Editor's Notes

Following publication of the January issue of the Natal Outpost two old sayings are appropriate - “practice makes perfect” and “learn from one's mistakes.”

I am not making excuses for the mistakes made – typographical errors, spelling (I intended to describe Dave Callow as psychic not physical !) and inferior presentation of some old black & white photos – hopefully will not happen again.

In his Editor’s Notes for The Outpost, March, 1960, Eric Crabbe related how a reader had phoned to point out a spelling mistake in the magazine – “It was rather flattering that he thought it a matter of such note as to be worth a telephone call.”

Then Eric went on at length to explain how the editorial staff of the large well known ‘world’ magazines ensured the minimum of errors – employing not only batteries of researchers and checkers, but utilizing a special colour coded ‘dot’ system – different colours indicating the conclusiveness of as many different checks it had been possible to apply.

I mention this merely to let you know this is how we do it on the Natal Outpost, but we only have one dot.

It’s black, and you will see it at the top of this page.

However, apart from someone pointing out to me that I had omitted Mashonaland and Matabeleland from the world list of Branch secretaries (sorry - now corrected) I have received a very positive response from many people – thanks to you all again.

Regarding identification of the three main characters on the January cover – Graham de Wit was quick off the mark to indicate a squadmate of his was the policeman – 6165 Dave Hulett. Breaking News : As we go to press Dave has just been located near Adelaide, Australia – read full story in July edition of the Natal Outpost! – (td).

No prize for guessing who identified the horse as RH Ukraine – Smudge Smith of course! Smudge recognized not only the shape of Ukraine’s ears, the white star on his forehead but the regimental number 600 engraved his left front hoof.

My crib from the past is Eric Crabbe’s Editorial Notes in the Feb., 1959 Outpost on the subject of Police Marriages -

“ Policemen though most readers may be, they will nevertheless, if they want to marry a policewoman and if the bride wants to continue in her employment (which, after all, is just as much a vocation as marriage), have to satisfy the Commissioner as to their suitability to be the husband of a member of the Force. Since this is not quite the same thing as satisfying the Commissioner that one is, oneself, a suitable person to be a member of the Force, we foresee policemen swotting up on the domestic virtues – knitting, sewing, afternoon tea party giving, bridge and learning how to answer the telephone in the absence on duty of the wife. Male nursing would also seem to be a professional qualification to assist the chances of the hopeful groom, just as in the past, one of the prime (unwritten) qualifications for suitability as a policeman's wife has been that she should be a fully trained hospital sister.

Perhaps we are magnifying the possible effects of the ' Police (Women's) Regulations, 1959', published under SRG Notice No 9/59, for under normal circumstances a policewoman who wishes to marry must resign to do so or suffer discharge. However, the Commissioner may, in his discretion, authorise the marriage of a policewoman and continuation of service in exceptional circumstances and where the policewoman has special qualifications.

What seems to be a new departure in these regulations is that, in terms of Section 3, “All questions regarding the interpretation of these regulations shall be referred to the Commissioner.”

There are a number of ex members amongst us today who will remember how these regulations affected them and perhaps they would like to write in and tell us if, and how, it changed their lives in the Force. I would especially like to know what ‘special qualifications’ the Commissioner of the day would be looking for, to convince him the lady in question should stay on in her chosen career?

Before handing over to Nobby for his Comment – although Nobby didn’t marry a policewoman the fact that her first name is Natasha caused a few questions to be asked before permission was given for the marriage to take place (at that time of course Nobby was in the Special Branch!) – Trevor Dutton

Chairman's Comment

The 79th Edition of the Natal Outpost printed in January 2009, was very well received and our thanks to our editor, Trevor Dutton. Even as this comment is being compiled complimentary reports continue to arrive from friends inside and outside our borders. Indeed, some members who have been a little distant for some time, have rejoined the Association and have come to some of the gatherings.

Trevor’s idea of a ‘Natal Profile’ is a super concept and we are particularly privileged to have the input of The Hon. Mr. Justice Hilary Squires in the 79th edition. I, for one, was amazed at the recall and contact Judge Squires had with members of the BSAP, going back to the 50’s. There was also very favourable comment from the ladies at the office, who happened to view the photographs of Judge Squires. Thank you very much, Sir, for Part One and we look forward to Part Two.

I made mention in the last edition of the fantastic support by members for one another and the continuance of our Association. In the few months since the publication of the last edition, there has been further evidence of this wonderful body of people, who will react to the needs of others. For example, John Dolby spent time in Albert Luthuli Hospital undergoing a by-pass operation. John and Carla live in Margate. Carla was travelling to Durban to be near to John. Their car broke down. Dave Callow and Barry Woan came from Margate and provided assistance by taking Carla to Flame Lily, where she stayed for a while. The car was towed to Margate and repaired. Trevor Wilson maintained contact with Carla during her stay in Durban. We wish John a speedy recovery. Thanks to all who were there for them. There are other examples of this nature and the willingness of members to be there for one another – many thanks.

I was hoping that there would be more information or progress regarding the pensions of Rhodesian civil servants, but there has been no further comment on this topic from the press or friends overseas. However, a report has been received from David le Breton, Secretary, Overseas Service Pensioners Association, Kent, England, to the effect that the British Government is about to embark on a ‘Resettlement Programme’, whereby 500 to 1800 Zimbabwe Pensioners over the age of 67 years would be moved to the United Kingdom. Those selected would have to meet the requirements of British residency.

