Sincere thanks also go to Margaret O'Neill for her excellent write-up of our Annual Luncheon.   I would have to agree with the comments of several of those who attended the Luncheon that it was probably our best ever.

As you know, we do publish photos in the Aussie Outpost from time to time but the black and white reproduction you receive rarely does them justice.  If you get the opportunity, please check out the Aussie Outpost in the BSAP website (www.bsap.org) where they appear in full colour.  They are generally available for viewing on the Internet a couple of weeks after publication of the Outpost.

Kerry Hoadley

Station Notes

Annual Luncheon 2007

This took place on Saturday the 8th of September 2007 at the premises of the Returned Services League (RSL for short) Belmont in the fair city of Perth.

Margaret O'Neill widow of the late 9234 E. O'Neill has written a brilliant contribution in this Outpost (see page 3).

Amongst the members, their partners and guests were several from overseas and inter state. Those from overseas were 7784 Steve and Wendy Acornley from Singapore and guests Mike and Joan Davies from Harare visiting family in Perth. Many of you might remember Mike from Eric Davies men's shop in First Street Harare and who had a lot to do with Rhodesian rugby.

From inter state we had 7028 Alan Prince from Sydney, 8755 Alan Hadfield also from Sydney and Marcia Else widow of the late 5721 John Else from Canberra. It was nice of them to travel all that distance to be with us on our special occasion.

We had several guests of members and these were namely Graeme and Margaret Clement - President of the RSL Belmont and guest of the Branch, Col Harry Harvey ex SAS, guest of Alan Hadfield; 110619 Bruce Braes guest of Steve Acornley (now Bruce is a full member in his own right), Michael Seward son of John and Margaret, Mike Gale son of the late Magistrate Leyton Gale guest of John Seward, Margaret Craft guest of Carol Clapham, Pat and Moira Cane guests of Lew Whitmore, Norman Davies guest of Michael Seward, Harry Ricketts guests of Steve and Linda Martin and Judith Prescodd daughter of Charles and Adele Scott.

In addition to the above the following members and their partners attended:

Associate Fleur Blick and her husband Graham, F/R Don and Joyce Bulloch, 5154 Jim and Margaret Clampit, WFR Carol Clapham, Widow Vivienne Cordy Hedge, Widow Valerie Davies, 4104 Bert and Sylvia Freemantle, 7045 Rob and Laurie Gates, 5567/6219 Dick Hamley, 5316 Kerry and Olivia Hoadley, Associate Sylvia Holborn, F/R Arthur and Doreen Hutson, Associate Bill and Liz Johnstone, 6929 Howard and Jean Martin, 7694 Steve and Linda Martin,  "A" Reservist Alan and Joyce McGrath, Associate Dawn McKenzie Fraser, 7340 Chris and Dorothy Morten, Widow Margaret O'Neill, F/R John and Jean Ovenden, 4663 John and Janet Savage (our guest of honour), 4649 John and Margaret Seward, 4780 Sam and Elizabeth Williams, F/R Chuck and Peggy Warren, and last but not least 7049 Lew and Joanne Whitmore (Chairman on the day).

There were 29 apologies and in no particular order 7572 Al Greenly overseas, 3411 Bunty Ludlow in an aged home, 10512 David Morley from Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, 4071 Doug Wright in Tasmania, F/R Derek Davidson in Queensland, Associate David Burlin in Cessnock New South Wales, Air Wing P/R Derek Saunders in Perth, F/R Mike Cave in Perth, 6758 Tim Maslin in Melbourne, 7000 David Harley in Melbourne, 7682 Ian Calderwood in Southern Cross looking after grandchildren, 7236 John Henderson Perth, 5479 Mike Leach our member in the UK, 7133 Derek Foster on duty in Perth, Associate member Pat Forbes in Perth, 6373 John Heycock in Tasmania, 4714 Tony Drynan on holiday in the UK, 6566 Hugh Frost, 6922 Earl Cameron in Mandurah WA, P/R Air Wing John Plant in Mandurah WA, F/R Dick Scallan in Bunbury WA, 4326 Tom Doherty Perth, 8164/9262 Jim Steele in Perth,  WFR Celia Parkinson in Perth, 8617 Doug Capper in Perth, 10072 Angus Tibbits and 8240 John Vickery.

Greetings were received from Mike Leach in the UK, Fred Punter in the UK, John Hardie in South Africa and Roger Capper in the USA

On a final note I must express our sincere thanks to all of those who donated prizes for our raffle and of course to both Steve Martin and Alan McGrath who managed to extract from those present nearly $400. They always come up trumps.

