Nongquai Vol 3 No 09.1
Nongquai Vol 3 No 09.1
Nongquai Vol 3 No 09.1
Vision
To impartially publish the Police History relating to Southern Africa from 1652 to 1994
Mission
To build an objective historical picture of the South African Police and our antecedent police
forces in Southern Africa
To build up a bibliography of police related literature
To collect and archive information, reports, photographs and recollections of police officers especially those who were eyewitnesses of historical events
To publish short memoirs or accounts of members
To collect personal data, photographs of members and their biographies
To, where relevant, record contemporary (post 1994) police history
Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3
Pre-Dinner Drinks .......................................................................................................... 4
The Piper Whiston calls the tune................................................................................... 7
The Ambiance ................................................................................................................. 9
Absent Friends and The Fallen - Richard Glanville ................................................... 10
The Menu ...................................................................................................................... 14
Toast to Absent Friends ............................................................................................... 17
Matebeleland 1893..................................................................................................... 18
The Mashonaland Mounted Police .......................................................................... 18
We will remember them! September 1914 on Active Service ................................ 19
Victoria Falls .............................................................................................................. 20
In the North January 1916 ..................................................................................... 21
BSAP Patrol 1918 ....................................................................................................... 22
We remember some individual Policemen ................................................................ 23
Guest Speaker: Wing Commander Clive Mitchell (RAF) ......................................... 26
After the Dinner some random photogrpahs ............................................................. 32
Some BSAP History ...................................................................................................... 35
BSAP Camels ............................................................................................................. 35
BSAP on Parade......................................................................................................... 35
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Some items of Historical interest Moose van Rensburg (Ft Beaufort Museum)36
Some books from my library on the BSAP ................................................................. 41
The Market Place: Glenn Macaskill ............................................................................. 47
Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 50
About the Editor ........................................................................................................... 51
Introduction
Very few South Africans know the parental lineage of the SA Police. We find that the
forbearers of the former SA Police was the London Metropolitan Police (cities) and
the Royal Irish Constabulary (rural areas). Then came the biggest war that Southern
Africa then ever experienced: The Anglo Boer War!
Policemen from all over the Empire joined the Army to come and fight the Boers.
Lord Strathcona saw that the Boer outwitted the British soldier and suggested that
elements of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) come out to fight the Boers by
following and tracking him down! A Mounty always got his man! During 1904 the
NWMP was honoured for their role in the War and became the Royal North West
Mounted Police. Today they are known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In the mean time the BSAP were quietly fighting Boers at Mafeking and Northern
Transvaal borders.
Then the 10 000 strong SA Constabulary was formed by Lord Baden Powell many
Canadian-, Rhodesian-, Irish- and Australian policemen in the Army joined the SA
Constabulary. Those police pioneers laid the foundation stone for the SA Police
which was to be formed during 1913.
Maj Gen RJ Bobby Palmer also started his career in the BSAP. He came back to South
Africa and joined the SA Police. When the First World War broke out he deserted
after the second attempt he was allowed to go to war and eventually became a pilot
in the RFC.
He came back to the SA Police. He rose to commissioned rank. During the Second
World War he was the OC of 1 SAP later transferring to other units. He won the
DSO and two bars and won many other decorations. He was our first Commissioner
of Police who rose through the ranks a man who started his career in the BSAP.
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A great honour was bestowed upon me, when Col Terrence Terry Schwartz (BSAP
& SAP) invited me as his guest to this years annual BSAP Dinner. Here is my report:
Pre-Dinner Drinks
Rear: Dick Glanville; left to right: Ashley Collings, Doug Seccombe and Barry
George Enslin
The Ambiance
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Having deviated somewhat, lets say we were much more than a fighting regiment,
our forefathers assembled before the country came into existence and gave us an
incredible and lasting legacy we would not be seated here tonight were it not for
those intrepid and honourable men of so long ago and from whom we are spawned.