We have all along expressed our appreciation and admiration for those involved in delivering food and goods to pensioners in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Pensioners Support Fund has been active for a number of years and properly registered as a Section 21 Company. We are disappointed that they have not reacted to queries concerning the administration of the fund. Our concern being, that without open transparency on the financial standing of the fund and administrative systems to thank donors for their support, suspicion would be raised, giving rise to donor reluctance towards on going support. Sadly, pensioners in need would suffer as a result of dwindling donor support. Promises were made that by the end of January, there would be open communication on the financial standing of the Fund and a system would be in place whereby, those donating would receive some form of verification to that effect. As predicted, some have now stopped providing support. Disappointing!!!

By the time this goes to print we would have had functions at Durban South and Hillcrest and we look forward to Margate and Inchanga gatherings. The AGM will be early in June and your input will be required in regard to some proposed amendments to the Constitution. And, if any committee member is contemplating a rest – no chance, but additions would be welcome.

Nobby Clark

BSAP World Nominal Roll

In the last edition of Natal Outpost I mentioned in my Editor’s Notes that my interest lay in knowing just how many of us are left today, across the world. It is going to take time and of course the final total is going to reduce as our Obituary column grows.

Already my research shows the total picture could be skewed due to some members being on the nominal rolls of more than one Branch plus the fact that others do not reside in the country where they are registered as members. For example, as the USA and Canada do not have an official Branch as such many of the members residing in those two countries belong to the UK Branch and thus may also appear on their nominal roll as well.

Also an interesting situation has now arisen. For the local scene – Natal in particular – I am including names and numbers of ex-members who, for whatever reason, are not currently registered members of the Association.

I believe they still need to be ‘counted’ and whenever any member of our organization comes across someone we didn’t know about , we (Des Howse and myself), would like to be told.

This view is not shared by everyone . I have been told by one Branch secretary that he has neither the time nor the inclination to bother with former members of the BSAP who do not register as members of the Association. I can understand his view as that was exactly my own opinion some 4 years ago when I joined the Natal Committee and was given the responsibility to promote Membership.

I suppose I have mellowed as I now understand, from personal experience, that many ex-members just cannot afford either the annual subscription or the cost to participate in social get-togethers. They are, understandably, in some cases too proud to admit it.

But these people have a right to be listed on our World Nominal Roll.

I would ignore only those, very few, who openly show hostility towards once being part of the BSAP.

In our last issue I published names and numbers of a couple of stations/branches and will do the same in this edition, but in the interim it may be of interest to provide a running total to date, which will be updated in future editions until more or less complete –

(April, 2009)

Station Notes

Durban South

Bring And Braai – Sunday 8 February 2009

After a somewhat wet week, Sunday dawned bright and warm avoiding the need to follow our contingency plan (what plan you might ask?) and people started attending from the appointed hour of 11am at MOTH Mills Bomb Shell Hole, Warner Beach. Needless to say Old Bill (Gerald Coleman) and his wife Martha had done all the necessary preparations. As time went by it was apparent that this was going to be the best attended Durban South get together yet. Eventually there were 49 attendees being a mixture of former BSAP, BSAP Reserve, Rhodesian Army and guests.

As the braaiers commenced their cooking large pots of Sadza and gravy were supplied by Martha Coleman which quickly went the way that only good Rhodesians know how.

It was great to have the Natal Committee present with exception of Des Howes and Ken Wood, who sent their apologies.

Visitors from further afield included staunch supporters, Barry Woan, in good humour, ably assisted by Dave Callow and Kevin Wood from Margate, Nigel Cuerden and Sheila Chadwick (widow of 4210 Brian Chadwick) from the Midlands and many new faces to our venue.

Those attending, as per the visitors book were:

9998 Gerald & Martha Coleman; 16911 Errol & Hester Johnson; 5042 Peter Arnold; 5888 Neville and Elsa Coo; 5825 Nigel Cuerden & Sheila Chadwick; Des and Dora Mellet(Visitors); 5939 Vic & Reena Sutherland; Mike Joyce; 6088 Gerry and Mrs. Bowker; 12686 Charlie & Mrs. Adams; 4947 Roy Welch; 7639 Jock & Anne Knotze; The Rabie Family (5Visitors); Buck & Betty Jones (5RR): Dev & Lucy De Villiers (1RAR); 5156 Peter Gibson; PR G Hazlewood & Judy Steedman; 5794 Jac & Muriel Parker; PR 3335 Digger Flavell; WPO 096 Val Oldham; 6283 Nobby Clark; 8531 Kevin Woods; 8157 Dave Callow;6468 Barry Woan; 5293 Trevor Dutton; 7706 Chris & El Driver & Family (4); 8303 Rob Bristow; 5934 Fred and Lindsay Mason; 5268 Malcolm Wiltshire and 5760 Malcolm & Jean Torrance.

We look forward to hosting our next function later in the year. 5042

Hillcrest

Another very enjoyable Hillcrest Station 'bring 'n braai' was held at the Augusta Estate on Sunday 29 March 2009. Although (again) the function could have been better supported, the twenty six members and guests spent four hours enjoying the company of friends and ex-colleagues whilst consuming a few 'lemonades' (!).

Surprise visitors from the Midlands Branch were Alan & Flik Bennett and John & Nancy Carroll whilst Rob & Shelagh Hamilton, who were in town from their Ladybrand (Free State, for the ignorant), graced us with their presence, as did Vic & Reena Sutherland from the Durban South Station.

Those attending (in order of arrival) were :

7033 Derek Kerr, 5939 Vic & Reena Sutherland, 7229 Des & Trish Howse, 7026 Stretch Hughes, WPO 96 Val Oldham, 5087 Robin & Pat Johnson, 5802 Ken Wood, 5293 Trevor Dutton, 7402 Rob & Shelagh Hamilton, 4947 Roy Welch, 5661 Trevor Wilson, 6717 Hugh & Jill Dixon, 8242 Alan & Flik Bennett, John & Nancy Carroll, 6283 Nobby Clark, 8086 Denis & Marian Wyatt, Guest Eric Evans (R.A.R.) and 5268 Mac & Daphne Wiltshire.