New members

I am pleased to report that since the last edition we welcome one new member namely 110619 Bruce Meikle Braes who lives in Perth.

If any members know of any ex member who reside in Australia or adjacent countries please encourage them to join the Association. As we get older the need to help becomes greater as our membership is only AUD $20 a year the more members we have the greater the opportunity to help those in need. 

At present we are subsidising several members and widows and feel that this need will increase as time goes by.

Visitors

Since our last edition there I have only recorded two visitors apart from those mentioned who attended the Annual Luncheon. Firstly there was 5568 Denis Anderson and his wife from Harare. They spent a day with John and Margaret Seward. Denis and John were at one time stationed in Umtali in the 60's.

Our second visitor was 5445 Clive Parker who was again visiting family in Perth.  Clive currently lives at Ascot in UK.

Travelling members

Recent travellers to South Africa and Zimbabwe have been F/R Bob Osborne and his wife ex WFR Barbara where they visited relatives and friends. They spent some time in the Zambezi Valley and enjoyed seeing all the game. Bob's married daughter lives in Harare.

7069 Derek Hardey and his wife Joan from Melbourne are in the UK at present and return in November and we look forward to hearing from them. Also in the UK are 4714 Tony Drynan and 7572 Al Greenly.

Snippets and Welfare

Gladys Spink wife of our late Commissioner Jimmy had a hip replacement she is well on the road to recovery.

Helen Hamley wife of our founder Dick Hamley recently had a complete knee reconstruction and I am pleased to report that she is making good progress. My wife Margaret and I visited them recently in their lovely retirement home in Ravenswood about an hour's drive south of Perth

Alan McGrath and his wife Joyce have been transferred to the delights of the bundu and moved to Bunbury about three hour's drive south of Perth. There they have made comms with another member F/R Dick Scallan who was well known in the mining fraternity in Rhodesia and now in Western Australia.

Chris Morten, who last year published a very readable and enjoyable book "The Benefactors Monkey", is at the moment writing a new novel. We look forward with interest as to its contents and if it is as good as "The Benefactors Monkey",  I for one will be looking forward to reading it.

Lew and Joanne Whitmore I believe are planning a round Australia trip. Lew is on long leave from his employment and is not due back to work till March 2008.

Bunty Ludlow who joined as a Cadet in 1934 is in a nursing home known as St Andrews in Balcatta, a suburb of Perth. His wife Aiofa reports that he is quite happy there.

Ron Sissingh is visiting his daughter Tania from Holland where he now lives. Tania is the widow of the late NSPO Stuart Dick whose father was the late Assistant Commissioner Ron Dick. Many of you who were stationed in Bindura may remember Ron as the Shell Chemicals' representative.

Committee Meetings

These are now held every second Wednesday of every even month i.e. February, April, June, August, October and December at the RSL Belmont on the corner of the Great Eastern Highway and Leake Street from 5.15pm till 7pm. You are more than welcome to attend. Please note that you can become a social member of the RSL Belmont at a cost of $15 a year

Help to make Station Notes interesting.

Please help me in this regard with any snippets of interest that you may have and look forward to your contributions whether they are news or articles.

Walk Tall
John Seward (4649)

Annual Luncheon 2007
By Margaret O'Neill, widow of the late 9234 Insp Edward O'Neill

The 2007 Regimental Annual Luncheon of the British South Africa Police (Australia Branch) took place on Saturday 8th September at the R.S.L. Club, Belmont with a total of 64 members and guests attending.

As Master of Ceremonies, 7045 Robert Gates opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone to the African Police Expose Conference or APEC, a brilliant topical sallie which 'broke the ice' right from the start. He warned us that there could be an element of risk as we might well be visited by the 'Chasers War on Everything', but that a cunning plan had been devised to thwart them! 

Bob then expressed thanks on behalf of our Association to Graham Clement President of Belmont R.S.L. for their kind hospitality in allowing us the use of their fine venue. Bob went on to mention that 7340 Chris Morten's book 'The Benefactor's Monkey' was available for sale and encouraged its reading. Chris is now working on his second book - we look forward to the publication. The door prize this year was a kind donation of a bottle of Cognac (for medicinal purposes only - of course).