The BSAP brought the country into fruition, brought in the pioneer column in
relative safety and from then we were the army; we were the post office. The BSAP
erected and administered the early telecommunications systems and manned the
early exchanges.
From the BSAP were drawn the nucleus of the original Staff Corp at the birth of the
Rhodesian Army; it assisted in forming the Northern Rhodesia Police.
But we were more than all of this, we were numbered amongst the finest police
forces in the world, ranking in reputation with the Metropolitan Police, London,
with the Royal Canadian Mounted and the Royal Hong Kong. In early years we
boasted 2 VCs in our own right and research shows that other VCs were earned by
BSAP members on secondment.
From our ranks came Sir Percy Silitoe, wartime director-general of MI5 who in his
book said that his lifes proudest moment was when corporals stripes were pinned
on his sleeve whilst serving in the BSAP.
Research shows that the BSAP & the RCMP were spawned in their origins on much
the same model.
Most of all we remember those who are not with us this evening. Some perished in
skirmishes; others to the grim reaper. We think of those who might have attended
but cannot or chose not.
We think of 5526 Phil Devlin, one of our elder statesmen who. Through failing
health cannot be present though hed have dearly liked to have been. We wish him
well and a speedy recovery. Then there is 4136 Tom Egleton who has just turned 91
years young. I remember him well as OC Rusape District and retied as a SAC. We
salute him.
Our tentacles (I said tentacles!) spread far 5831 Dennis Wadsworth sent me this
Regrettably I will not be attending the Regimental Dinner, its a bit too far to travel
from Austria for the evening furthermore its my 75th birthday on that day and Ill be
celebrating. Would you please pass my greetings to anyone who may recall me at
Camp Hospital
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I replied, Though just a tad younger than yourself, you-and-I shares a common
birthday so Ill raise a glass to you too!
Let us, with sadness remember 5095 Bob Papenfus who succumbed to the grim
reaper very recently after a long battle with that dread disease which he bore with
the extreme fortitude which was typical of is indomitable spirit. We remember him
Returning to the fallen, we have lost members in service in numerous theatres of
skirmish right from our inception culminating in what is now colloquially known as
the bush war the latter probably being more recent in our memories. Nevertheless
the BSAP has members who paid the supreme sacrifice throughout our nearly 100
years as a Regiment or Force. Scattered BSAP graves are to be found throughout
Southern Africa including the Transvaal and Swartrukkens.
The Church of St John the Evangelist at Mafikeng, a Herbert Baker building built in
1902, has on its pulpit inscribed erected by all ranks of the Bechuanaland
Protectorate Service in affectionate memory of their comrades of the Protectorate
Division of the BSAP who fell in the service in the South African War 1899 1902.
We have a long and proud history and tradition and we remember with total and
absolute affection all those who fell under our banner in the service of the Regiment.
Will you all now rise and join me in the final line of the following - youll know it
when I get to it
They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them
Piper plays a lament
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Well all now stand in silence for a short while during which I ask that you think of a
person youd have liked to be here tonight, be he or she be dead or alive.
Ladies and gentlemen join me in the toast ABSENT FRIENDS AND THE FALLEN
At those hallowed moments the Editor paid homage to bush war SAP-causalities;
friends who died in Rhodesia, No 47174 Sgt Rodney Fall and No 44433 Const Danie
du Toit, both from Durban South District (No 75 District.)
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The Menu
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15
16
17
Matebeleland 1893
A MMP Fort
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MMP Salisbury
We will remember them! September 1914 on Active Service
19
Victoria Falls
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Before I go on, I heard a great story the other day, which involves a WWII fighter
pilot who was asked by a local schoolmistress to give a talk at the school assembly
about his exploits during the war.
As he moved onto his part in the Battle of Britain, he described a particularly fraught
engagement: "The fockes came out of the sun and before long there were fockes
everywhere. I shot down one of the fockes but there were simply too many. Before
long, 2 fockes got behind me and shot my tail and I had to parachute to safety. By
this stage, most of the young children were smirking and trying to stifle their
obvious amusement.