Apologies were received from 7543 Peter Gatland, 6872 David Lynn, 5934 Fred Mason and 4254 Smudge Smith.

A mother took her 5 year old son with her to the bank on a busy lunch time. They got behind a very fat woman wearing a business suit complete with pager.

After waiting patiently for a few minutes the little boy said loudly, “Wow, she’s fat.” The mother bent down and whispered in her little boy’s ear to be quiet.

A couple more minutes passed by when the boy reached both arms out wide and announced, “ I bet her bum’s this wide!”

The fat woman turned round and glared at the little boy. The mother gave him a good telling off and told him to be quiet. After a brief lull the fat woman reached the front of the queue, when her pager emitted a “bleep – bleep – bleep.”

The little boy yelled out “Run for your life – she’s reversing!”

Obituaries

5219 Roger Booth: Fred Punter reports that Roger Booth passed away 29 February 2008.  Roger joined the force in March 1954 and served until January 1978, when he retired with the rank of Superintendent.

8235 Martin Roger Kay, died on the 23rd of January 2009 in Johannesburg while seeking treatment for suspected Leukaemia. Martin lived in Harare and was a committee member of the Mashonaland Branch of the Association. He served from the 15th of April 1969 to the 1st of August 1983 retiring as Detective Chief Inspector.

5470 Duane “Buddy” Deetlefs, passed away on Friday the 6th of March 2009 in Pietermaritzburg. Buddy joined the Force on the 13th of April 1956 retiring on gratuity on the 31st of July 1968 with the rank of Section Officer.  Buddy was the founding Honorary Secretary of the Natal Midlands Branch of the Association in which position he served with distinction for seven years.

6142 Eric James “Dick” Glanfield: Graham de Wit advises that Eric died at his home in Gonubie, East London, on Saturday morning, 14th March, 2009, following a heart attack whilst working in his garden. He served from 18 Mar, 1960, to 26 Sep, 1963 and left as a Constable.

3960 Jack Raymond Hammond: It is reported that Jack died on 30th March, 2009, in Harare, Zimbabwe. No further details at this stage. He served from April, 1946, to November, 1969, retiring as a Chief Inspector

Natal Profile: 4254 Neil (Smudge) Smith

Born 11th February, 1928 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, at Grey’s Hospital to Alexander and Minnie Smith, nee Kemp. My father was a shipwright from Aberdeen in Scotland and my mother was a South African from Craddock in the Eastern Cape. I was the seventh in a family of ten children – five boys and five girls.

I attended Boys Model Primary School in Pietermaritzburg and my higher education at Pietermaritzburg Technical College where I obtained my matriculation in 1946.

During this period I was very involved with the YMCA Youth Clubs as their Physical Training Instructor - camping, hiking in the Drakensberg, etc.

My ambition was to become Physical Education Instructor at Stellenbosch University and whilst my application was successful, in 1946, I was unable to accept due to lack of funds.

I joined the BSAP on the recommendation of Jack Bristow, father of Sid Bristow, ex-Commissioner of the BSAP. I was turned down in 1946 due to my height – too short – but was eventually accepted in May of 1948 when I visited Salisbury in the then Rhodesia with the Natal Swimming Team as a springboard diver. Joined the BSAP as a Trooper under Squad Instructor Claude de Lorme. The equitation instructors were Jock Sturrock and Curly Gaylard.

Having been selected for the Musical Ride Display in 1948 I took part in yearly displays on horseback for the BSAP – a total of 23 years until my retirement.

In 1949 I was appointed as an instructor for Physical Training, Foot Drill, Equitation and all allied subjects. In 1951 I proceeded to the United Kingdom on 5 months leave where I attended an Equitation Course at the Royal Armoury Veterinary Training Corps at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. Whilst on the course, I hunted with the Prestige Hunts of the Belvoir and Quorn whilst in uniform. I then returned to Rhodesia in 1952 after 14 months away to continue training recruits. In 1953 I was then posted to Nyasaland for riot duties and training of the police mobile riot unit for which I received a Police Commendation.

During my 23 years in the BSAP, I competed in hockey, football, golf. rugby, swimming, high board diving, water polo, show jumping, 3-phase eventing and polo. During my career I represented Rhodesia on numerous occasions at the Rand Easter Show in South Africa.

I met my wife Shirley – sister of Bill Coetzer, well known farrier and rugby player, in 1956 and we married in 1959.

On retirement from the BSAP, I became Assistant Manager at the Troutbeck Hotel in Inyanga. As the Assistant Manager I was responsible for the creation of a riding school and all sporting facilities. I formed the Troutbeck Police Reserve maintaining ties with the Force.

In 1975 I became a Foundation Member of the Rhodesian Mounted Infantry – later the Grey’s Scouts. In 1981 I returned to South Africa and accepted an appointment with the Natal Provincial Administration in their Security Division. I was appointed Manager of the Durban Shongweni Club in 1989 which catered for all club, provincial and international polo and all allied equestrian activities. During the period at Shongweni Club I was appointed to train the Durban Metropolitan Mounted Division. I was then 70 years of age!!! I retired to Inchanga Park Country Village in 1999 where Shirley and I are currently residing.

In retrospect, I would – given the opportunity – do it all over again!