4780 Sam Williams was then invited to say Grace, which he performed with his usual decorum and reverence.

Chairman 7049 Lew Whitmore, with many amusing witticisms, welcomed all members, visitors and guests with a special welcome to our Guest Speaker 4663 John Savage and his wife Janet and to our hosts R.S.L. President Graham Clements and his wife Margaret.

John and Janet Savage

Visitors from overseas: Mick and Joan Davies Ex Harare and Steve and Wendy Acornley Ex Singapore.

Interstate Visitors: Marcia Else - Canberra widow of the late 5721 John Else, 8755 Alan Hadfield and 7028 Alan Prince both from Sydney.

Lew then proposed the toast 'Absent Friends'. This was followed by the main course at the end of which Bob proposed the 'Loyal Toast'. On completion of the meal Bob introduced the Guest Speaker, John Henry Savage who was the Police Recruiting Officer at Rhodesia House, London before, during and post U.D.I.

John gave an enthralling account of the duties, trials and tribulations during his 20-month service at Rhodesia House at a most critical time in Rhodesia's history. He attained the rank of Inspector in 1962 after tours of duty which took him through many outlying bush stations. His drafting to Rhodesia House came about a result of a family health problem.

Notwithstanding the busy workload of processing and organising the encouraging number of attestations the hard work was offset by invitations to functions such as the Trooping of the Colour, Wimbledon and two Wembley Cup Finals!

But there were hairy moments too; John at one time was approached by two 'certain African gentlemen' with a bizarre proposition (heavily bribed) to fly out a certain party for them on a requisition as a batch of BSAP recruits. This of course he refused and later learned that the party was a bunch of mercenaries'! He also took to task the BBC for their blatant inaccurate film footage for one of their documentaries - Rhodesia after U.D.I.

However, after being accused of aiding an illegal regime by continuing to recruit Brits after U.D.I. the post of BSAP Recruiting Officer was terminated. Again an inaccuracy as the recruits flown out after November 11 had in fact been attested prior to that date.

In closing John proposed the toast to 'The Regiment'.

4649 John Seward then thanked the Guest Speaker for his most interesting talk and for sharing with us the events of his very important role as representative of the BSAP in London. He went on to say that apart from being a long standing personal friend, John Savage was an outstanding sportsman - an excellent all rounder!

Bob Gates thanked the ladies from the R.S.L. Women's Auxiliary for the splendid catering and efficient serving and presented a bouquet to their President Lesley Finlay who told us very proudly that the Belmont group had won the top award in the Metropolitan area for their good works and displayed the cup thanking 'her girls' for their hard work and support.  The Women's Auxiliary had also kindly donated a crocheted blanket for the raffle.

Adele and Charles Scott celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary at the Luncheon

John Seward then proposed the toast 'Australia' after which a commemorative coin was distributed to all members and in addition a mini bottle of wine for the ladies.

It was without doubt a most enjoyable luncheon and hailed by one and all as one of the most friendly and companionable.

Mailbox

From Bert and Sylvia Freemantle

Hi John (Seward),
The social afternoon (Annual Luncheon) on Saturday was the best ever, thank you to all the committee for organising it. Keep it up.

Regards

Bert and Sylvia

From Mrs Margaret Craft (Guest at Annual Luncheon)

Dear John (Seward)
I was very touched when you and Carol Clapham invited me to attend the BSA Police Luncheon.
The occasion was wonderful and could not be faulted in any way - delicious food, great company and a most interesting Speaker.  The hard work and attention to detail made the event most successful.
I shall send a copy of the menu and card to my son-in-law Rodney Shelley, now residing in the UK.  I am sure he will be envious of me and especially interested to see that the BSAP is not a forgotten force.
Please also thank your committee for the bottle of wine and the badge  - I think I may have the latter made into a brooch!

Sincerely

Margaret Craft

From Steve Acornley (Singapore)

Met up with Paul Males - former P/O 10094 on the 30th of this month for a few frosties.  Paul is currently a Captain for Singapore Airlines flying the Hong Kong - Los Angeles route and has been here fore the past 10 years.
Paul was stationed at West Nicholson, Tuli and Gwanda when I was stationed in SB there and did a lot of GC work in the Tuli/Shashe area.  Some good laughs were had reminiscing over individuals from that area in 1976/77.
Names that came to light were Duncan Beveridge, Carl Hurry, Graham Hubbard, Dave Thomas (aka 'Tombstone' Thomas) John Tedford, Ed Bird, Les Milne, Chris Philips, Bruce Couper (Nat Parks), Rob Francis, Dave Waddon et al.
Paul advises me there is another former BSAP member flying with Singapore Airlines - Peter Doble. Will try and contact him and get the two to join the Association.  Getting to the stage where we can establish our own branch.