In order to restore order the headmistress interjected: "Children, what the pilot is
referring to is the Focke-Wulf FW 190, which was a highly advanced German fighter
of the day with speed and manoeuvrability as its 2 greatest assets".
"Madam" replied our pilot, "your facts are correct but the fockes I was referring to
were Messerschmidt Me 109s."
Returning to my theme, early on in my preparation for tonight, and hoping for some
inspiration, I perused a list of all of the Commissioners of the BSAP. Whilst I learnt
that James Appleby (Commissioner between 7 Dec 50 and 2 Jun 54) served in the
RFC as a pilot before joining BSAP in October 1919 and also that Peter Allum
(Commissioner 7 Feb 78 to 1 Aug 80 and then Commissioner of Zimbabwe Republic
Police until 6 Feb 82) served in the Fleet Air Arm before joining BSAP on 28 April
1946 this was not really what I wanted and did not give me enough to go on.
Finally, by chance, I came across just what was needed; an individual who had
served in the BSAP but who also went on to achieve global fame as an officer in the
RAF. To add to his relevance, he was the individual who served on 39 Sqn and he
also maintained career long links with Rhodesia and played a role in the
development of the South Rhodesian Air Unit and Air Force.
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Our figure of interest was born on 13 April 1892, at Cheltenham, where his parents
were staying while his father was on home leave from the Indian Civil Service. He
was educated at Allhallows School in Devon, while his brothers were educated at
Sherborne and Eton. At the age of 16, not considered academically gifted by his
parents, he was given the choice of "either army or the colonies." He chose the
colonies and first travelled to Rhodesia in 1908. Over the next few years he
flourished, earning his living "gold mining, driving coaches and general farming",
but he also served in the BSAP. In 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, he
joined the 1st Rhodesian Regiment as a bugler and served with the Regiment both in
South Africa and in the German colony of South-West Africa. In 1915 he returned to
England and joined the Royal Flying Corps, serving with distinction on the home
front and in France. In 1917, he returned to England to command No. 44 Sqn, later
to become 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn, on Home Defence duties. He claimed five kills and
was awarded the Air Force Cross. He finished the war a major.
Moving forward, in November 1935, the air section of the territorial force was
established in Rhodesia and in March 1936, our intrepid aviator, now a group
captain, arrived from the Air Ministry in London to advise on the development of
the air unit. On 17 July 1936, the formation of the Air Section Southern Rhodesia
Defence Force was announced in the Government Gazette and on 11 June 1938 it was
first referred to in the Rhodesia Herald as the Rhodesian Air Force. In late August
1939 the Southern Rhodesia Air Unit was dispatched to Nairobi as part of the
mobilization for war with Germany. In doing so, on 3rd September 1939, with its
two detached flights, Rhodesia was the first country in the Empireapart from
Great Britainto establish war stations outside its own borders and on 6th
September 1939 the name of the Southern Rhodesia Air Unit was officially changed
to No1 Squadron, Southern Rhodesia Air Force.
By January 1940, with Britain at war with Germany, the Royal Air Force was
desperate for trained aircrew and our main man, now an air vice-marshal, frustrated
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industries expanded rapidly. On 1st April 1940, the Southern Rhodesian Air Force
was absorbed into the RAF and 1 Sqn was redesignated as No 237 (Rhodesia)
Squadron RAF. Nos. 44 and 266 sqns RAF were also assigned the name "Rhodesia"
because of the large number of Rhodesian airmen and crew in those units and both
have notable history.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, No.44 Sqn was part of our personalitys
No. 5 Group, and it was one of only two squadrons to operate continuously
throughout the war. It was also commanded by Wg Cdr John Dering Nettleton VC,
a South African born in Nongoma, Natal. On 17 April 1942, RAF Bomber Command
launched a daylight bombing mission against the MAN diesel engine factory at
Augsburg in Bavaria, responsible for the production of half of Germanys U-boat
engines. It was to be the longest low-level penetration so far made during World
War II and it was the first daylight mission flown by the new Avro Lancaster.