The Hon.  Mr Justice Hilary Squires
The second and final episode on the Natal Profile of Mr. Justice Hilary Squires

I left the public service in February 1959 and set up practice in Bulawayo as an advocate in June of that year, after taking a few months leave. But as the remorseless drift of head offices of various commercial and industrial enterprises moved to Salisbury or, because of the township lawlessness emigration started and the volume of legal work declined. Finally, with the opening of the rail link from Rutenga to Lourenco Marques (as it was), Bulawayo lost its commercial importance as the port of entry for the Federation, and when the Federation was dissolved, this process of decay accelerated. I had already decided, by mid-1965, to move to Salisbury.

Not only did I receive the occasional work from Salisbury – usually a government department that had a problem in Bulawayo, but I had a number of attorney friends in Salisbury who also urged making the change. So, in about October 1965, we decided to move to Salisbury, taking the opportunity before December of taking our two small children to the coast.

It was while on holiday at Fish Hoek that UDI was declared. The world that we knew which really wasn’t all that big – held its breath, but by the time we returned in early December 1965, apart from the unusual police road block on the main road, nothing had changed. The obvious thing to do was to get on with ones life, which is what we did.

Work started to trickle in, helped I think by the fact that I appeared for the government in the first challenge to UDI and its legal consequences. We managed to have the application dismissed, albeit on something of a technicality, but it helped to get going. Life slowly became busier and I got to know some of Salisbury’s leading attorneys, including “Sam” Whaley, the senior partner of Coghlan, Welsh and Guest, one of the country’s most eminent firms. One day, some of my advocate colleagues asked to see Ian Smith.

I can’t recall what it was now – I think concern at some of his right wing adherents – but in the course of the encounter, he made it clear that while he did not subscribe to “one man one vote” he was not opposed to black advancement, nor achievement, as long as it was based on some deserving merit. While there were certainly people in his political party, the RF, who longed for the South African style apartheid – or a modified form of it – that was not his political thesis, and he specifically said he wanted more people of moderate views to join his party – or, at least, enter into the political arena, even if not in the RF.

It was about this time that a new constitution was being debated, the old one having become a casualty of UDI, and the suggested contents, or some of them, were occasionally the subject of a chat with Sam Whaley who, as I recall, was chairman of a commission appointed to consider and advise on the provisions of this new constitution that would embody such changes as were necessary to reflect the present reality, particularly the abolition of the right of appeal to the British Privy Council as the ultimate Appeal Court of the country’s legal system. I don’t remember what points I may have urged or argued against, relating to the various submissions made to Sam’s Commission, but as the decks were being cleared for the first election under the new provisions, I was asked if I’d stand for the RF as a parliamentary candidate.

This enquiry came from Sam Whaley with the concurrence of Jack Howman, a professional partner of Sam Whaley and the then Minister of Local Government and Housing, both quite senior members of the ruling political party. I was not then a member of the RF and the suggestion was not pursued because of anticipated objection from old party war-horses who would resent a Johnny-come-lately usurping the reward of their efforts to unseat Whitehead and put the brakes on the haste to majority rule.

But I was urged to become a member of the Rhodesian Front and did so eventually, under the auspices of Dr. Douglas Hamilton-Ritchie, a most

sensible, practical orthodontic surgeon of my acquaintance and a model of moderate political views, if ever there was one and who was then the member of parliament for Borrowdale – my residential constituency. I did so join and thought no more about it until about September 1971 when I received a telegram while on holiday at a seaside resort on the Mocambique coast, asking if I’d stand as the RF candidate for the constituency of Salisbury Central in place of the sitting member – Theo Ellison – who had resigned following a prosecution of his business over sales tax payments, or lack of them, and thus causing a by-election. The Smith-Douglas Home agreement of 1971 was then being tested by a travelling Commission of British officials or MP’s to end the state of UDI and achieve formal recognition, and in the event I was returned unopposed, though the attempt to reach agreement with the Heath government in Britain was derailed by the UANC under Bishop Muzorewa causing enough protest to alarm several of the British commissioners, who reported that the agreement was not acceptable to black Rhodesians. Heath was pre-occupied with admission to the Common Market in Europe, and let the Rhodesian issue fade.

The rest is really history. By 1975, Des Lardner-Burke had had enough of the Justice and Law and Order portfolios, which I was asked to take over, starting on 1st Feburary 1976.

That brought me into contact with even more policemen and the BSAP generally. Peter who was the then Commissioner, Peter Allum who was Deputy and head of the C.I.D. – a meteoric rise from Member i/c C.I.D. at Bulawayo, Derek Bennison, his deputy and head of S.B. and the several Provincial Commissioners of the day, were the most high profile. John Bradfield, “Sandy” Sandison, “Bert” Freemantle, Pat McCullogh at Gwelo and Cordy Hedge. On several trips around the country I was also able to meet many rural members in charge and their men, and often their wives as well, all of whom were unfailingly hospitable and welcoming.

Of the rural encounters, one that sticks in my memory most, was Insp. van Wyk of Beit Bridge. I can’t recall his first name, I think Mobie, but no matter what it was, he was just having to grapple with the first incursions of terrorists up the Limpopo River of which of course, Beit Bridge would be a natural target. When I got there he had just received an urgent order from PGHQ about the theft of a consignment of whisky that had gone missing from a goods train between Johannesburg and Bulawayo. This misfortune must have had serious consequences because the ripples reached the highest level in Salisbury, resulting in an instruction to van Wyk to please attend to the investigation of this theft with all despatch. I recall him asking with barely concealed irritation, whether these *#@!& in PGHQ didn’t think he had enough to do without having to resolve this mystery, and throwing the telex into the wastepaper basket.

I heard, later, that on that very evening he carried out, as was his custom, a walk through the African township at Beit Bridge, to assess the attitude of the inhabitants; and there, outside the doorway of the first house he passed, was a paralytic black man asleep on the front path, clutching a half empty bottle of Chivas Regal to his chest.