All the best

Steve 7784

From 7106 Trevor Hughes

Firstly, I need to introduce myself.   The name is Trevor Hughes (ex BSAP 7106) and ex Dog Handler.
I have been asked to put together a BSAP Dog Section reunion for next year and am underway with the exercise.
The Reunion will take place in Durban, South Africa from Friday the 22nd of August, 2008 till Sunday the 24th of August, 2008.   The Reunion will hopefully take in the BSAP Annual Regimental Association Dinner on the Saturday, 23rd August.   The programme for the weekend other than the dinner with an itinerary is currently being arranged.
I would respectfully request that the above information be put out through yourself by whatever means you have and to ask any ex Handlers to contact me (Address below) if they are interested in attending.   It also gives me an opportunity of putting together some form of Nominal Roll of ex Dog Section Members around the World.  
I was in Dog Section with a colleague by the name of Bob Sewell who I believe joined the Police in Western Australia - I think the mounted unit.   I would enjoy being able to communicate with him again should you be aware of his details.
I would like to thank you in anticipation that you would communicate the above information as best you can.
My details are as follows:-    

TREVOR HUGHES (Ex 7106)
Cluster Box 3322,
Somerset Park, Durban,
South Africa 4021.
Phone 031 5620574 (Cellular 0836571143)
E Mail: (1) hughes12@mweb.co.za or (2) trevor@transpec.co.za

A true golfing story from Mandurah Country Club, by 4663.

Playing in the Vets division at our local golf club is always good for a laugh. Corny jokes abound, but I can vouch for the authenticity of the following incident.  George (I've changed names) is a sound player but has a reputation for taking an inordinate time over his putting. In one of our recent bi-weekly competitions George was the next to putt and commenced his usual ritual.  Firstly, a plum-bob alignment, then a dry practice putt alongside his ball, next he broke off to have a final assessment of the length from side-one, and finally he got back to his stance and started his lengthy, concentrated address.  After several seconds he stood up and said, "Fred, your shadow is on my line".   Fred immediately rejoined with the comment, "Well it wasn't when you started !"

Apparently they haven't volunteered to play together since, but the story won't go away at the 19th.

The Sweaties

Reviewed by 8244 Rob MacLean (Western Cape)

I have recently finished reading the book by former B.S.A.P. Inspector John Larn (7727), who, writing under the pseudonym, James Scott, has written as novel about the B.S.A.P. It is called 'The Sweaties' and deals with the Force and Rhodesia in the late 1970's.
I feel that anyone who served in the Force, or who had any connection (which means most ex-Rhodesians!), would find the book not only very readable, but interesting too from the perspective of how the Force, or certainly, how a unit within the Force (S.W.A.T.) operated at the time, given the circumstances then (late 1970's). It is set at the time of the destruction of the fuel depot in the industrial sites of Salisbury, the tracking down of the perpetrators and is written in the popular style of 'then' and 'now'.
The author has a number of important main characters, within and outside the Force and it follows their involvement with one another and the circumstances they find themselves in. Those characters within the Force are mainly those within a S.W.A.T. team, an S.B. leader and one of his undercover operatives. Those outside are mainly two rural Blacks who 'join-up' in the armed struggle against Rhodesia, initially reluctantly (they had no choice really) and their evolution into 'the struggle'.
The descriptive passages throughout are excellent - for example, the author's writing about a S.W.A.T. team on stand-by at the Cranbourne barracks whisked me back to those years of Riot Stand-by duties - the scenes and characters in the Cranbourne pub, the smells, the dining room; the Salisbury Central Police station off Railway Avenue in downtown Salisbury; minutiae detail such as the B cars switching on their sirens too early on exiting the yard were hilarious to recall (having been there!); the descriptions of the countryside - the escarpment, the Valley, the T.T.L.s and farming areas - for anyone who worked or travelled in such areas, it was a time-warp experience as one' didn't even have to close one's eyes to remember - it was all there, exquisitely detailed in words on each page.
The author has also introduced an aspect into the book which in current times we have become all too familiar with - the unspeakable horrors of terrorism, where anything goes, where any target is justified and rationalized - the final chapters about 'the target' in the modern era is all too familiar - had what was planned (in the story) had to have happened in the late 1970's in Rhodesia, it would have been catastrophically devastating to the (white) community - notwithstanding the many horrors we did live through such as the Viscount disasters, Elim Mission etc. - and would have led to a far greater 'taking the gap' experience that was happening at the time and has continued to happen since (so-called) independence in 1980.
There have been a number of 'Rhodesiana' books, novels and otherwise written by ex-members of the Force - Peter Stiff naturally springs to mind - he wrote both novels and 'factional' titles; there was Daniel Carney, who, way back in about 1968/69 produced a couple of good reads, one of which, 'Whispering Death' was turned into a feature film which was filmed almost exclusively in Rhodesia (I recall that Goromonzi Police Station was used, as were a number of B.S.A.P. personnel stationed there); there is David Craven's book 'Mapolisa', the histories, such as 'Right of the Line' etc - all good reads, but 'The Sweaties' really exceeded my expectations because it is so realistic. Perhaps this was because, as mentioned, the author's description of things we all knew so well is excellent, perhaps it is also because the 'heroes' in this book are really anti heroes, and therefore people that we, the average Joe, can identify with - people who carried petty jealousies and prejudices with them; real people, not like some Wilbur Smith fictional superman which while Wilbur writes a rollicking novel with some historical relevance, 'The Sweaties' is for real and this is what makes it so readable. I read it a second time, as in hurrying through it to get to the conclusion, I inevitably missed some stuff.  So, get out there and purchase - 'The Sweaties' for a damn good read - you will enjoy it.

