic Front. Under the agreement UK authority was restored over its rebellious colony and a ceasefire implemented. A general election followed and independence was achieved by the new Republic of Zimbabwe.

The role of the multi-national force was to keep the peace between 22,000 guerrillas and the Rhodesian forces during the cease-fire run-up to the 1980 elections. The CMF was tasked with monitoring the agreement and resembled a UN observer mission except that its duties were more extensive, it enjoyed municipal backing.

The Australians were largely spread throughout the force, which consisted of a HQ and 3 Groups. The CMFR were armed as well as conducting the monitoring of the ceasefire and elections.