It turned out to be one of the missing consignment of whisky and was the key to solving the mystery of the heist – a theft apparently master-minded by a clerk in the Railways at Bulawayo – the give away half empty bottle being that participants share of the loot.

Mobie was a damn good policeman, and typical of the first class material the force had at that senior n.c.o. level.

My time with the BSAP ended in early October 1978 when Roger Hawkins, who had been Minister of Defence and Combined Operations was diagnosed as having cancer. He retired from his portfolios and the question of a substitute obviously arose. At a cabinet meeting after Rogers resignation, Ian Smith turned to me and said “You’ve always been critical of the way the Army is run, you go and put it right.” To say I was flabbergasted would be a serious understatement.

It is true I had – I thought only occasionally - ventured some mild reproof of the way the Defence Department wasted money and manpower, but I was comparing the meticulous way that Phil Murray, the Deputy Commissioner in charge of the BSAP budget and expenditure, carried out his mandate,

helped by stalwarts like Hugh Phillips, to the apparently profligate waste of the Army, who constantly overspent without Treasury consent and seemed to be

largely incapable of careful husbandry of resources.

Anyway, it was another instance of talking too much, and so I found myself moving out of Vincent Building and into Milton Building across Jameson Avenue and picking up Roger’s baton and where I stayed until 31st May 1979, when Muzorewa took over the Government after the Internal Settlement election of that year. Since then, my contact with the BSAP has been limited to annual re-union dinners – a subtraction that I regret but could not avoid. It was a truly fine instrument of law and order and enjoyed the esteem and support of the whole population, white and black. Even in the darkest days of nationalist subversion, and terrorist intimidation, the man in the blue grey shirt always commanded

respect and help. I recall an incident when a crowd in a township in an ugly mood after some local trouble, threatened to resort to violence in the face of an Army stick, but opening up to allow passage to a land rover flashing its blue light going to the scene of the problem and making way for the young white inspector to take charge and calm things down. That was a typical example of the respect the BSAP was accorded by the Rhodesian people. I believe that police force was as good as any in the world.

One tended to think all police forces were of similar calibre, but that was an illusion that has long since been dispelled. The more I see of other police forces, the more I realize how fortunate we were in Rhodesia.

Hilary Squires

This following snippet was not part of Hilary’s submission – I picked it up from the review of the Salisbury Annual Dinner held 10 Sep., 1976 –( td).

“.............The Guest of Honour this year was the Minister of Justice, Law & Order, Mr. Hilary Squires, who gave one of the most amusing and lengthy speeches heard at the Salisbury dinner in recent years.............Having slandered the two deputy commissioners (PK Allum and Len Jouning) who were seated close by, with a reference to the post-war recruiting brochure, which sought to ‘ interest the sons of gentlemen who could ride and shoot.’

“The sons”, the Minister pointed out, “didn’t have to be gentlemen”.........”

Recruit Squad Achievements

SQUAD 2/60 - Gerry Robinson believes his squad collectively had the best sporting achievements than any other squad -

Peter Janse van Rensburg 1st & 2nd team rugby and cricket (Sby Police), Eric Glanfield Police 1stXV and Mashonaland Rugby, Dick Judson Police 1st cricket and rugby& Mashonaland cricket, Gerry Robinson Natal Midlands and Natal Country Dist., cricket, Police 1st cricket, 2nd rugby and 2 years Police Athletics Victor Ludorum, John Wright 2 years Police Athletics Victor Ludorum,

Rob McGowan SA and Rhod., 100 metres backstroke champion, Tony Crossley, Olympic Yachtsman, Alec Fraser,Police tennis, Andy Andersen Police and Provincial squash,

Alex du Plessis Police and Provincial shottist, Brian Kilborn Police 1st cricket, Roger McCartney N. Rhodesia Schools 800 metre champion.

The other members of the squad were the late Nigel Peck (Depot rugby) the late Alec Bramford and the only non South African, or Rhodesian, a Scotsman ,by the name of Andy Shepherd who broke all records at falling off his horse !!!  

SQUAD 5/54 – Malcolm Wiltshire has this to report -

“The Editor kindly sent me this week a copy of my squad photograph which I had never seen before, uplifted from an old Outpost . Receiving it caused me to reflect on what had happened since we joined on 27th. June 1954 and did our Depot course.

(I had forgotten the officers still had military ranks).

There were actually 14 of us in the Squad , excluding two Bechuanaland Police chaps Leach and Dennis who did the whole course with us. 13 of us came from UK and 1 was from S Rhodesia (Ken Bray). Statistically seven of us served for 20 years or more and went on pension from various branches . 2 as Chief Supts, (Angus Ross & I) 4 as Chief Inspectors (Norman Burns, Dave Goodhead, Pat Deasy & Don Garman) and a Section Officer (Ken Bray).

I would have thought half of our number getting to pension was a high percentage but I would be interested to know if other squads on the 20 years system did better than that?

One of the squad was killed in Que Que in a road accident after only one year’s service (Eric Williams) - I was stationed at Gwelo at the time and the O C let me go through for the funeral.

Peter Parsons transferred to what was then the Native Dept after three years service

Two left by Purchase before their ‘three’ was up (Gwynne Power and Larry Thorne) and David Bound was discharged’ after five years. Why I don’t know. Roland Russell left ‘ time expired’ after three years and George Bavin left ‘At own request after 3˝ years.

He does not appear in the Squad photo and for some reason –which I never learnt – he passed out with the next Squad.

Roland Russell was the son of Lord Russell of Liverpool (chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg Trials) who had just published his book ‘ The Scourge of the Swastika’ and because of that we got some attention as a squad from the Pathe News people on the boat and in Depot. The last I heard of Roland he was an Estate Agent in Amanzimtoti but that was quite a few years ago. I went to the cinema shortly after our arrival in Salisbury and on Pathe News actually saw the squad members disembarking at Cape Town and lined up down the gangplank.