(Rob's review has been slightly edited to fit the available space - Ed)

A Short History of the Life of Brig. Gen. William Bodle CMG

1855-1924

by Jack Bond (4567)

William Bodle was born and died in the East Sussex village of Alfriston, Nr. Eastbourne. However, he had spent much of his adult life in Southern Africa and, in particular, in what became Rhodesia, where he served as a Policeman, initially as RSM of the British South Africa Company Police (BSACP) from its formation in 1889, through to becoming the first Commissioner of the British South Africa Police (BSAP), as such, from 1903 - 09. As a Rhodesian born, ex-member of the BSAP, living in East Sussex, I have made a point of visiting his grave in St. Andrew's Church, Alfriston, where his gravestone bears the following inscription:-

"In loving memory of my husband Brig. Gen. W. Bodle CMG. Born at Alfriston July 5th 1855. Died at Alfriston July 9th 1924. Pioneer of Rhodesia."

As this brief epitaph does not reveal that William Bodle's association with Rhodesia was primarily through his long and distinguished career in the BSAP, the following is intended, in part, to highlight this aspect of his life.

His Alfriston Family Roots

William Bodle's Paternal Grandfather, John Bodle, b.c. 1795, married a Hetty Payne at Alfriston on 29/9/1819. His father, Charles, was born at Alfriston in 1820. It would appear that Hetty Bodle died and that John Bodle then married a Rebecca Thornicraft at Alfriston on 22/4/1829. In the 1841 Census, Charles Bodle, 21, is shown as an Agricultural Labourer, living with his father, John, a Cowkeeper, and his stepmother Rebecca.

It would appear that William Bodle's Maternal Grandparents were a William and Elizabeth Moore, b.c. 1796 and 1799 respectively in Eastbourne. In the 1841 Census, William Moore, described as a Grocer and Draper, his wife and children, including a daughter Elizabeth. 14, b.c. 1827 in Eastbourne, are to be found living in Cowbeech.

Charles Bodle and Elizabeth Moore were married at Alfriston on 23/11/1848. By the time of the 1851 Census, Charles and Elizabeth Bodle, described as an Agricultural Labourer and a Schoolmistress respectively, have a son, John, aged 1. William Bodle, born at Alfriston on 5/7/1855, appears in the 1861 Census, as a Scholar, aged 5, and is one of 5 siblings. By the time of the 1871 Census, Charles and Elizabeth now have a further 4 children, making a total of 10, 6 boys and 4 girls, born between 1849 and 1869, of whom 3 boys, including William, no longer feature and have presumably left home. By the 1901 Census, Charles, 81, described as a Retired Dairyman, and Elizabeth, 74, are still in residence in Alfriston with 2 of their adult unmarried children.