Nettleton was the leader of one formation of six Lancaster bombers.
As his
formation crossed the French coast at low level it was intercepted by German
fighters, returning to base after intercepting a planned diversionary raid which had
been organised to assist the bombers. Four of the aircraft in the formation were shot
down.
Nettleton continued towards the target and his two remaining aircraft
attacked the factory, bombing it amidst heavy anti aircraft fire. Nettleton survived
the incident but his damaged Lancaster was alone in limping back to the UK. His
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VC was gazetted on 24 April 1942 and three Rhodesians were awarded the D.F.C.
and the D.F.M. Following the war the government of Southern Rhodesia named a
new school after Nettleton (Nettleton Junior School) in the suburb of Braeside in
Salisbury (now Harare).
No 266 Sqn was formed in October 1939 and operated Spitfires during the Battle of
Britain. Prior to "D" day the Sqn was employed in silencing RADAR targets in order
to make a success and surprise of the Invasion. On "D" day the squadron was first in
support of the initial landings on the beach-heads.
It is noteworthy that the Rhodesian squadrons were the first to use two of the most
outstanding aircraft of the war, the Typhoon and the Lancaster.
Moreover,
Rhodesians fought in the RAF in many of the theatres of World War II, probably the
most notable of those in the contemporary era being Ian Smith.
Ian Smith
interrupted his studies during the Second World War and joined the Southern
Rhodesia Air Force. After completing his flight training, he was seconded to the
RAF as a Pilot Officer. He served with distinction in the RAF and on 4 October 1943,
his Hawker Hurricane crashed on take-off from Alexandria, due to a throttle
malfunction. His harness, which was built to withstand a stress of nearly one tonne,
snapped and his face was rammed against the Hurricane's instrument panel. He
sustained severe facial injuries and broke his jaw, a leg and a shoulder and also
buckled his back. Six months after undergoing extensive plastic surgery at the 15th
Scottish Hospital in Cairo, he returned to active service with 237 Sqn in Corsica. In
July 1944, his Spitfire was shot down over the Po Valley by German anti-aircraft
artillery whilst he was conducting a strafing attack on German ground forces. He
parachuted from his aircraft, landing behind enemy lines in the Alps.
Italian
partisan and French resistance groups gave him refuge and, after assisting in the
planning of bombing raids against Germans for nearly five months, Smith and three
other Allied soldiers embarked on a 23-day hike through occupied Italy to reach
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Allied lines. After being repatriated to Britain, he served with 130 Sqn until the end
of the war.
In 1946 it was agreed with the Southern Rhodesian government that air training
should be continued in Rhodesia. To implement this decision the Rhodesian Air
Training Group was disbanded and a new organisation known as the Air Training
Wing, Southern Rhodesia, formed to replace it.
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Col Terry Schwartz, Judy Hankinson, HBH and Police Reservist Alf Whiston
David Holmes wrote: This was a wonderful event, very well organised and a
privilege to have been there. (British South Africa Police Regimental Association of
the Transvaal annual dinner.)
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BSAP on Parade
35
Some items of Historical interest Moose van Rensburg (Ft Beaufort Museum)
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40
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44
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Note by Editor: The above book belonged to a BSAP member. It was alleged that the
book was shot during an attack! I have kept the book in this condition.
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Conclusion
The Editor wrote the following note to his former colleague, Col Terry Schwartz:
50
Dear Terry
Thank you from the bottom of my heart: I left the DINNER with a feeling that the
BSAP's catch words were TRADITION; LOYALTY & COMRADESHIP and with
everything to PERFECTION!
There was an AMBIANCE at the DINNER that I have never felt in my life!
I am proud to have been there!
I travelled the globe - this was one of the best DINNER's I have ever attended in my
life!
Salute
Hennie Heymans
Hennie Heymans
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