Sadly (to my knowledge) six have died in various parts of the world (Angus Ross, Eric Williams, Dave Goodhead, Don Garman, Dave Bound and George Bavin.)

After 50 years in June 2004 I wanted to have a 50 year reunion on the day we attested but was only able to get hold of Pat Deasy (Joburg) and Norman Burns (Pietermaritzburg). They both came to Durban and we spent a pleasant day at the newly opened Durban Aquarium with lunch at the Cargo Hold restaurant where the whole of one wall is entirely glass and looks into the shark tank.

Like most of us I guess I am curious as to what happened to those members of our squad I lost touch with, particularly the ones who left in the early years and also Ken Bray.

I also heard on the grapevine that Mike Leach of the BPP was in Cape Town now but I

have been unable to trace him.

In some ways it is hard to believe that so many years have passed by and so much has happened to us all since 1954 - and of course infuriating that all those years of dedicated service by so many has evolved into the present despotic and tragically failed State that is Zimbabwe.”…………………………….

Malcolm Wiltshire

* Tommy Cooper -'You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine. 'So that was nice.'

Letters To The Editor

(6439) Steve Ross-Jones writes –  “One beautiful spring day in 1962, Graham Griffiths and I were catching a breather from our patrol duties and stretching our legs, alongside the Gwelo road near Inyati north of Bulawayo. Having returned from a seven day highway patrol up to Vic Falls just the previous week, we were congratulating ourselves on our extreme good fortune. Good fortune based on having a beautiful, gleaming 3.8 Jaguar, a highly superior car on the Rhodesian roads at that time, to patrol in, a wonderful day to do it in and an evening in the Golden Lion pub at Bulawayo camp, with our mates, to look forward to.

Well! The next minute a Lancia came streaking along the tarmac heading towards Gwelo. Much too fast for the general speed limit. In our subsequent imaginings it was a blur of grey Italian metal, spewing flame and arrogance!

This was much too much of a challenge for us. Jumping into “our” Jag, buckling up our full harnesses, off we went in hot pursuit. The experts can correct me if I’m wrong, but there we were, picking up speed, ninety, hundred, hundred and twenty (mph!), with the Lancia pulling away from us, nogal! Thank heavens for the excellent Advanced Highway Patrol driver training, we on highway patrol, had received at the hands of John Thompson and Mike Thurlby in Bambazonki and to whom we swore that this Italian metal was not going to elude us.

Suddenly we had an ally! The Bembezi cuttings came up in a flash. Well!  I have never driven faster in such a situation. We managed to overtake and stop this speed merchant, but neither Graham nor I were capable of alighting in a hurry. I think we were shaking to such an extent that it seemed like minutes for us to draw breath, collect ourselves and approach the driver of the Lancia.   

Boy but did Graham collect himself! In the best of  BSAP traditions, cool, calm and collected I heard him say to the this potential accused, “And now, Sir, what on earth do you think you are up to?” But I lost it a bit (after all I had been driving) and added to Graham’s polite question, the impolite charge of “Bloody hell, are you a bloody fool? You could have got us all killed! What the hell do you think you are doing?”

In broken English, this suave Italian gave us to understand that he thought we were “gunning” (in our Highway Patrol parlance) him and that we were civilians and not Police as we were in a totally unmarked car. He was really a thorough gentleman, with a valid driving licence and, apart from a tendency to drive fast, very fast, a healthy respect for the law – at that particular time at any rate.

In any event, traffic conditions at the time of the chase had been very light, road and weather conditions excellent, likewise his driving ability. We let him off with a severe cautioning but it took him some time to drive off, slowly, very slowly and very cautiously!

Thinking back, we let him off the hook because neither Graham nor I could have written out a summons. Hell, were our hands shaking!”

OK – so now you know who those two are on our front cover! Steve Ross Jones (a member of our Durban South Station) is on the left and his partner, Graham Griffiths, on the right – (td).

Nobby provides an extract of a letter he received from Phil Mingard, out-going Chairman of the Natal Midlands Branch -

“I was delighted to receive your letter and thank you so much for your kind thoughts.

The UK Branch Xmas Card this year contained a 10 line potted history of the Force from the charter in 1889 – concluding, “This body of men, and those who followed, developed an outstanding characteristic which has endured for more than a 100 years: Comradeship.”

To my mind this is what our Association is all about. We are a band of brothers – something seems to have got into our blood in Depot – bullshit or horseshit – which made special people of us.” My highlighting – (TD)

6484 Mike Williams writes – “I had to have a quiet chuckle at your “Overland to London” article in the recent Natal Outpost.   Presumably this came from one of the old Outposts.  The costs aspect made me smile as we, my wife and myself, undertook such a venture in 2001 and the costs came to considerably more than 200 quid.

Such a trip had been one of my earliest ambitions since arriving as a recruit in 1961.  Of course such a trip takes time and money none of which ever seemed to be available. Anyway in 2001, 40 years on, we took off from Pretoria in a Land Rover Defender which we had adapted to our requirements, including a rooftop tent, on the 1 March. We travelled through Botswana, Zimbabwe, visiting friends, relatives etc., then to Mocambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and then across the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.  We came back into Africa from Jordan to visit Cairo and the normal Egyptian tourists areas, before returning to Jordan and continuing through Syria, not a pleasant place, Turkey and across to Greece.  At that time the Balkans were revolting a bit so we took the ferry across to Italy and travelled up through Italy to Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and then finally into the U.K. at Dover.  