Charles Bodle lived to 88 and died on 6/2/1908. Elizabeth Bodle lived to 82, having died on 3/8/1909. They are buried together in Alfriston Churchyard, near to William Bodle's grave. William's sisters, Elizabeth Bodle, born 8/5/1851, died 8/11/1925, and Minnie Bodle, born 29/12/1861, died 27/12/1935, are also buried in a nearby joint grave. In another nearby joint grave William's sister, Mary Kate Bodle, died 19/8/1946, aged 83, and his brother Frederick Bodle (dates illegible), are buried. Of William's 4 sisters, it would appear from the above that 3 must have remained spinsters.

Bodle's Grave third from left

His Honours and Awards

The following is an entry from the 1925 issue of "Who's Who" obtained from an internet source:

"Brigadier-General William Bodle - CMG 1900. Born 5th July 1855; Son of C. Bodle, Alfriston, Sussex. Served Basuto War under Sir. F. Carrington (Medal & Clasp); Matabele War 1893 (Medal); Matabele Rebellion 1896 (Clasp); South African War. 1899 -1902 (Despatches), Queen's Medal, Three Clasps, King's Medal, Two Clasps; Retired with rank of Colonel 1909. Served European War 1914-1918. Commanded a Brigade."

Peter Gibbs' "History of the BSAP Vol. 1" contains the photograph of Lt. Col. Bodle reproduced below.

From the above "Who's Who" entry and by reference to Peter Gibbs' book, I have endeavoured to identify the service and actions for which William Bodle received his honours and awards, as follows, in the order of precedence in which they are worn in the photograph :-

1. Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George As this award was apparently made in 1900, it would appear to relate to Bodle's initial service during the Boer War between 11/9/1899 and December 1900.

2. Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal - Issued with Basutoland Clasp for operations in that Country in 1880-81 This pre-dates Bodle's involvement in Rhodesia but, from other unconfirmed internet sources, it would appear he gained this medal and clasp as a Sgt. Maj. in the Cape Mounted Rifles.

3. Medal Awarded by the Chartered Co. of South Africa for Service in Matabeleland (1893). Rhodesia (1896) or Mashonaland (1897) as the case may be. Bodle would have received the Matabeleland 1893 Medal when he took part in operations between 16/10 and 24/12/1893 in Matabeleland which led to the defeat of Lobengula. The Rhodesia 1896 Clasp was issued in connection with the rebellions in Matabeleland and Mashonaland in 1896. Bodle's award of this clasp would have been for operations in connection with the Matabeleland Rebellion. (As RSM of the BSACP, which accompanied the Pioneer Column into Mashonaland in 1890, Bodle would also have been entitled to the Mashonaland 1890 Clasp but this medal/clasp, for some reason, was not issued until 1926, i.e. after his death.)

4. South Africa Queen Victoria's Medal 1899 -1902 with 3 clasps issued for service in South Africa between 11/10/1899 and 31/5/1902. Bodle's service in the Boer War would have entitled him to this medal but, without seeing the 3 clasps in question, it is not possible to say for which actions the clasps were issued as some 26 different clasps were issued in all.

5. South Africa King Edward's Medal 1901 -1902 issued to those serving in South Africa on or after 1/1/1902 providing they had completed 18 months war service on that date or afterwards completed it before 1 /6/1902. Clasps inscribed "South Africa 1901" and "South Africa 1902" were given with the medal. Again, Bodle's service in the Boer War would have entitled him to this medal and clasps.

As stated in the entry from the 1925 issue of "Who's Who", Bodle later served in the 1914 -1918 War and for which he presumably became entitled to further medals relative to such service.

His Life From Cradle to Grave

Following William Bodle's birth in Alfriston on 5/7/1855, and after featuring, aged 5, in the 1861 Census, he appears to have left home by the time of the 1871 Census on 2/4/1871, when he would have been nearly 16. William Bodle is reputed to have enlisted in The Sherwood Foresters in 1872, when he was 17 and thereafter his BSAP Record of Service states - "1873 -1879, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, 17th Lancers". His BSAP Record of Service, and the Who's Who entry, both note his award of the Basuto War Medal, which presumably relates to the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal with Basutoland Clasp for operations in that country in 1880 -1881 ( See 2. above). This is the first evidence of Bodle's presence in Southern Africa.

