Rhodesian African Rifles The Rhodesian African Rifles , or RAR , was the oldest regiment in the Rhodesian Army , dating from the formation of the 1st Rhodesian Native Regiment in 1916 during the First World War . This was followed by the creation of the Matabeleland Native Regiment , and the 2nd Rhodesian Native Regiment , formed in 1917 . In 1918 , the Rhodesia Native Regiment was formed by combining the 1st and 2nd Regiments . Second World War . The regiment was raised again in 1940 during the Second World War and staffed with black non - commissioned officers ( NCOs ) from the British South Africa Police Askari Unit . This was considered as the direct successor of the Rhodesia Native Regiment , which was confirmed in 1962 , and the RAR inherited all of that Regiment ' s battle honours . Until the late 1970s , the RAR had exclusively black recruits and NCOs and exclusively white officers . During the Second World War , the RAR established its first training depot at Borrowdale Camp , Salisbury in 1941 . The RAR shipped out to Burma in 1944 , to serve with King ' s African Rifles battalions in 22 ( East African ) Independent Brigade . The unit saw action in April 1945 , and earned the battle honours ' Taungup ' , ' Arakan Beaches ' , and ' Burma ' . The regiment went back to Rhodesia in 1946 , where its depot was closed , and the unit effectively disbanded . 1945 – 1980 . A skeleton unit was however retained . By 1949 , A , B and C companies were operational as demo companies . In 1951 , B Company became support company . The regiment saw service in Suez in 1952 , and in 1953 it was presented with the Queen ' s Colour and Regimental Colour by the Queen Mother . In 1954 a new depot was opened for the regiment at Llewellin Barracks in Bulawayo . The Depot was situated near the HQ 1st Bn R . A . R , which had always been at Heany / Methuen Barracks near Llewellin Barracks . During the Malayan Emergency , the regiment served as part of the Army of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Malaya from 1956 to 1958 . While in Malaya , the unit was known as the RhAR to distinguish it from the Royal Australian Regiment . After the Malayan Emergency , the RAR was deployed to Nyasaland ( now Malawi ) in 1959 . Later deployments included Northern Rhodesia ( now Zambia ) , the Congo Border , and within Rhodesia in 1966 . Its first contact in the Rhodesian Bush War came in the Zambezi Valley in September 1966 . The RAR was responsible for over 400 guerrilla casualties from 1966 – 1973 . A second battalion was raised in 1973 ; in 1976 this battalion was based at the former boarding school of St . Stephen ' s College , Balla Balla which had closed in 1975 . This new barracks in Balla Balla was named Shaw Barracks , after the late Maj - Genl J . Shaw . A JOC HQ was formed at Fort Victoria ( now Masvingo ) followed by 3 RAR ( HQ at Umtali , now Mutare ) in 1977 – formed from three of the Independent RAR companies . Para - training was introduced in 1978 and the RAR were actively involved in " fireforce " missions , where they gained a reputation of jumping from minimum heights . The unit was not deployed outside Rhodesia during the war , but it established a considerable tally on internal operations . In 1979 , black officers first began to serve in the unit . The 4th Bn ( Holding Unit ) RAR was formed when the Selous Scouts disbanded on 17 April 1980 . It existed in name only and continued until 30 September 1980 before becoming 1st Zimbabwe Parachute Battalion . After Zimbabwe ' s internationally - recognised independence on 18 April 1980 , the Rhodesian African Rifles Battalions were integrated into the 1st , 3rd and 4th Brigades of the Zimbabwe National Army but were not immediately integrated with ZIPRA or ZANLA cadres ; in fact , in 1981 RAR and recalled elements of other Rhodesian units were used to suppress fighting in integrated battalions of the Zimbabwe National Army . Weapons . As in most Rhodesian Army units , the standard weapon was the FN FAL in calibre 7 . 62mm , or the identical South African R1 . The MAG - 58 light machine gun was carried as a section weapon , with heavier support provided by 81mm mortars . The West German G3 rifle was used in increasing numbers toward the end of the war . Regulation - issued weapons were often supplemented by local products , captured weapons and a variety of personal sidearms .