We arrived in England at the beginning of October having been on the road some 8 months.  We adopted the attitude that if we liked a place we stayed, if not we moved on the next day. The majority of the time we slept in the roof top tent and, from a safety point of view, attempted to make a itation camping place for nights, although sometimes we failed and bush camped.  The deserts were wonderful places for night stopping.   We made many friends en route meeting them at one place and again a few days/weeks later further down the road.  We were by far the oldest on the trip and were affectionately referred to by one overland Aussie courier as “those stupid old farts”. 

Fortunately we suffered from no ill health, no serious vehicle problems and believe it or not only once did we have to pay a bribe and that was in Syria not Africa. 

We remained in the U.K. with relatives until January when  we managed to book the vehicle onto a Container ship from Tilbury, London and we were able to obtain passage on the same ship, docking in Durban at the end of February. Making our entire trip 12 months.  The voyage back was another of my ambitions as Hazel was Rhodesian born and never had done such a boat trip.

All in all, we looked on the entire trip as a challenge, a wonderful adventure and at the end of the day an achievement of a life long ambition. 

Thanks for the Great Natal Outpost I always look forward to receiving them.  The January addition reminded me of one of the most embarrassing moments of my life when reading Dave Callow’s account of the horses bolting.  I was unfortunately the lead rider and as such think I made the stables first !!!

Best wishes to all.

Mike Williams'

WPO 96 Val Oldham writes – “We got to Beit Bridge at about 9pm on 22nd December and joined a queue about 5 kilometres from the border (stationary and bumper to bumper).  Whilst in the vehicle queue 5 Africans ran out of the bush next to us, very nervous and furtive and jumped into a bakkie parked on the side by our vehicle with its engine running. We asked the driver what the problem was and he just very curtly said “jumpers” and sped off.  So they were obviously border jumpers. We were at the border about 8 – 9 hours  -  there were THOUSANDS of Africans.  Very, very confusing  -  endless (and I mean ENDLESS!) queues.  The trouble was one didn’t always know which was a queue or not a queue, or even where a queue ended or began.   I only saw one other white family. 

On the Zimbabwean side it was the same.  We eventually got a “facilitator” to organize our papers and I suppose it would technically be called “jumping the queue” but I was past caring, really. It was bad enough on the SA side and I was utterly exhausted from that alone but the Zimbabwean side was indescribable so yes, we paid him R100 to just get the job done. Which he did and even that took hours. I can’t imagine how long it would have taken if we didn’t use him.  No .......  there’s no denying it  -  it was a plain BLUDDY nightmare!!! Absolute chaos.  Just for the border hassles alone I would NEVER do it again.  The whole area around the Customs and Immigration building on the Zim side was filthy beyond description (one occasionally sees brief shots of it on the news but what one sees on the news is infinitesimal compared to what it really is like). It was one huge tip and we had to pick our way very carefully through indescrible filth and the STENCH!!! No wonder there’s cholera there. It had been raining and the water (filthy liquid) that was trickling through the refuse was gag-causing.

Once through the border at about 6 am, after hours of queuing and confusion, on the Zim side we were greeted by the most, heart-bursting sunrise. Just SO MAGNIFICENT. Mind blowing. There was poetry at work that morning on the Zim side.

The main road to Byo was abominable!!! The same deviation that we went over 18 years ago was still in use and beyond words.  It was nothing but a shockingly potholed track.  Some people were making their way onto the bit of road that was under “construction” and was partially tarred and were able to barrel along at a lickety-split albeit only for a short while.  When there wasn’t deviation there were the bane of a driver’s life  -  donkeys on the road.  Lots of them. Passed a couple of carcasses on the road and one with a horribly broken leg. And cattle and goats.  All unpredictable, of course.

Todd’s Hotel, (with its well-known resident giraffe) an institution in its own right and a watering hole which supplied a welcome break for weary travellers about halfway between Beit Bridge and Bulawayo, was sadly closed down.

Those who know the area around Balla Balla will remember the kopjies and the wonderful msasa trees growing in pockets around the kopjies.  It brought back so many memories seeing them as I spent most of my young life around that area.  Although they had already lost their spring colours of golds, russet, claret and burgundy it was wonderful seeing them.  It brought to mind that governments can come and go, they can posture and prance, fail or succeed but places of natural beauty will be there to time immemorial only shifting and adjusting to the topo-graphical changes of our planet.

Now, about Bulawayo  -  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  The main streets in the City centre  -  streets like Abercorn Street, Main Street, Fife Street, etc  were ......  well, I struggle to find words for it all.  I just HAD to take photos with my cellphone to support my “tall stories” when I got home. It was so unbelievable but, unfortunately the pics don’t do it justice.  One needs to take pics from above and use a wide angle lens. There was very little tar in some places.  The potholes were so bad that they joined up and in places it was more pothole than tar.  In fact, it was sometimes an idea to try to keep in the pothole and away from the jaggy bits of tar. And some of the potholes are so DEEP!  So deep, in fact, that the chassis (of the 4 wd vehicle!!) occasionally hit the edges when the wheels dropped in.  It was terrible.  We approached a pothole which was so deep that it hid a dove that was fossicking around in it and we didn’t see until the last minute when it flew out in front of us! Although I never saw it, I heard that an elderly white guy filled a pothole in one of the main streets in town with potting soil and planted a geranium  -  right in the middle of the road!!!! Just as a tongue-in-cheek joke, I suppose. This might sound a bit far-fetched now but towards the end of our stay my teeth started hurting and I got a head-ache when we went on the roads .

The roads in the suburbs are in worse repair if that’s at all possible.  It rained every day that we were there which made it even worse  -  the pools of water hid all the pits.  In fact, it was bloody dangerous! I never saw one accident and that’s because everybody crawls along and out of town people travel all over the road including on the verges of the opposite side of the road just to avoid the potholes. 