Although the date is not known, Bodle next joined the newly formed Bechuanaland Border Police (BBP) and became its RSM. Whilst still in the BBP, in 1888, he accompanied the Deputy Commissioner of Bechuanaland, Sir Sidney Shippard, on a visit to Lobengula in Matabeleland. Shippard, on behalf of Rhodes, was importuning Lobengula for permission to enter Matabeleland. Permission was finally obtained, to include Mashonaland, under the terms of the Rudd Concession of 30/10/1888. Thereafter the British South Africa Company (BSAC) was granted a Royal Charter on 29/10/1889, by Queen Victoria, which led to the formation of the Pioneer Column and the BSACP which was to accompany the Column into what eventually became Rhodesia. William Bodle, having been engaged by Rhodes himself in October 1889, became Recruiting Officer for the BSACP and. by July 1890 as RSM of that Force, he moved into Matabeleland and thence to Mashonaland with the Pioneer Column which reached what became Salisbury on 1/10/1891.

Dr.Jameson. who had become the BSAC's Administrator of Mashonaland, had by the end of 1891, for financial reasons, reduced the BSACP from 650 to 150 men and in early 1892 the remaining Force was renamed the Mashonaland Mounted Police. Bodle was one of those who was stood down and is understood to have then run a General Store near Fort Salisbury. Bodle again joined up when, as a member of the Salisbury Horse under the command of Maj. P. W. Forbes, he moved from Salisbury to Fort Charter on 5/9/1893, to take part in the invasion of Matabeleland which brought about the defeat of Lobengula and the establishment of Bulawayo and for which Bodle received the BSAC's Matabeleland 1893 Medal (See 3 above). A new division of the BSAC's Force, the Matabeleland Mounted Police, was then formed under the command of Lieut. William Bodle.

In 1895, the Mashonaland Mounted Police and the Matabeleland Mounted Police, although operating as two separate units, became known as the Rhodesia Mounted Police (RMP) under a Chief Commissioner of Police. In May 1895, the combined territories of Mashonaland and Matabeleland became formally known as Rhodesia and later as Southern Rhodesia.

At the end of 1895 the majority of the RMP were sent south by Jameson to form the nucleus of a Force, of which Major Bodle was 2nd in Command, which took part in the infamous Jameson Raid and which came to an inglorious end on 2/1/1896. Bodle was detained for his part in the Raid and deported to England. He had returned to Rhodesia within 6 months and by September 1896, was known to have been in Kimberley recruiting for a new Rhodesian police force being established after the imbroglio of the Jameson Raid. On 1/10/1896, this new force was designated "The British South Africa Police" with separate Commandants of the Matabeleland and Mashonaland Divisions. Major Bodle, having moved up to Bulawayo from Kimberley, was appointed 2nd in Command of the Matabeleland Division of the new Force and on 27/9/1898 he took over command of the Division with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As Bodle was out of Rhodesia for most of 1896, it is not clear at what stage he became entitled to the award of the Rhodesia 1896 Clasp (See 3 above).

Lt. Col. Bodle was yet again to become involved in action when, on 11/9/1899, he set off as leader of a BSAP Contingent to take part in the Boer War and. in particular, the Relief of Mafeking on 17/5/1900 and the capture of Pretoria on 5/6/1900. Thereafter the BSAP Contingent was released from its duties and, by December 1900, had returned to Rhodesia. Bodle must then have taken a well-earned leave as, on 31/3/1901, the date of the 1901 Census in England, he is to be found staying with one of his younger brothers. James Bodle, in Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex. William Bodle gives as his occupation on the Census Form - "Lieut. Col. BSA. Police".

The BSAP, including Bodle, were called upon again in September 1901 for service in South Africa when, as part of General Lord Methuen's Force, they were engaged in further action until the Boer's final surrender on 31/5/1902. For his service during the Boer War, Lt. Col. Bodle was honoured with a CMG and awarded the South Africa Queen Victoria's Medal 1899 -1902 with 3 Clasps and the South Africa King Edward's Medal 1901-1902 with 2 Clasps (see 1, 4 & 5 above).

After the ramifications of The Boer War, and with relative peace in Rhodesia, there was no longer a need to retain an expensive Force primarily for military purposes. As a result, on 5/10/1903, the BSAC brought about a reorganisation of the BSAP by the amalgamation of the Matabeleland and Mashonaland Divisions with Lieut. Col. Bodle being appointed as the First Commissioner of the now combined former Divisions of the Force, a position he was to hold with distinction until his retirement on 19/4/1909. At the time of his retirement, Bodle had served 17 years as a professional soldier and, thereafter, 20 years as a policeman, although in name only for the first 14 of those 20 years in which he was primarily involved in the military episodes of Rhodesian history in the various "Police" Forces which eventually became the BSAP as such. Having risen from his humble origins in Alfriston, through the ranks, and without an upper-class background, his success had resulted purely from the strength of his personality, his character and his ability.