It was a bit nerve racking at first until we got used to the idea that this car that was heading straight towards us on a path of death and destruction was, in fact, crawling along and would move over before actually causing a head-on.

Although I refused to get involved in political discussions (my father, at the age of 70-something was arrested by the CIO and landed up in a cage with about 150 others and “grilled” and threatened that his blood would join the pool of blood on the floor by his chair if he didn’t co-operate), I listened while several Africans that we met wished that there was a white government in place again or that Ian Smith could replace Mugabe.  One old chap said that “while the whites were in power, yes  -  some things were wrong, but we always had food, meat and vegetables, clothes and the land was farmed properly so that there was plenty   -   everything was better then, even when the world brought sanctions.  Mugabe is very, very rich and eats well while his people starve – he is a madman.”  

Advice to all who read this and who plan to go to Bulawayo  -  GO VIA BOTSWANA!!!!  (And take some plasters for your aching heart!)”

6141 Andy Shepherd writes (from Canada) – “Hello Trevor!

Just read your very well done newsletter.  Brought back memories.  Don’t know if you remember me from the Bureau.  You etched my initials on one of my beer mugs, which I still have, by the way.  I also have the pamphlet on introduction to fingerprint classification that you put together.  I think it may have been typed on my typewriter but could be wrong. I recall you “golfing” in the Bureau with a plastic ball when you first took up the ancient and honourable sport and were getting lessons from a pro somewhere!  What was the name of the other golfer in the Bureau?  Always very well dressed if I recall. (Ian?) Yes – Ian Waters (TD)

I had a ‘phone call from Brian Wall a few months ago. You may recall he was the FSLO.  He is also here in Canada but many miles from me. (lbwall@shaw.ca).  He is on Vancouver Island, whereas I’m in the frozen North. Dunster in the Robson Valley – between the Rockies and the Cariboo Mtns. Up about 3,000 feet. Lots of snow. Nearest itation is over a half mile away. Peaceful!

I retired in 1997 after 29 years or so with the Edmonton Police Service (Alberta).  Don’t miss modern policing one bit – just the people.

Cheers,

Andy.(6141)”

I hasten to add to Andy’s recollections – the golf practice always took place during the lunch break – (TD)

A Trooper’s Diary : 1927

Ken & Yvonne Wood recently met Bill Cordell and his wife Liz at a private social event near Durban. During conversation it transpired that Bill’s father had been 2818 Trooper Ernest Arthur “Jimmy” Cordell (26/10/1926 – 4/2/37). Furthermore Bill possessed his father’s Patrol Diary covering the period from May, 1927, to Jan, 1928 and agreed to loan it to us.

Below is a two page extract from the diary, which illustrates how the format changed very little over the years, as will be confirmed by former District police members –

Bill believed that his father had been the first editor of The Outpost magazine but that was not the case - Alan Stock (former Editor) advises the first Outpost came out in 1923.

However, Alan has supplied the following additional information on Jimmy Cordell which should be of interest –

“The following is a copy of the Obituary for ‘Jimmy’ Cordell which was printed in the March, 1970, edition of The Outpost –

Ernest Arthur Cordell(2818)

“It is with sadness that we record the death of Mr. Ernest Arthur (Jimmy) Cordell at his home in Bulawayo on Sunday, March 8. 1970.

Born in Holland Park, London, on January 24, 1905, Jimmy Cordell attested in the Force on October 26. 1926. He served at Miami, Beatrice, Sinoia and Salisbury and then in 1932 was posted as Law and Police Instructor to Depot. In April of the same year he became editor of this magazine (as well as Secretary of the Regimental Association) and the pen-name “Kabvuta” appeared regularly beneath the titles of some of the journal’s best stories. His enthusiasm for journalism, which in those days was only a part-time occupation, is evident in his editorials and the general content of the magazine in the years between 1932 and 1937. Not content with raising the standard of the Force magazine, however, in January 1937 he produced a magazine for African members of the Force, Mapolisa. Jimmy had already distinguished himself as a linguist — apart from his police duties, he was lecturing in African languages at the Salisbury Polytechnic at the time — and the new magazine was produced in both the main vernaculars.

Sergeant Cordell retired from the Force on February 4, 1937, but his work was so valued by the authorities that he was retained on contract to produce both Outpost and Mapolisa until the end of the year. He then returned to Bulawayo and when World War II erupted, was appointed to the command of D Company, Rhodesia African Rifles. After the war he joined the African Affairs Department of Rhodesia Railways and it was not long after when the journal Sitima made its appearance, catering to the interests of employees of the country’s railways.

In 1964 he became acting general manager of Rhodesia Railways and retired the following year to work with the Bulawayo Housing Amenities Department. Once again, a popular publication was to follow his taking of office and Masiye Pambili, under Mr. Cordell’s direction, achieved a circulation formerly unheard of among township newspapers. He retired from this last post only a few months ago.

Jimmy Cordell gave Rhodesia much during his lifetime and the publications which he instigated or developed, will remain a lasting memorial to his wonderful efforts. We are sorry to lose him and to Mrs. Cordell and her two sons we extend our sincere condolences.”

Photographic Echoes from The Past

I believed identification of the rider of the horse in the following photo, kindly submitted by Smudge Smith, would be easy – yet the first person I showed it to got it wrong! Whilst there is no reward offered for getting it correct, if anyone else is not sure then please contact me (and your identity will be kept secret!) …(TD)

Whilst we can all (?) recognize the rider I doubt anyone could identify the horse as being ‘one of ours’ - RH Bassoon. Photo taken at Government House, Salisbury, in 1947.