Following his retirement, Bodle returned to England where he married for the first time. He again offered his services to his country during the First World War when he was variously involved in organising the City of London National Reserve, Command of the Norfolk and Suffolk Territorial Brigade and, finally in 1916, aged 60, he went to France to command a Labour Battalion. He finally retired in 1917 with the rank of Brigadier General.

In 1914, and again in 1919, Bodle answered a call from the authorities in Rhodesia to act as Recruiting Officer in England for the BSAP with preference being given to ex-servicemen in respect of those recruited in 1919.

Follers Manor today

Bodle died on 9/7/1924, aged 69, at Follers Manor, Alfriston.  He was buried in the Churchyard of St. Andrew's Church, Alfriston.

St. Andrew's Church, Alfriston, E. Sussex

Postscript 1. A framed display in St. Andrew's Church, Alfriston, contains a list of those enrolled from the Parish of Alfriston in the years of the Great War, and a further list of those enrolled in other districts. Included in the latter list are:-

Insp. John Bodle - BSA Police

Brig. Gen. Bodle CMG - Staff

Sgt. Hugh Doughty - BSA Police

The BSAP Nominal Roll shows that, on 1/11/1896, a John Ernest Bodle attested in the Force with Reg. No. 10. From the 1871 Census it is apparent that William Bodle's eldest brother, John, was a 21-year-old Sapper in the Royal Engineers stationed at South Kensington Museum Barracks, Chelsea, and who, at the end of 1871, was married in Kensington. The birth of a John Ernest Bodle was registered in Chelsea about Sept. 1874. At the time of the 1891 Census, William Bodle's parents had a grandson, John E. Bodle, a Gardener's Assistant, aged 16, born in Chelsea, living with them in Alfriston. It seems clear, therefore, that John Ernest Bodle was the son of John Bodle and the nephew of William Bodle. As has been recounted earlier, in Sept. 1896, William Bodle, having just returned from his sojourn in England, was in Kimberley recruiting for the BSAP. It is possible, therefore, that whilst in England he had persuaded his 22-year-old nephew to join the BSAP and may well have himself recruited him into the Force on 1/11/1896

The BSAP Nominal Roll also shows that on 19/8/1911, a Hugh Doughty attested in the Force with Reg. No. 1492. It is known that the Vicar of St. Andrew's Church, Alfriston, from 1898 -1915 was the Revd. Richard Doughty. The 1891 Census shows that the Revd. Richard Doughty, then Curate at Henfield Church, West Sussex, had a son Hugh Doughty, born in 1890. Is it possible that William Bodle was also influential in recruiting 21-year-old Hugh Doughty into the BSAP?

Postscript 2. On a personal note, my late father, William Victor Bond, attested in the BSAP on 22/9/1919 with Reg. No. 2101. As recounted earlier, Bodle was Recruiting Officer for the BSAP in England in 1919 and so my father may well have been one of the ex-WW1 Servicemen recruited by Bodle at that time. My father, who served most of his 27 years in the CID, retired on 19/11/1946, in the rank of Lieutenant and was awarded The King's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. On retirement, he returned to England with his family and was appointed Secretary of the British Immigrants Selection Board at Rhodesia House in London. In this position he was instrumental in my own recruitment into the BSAP on 6/2/1950, aged 18, with Reg. No. 4567. I retired on 14/12/1964 in the rank of Inspector and returned to England. I had the privilege of being one of the 18 members of the BSAP Mounted Contingent chosen to represent the Force at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in London on 2/6/1953.

Postscript 3. The BSAP ceased to exist in 1980 when Rhodesia gained independence and became the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Force was renamed The Zimbabwe Republic Police thus bringing to an end an era from 1889 -1980 of one of the finest Police Forces of its time.

October 2006             J. E. Bond

J. E. Bond,

Alfriston Today  (Photo by Kerry Hoadley)

(Photographs taken at St. Andrew's Church and Follers Manor taken by Colin Hoadley, the editor's brother)

Roll of Honour

Views expressed in this Outpost are not necessarily those of the two Australian-based Regimental Associations

Queensland Newsletter

Chairman’s Chat

The first gathering of members following the AGM was the "Christmas in July" luncheon held on the 29th July at the home of 6278 Gerry and Wendy Dyer in Daisy Hill, Brisbane from 11am to 4pm.

Also present were 7012 Mike and Ginny King, 6303 Peter and Carol Nortje accompanied by 5762 David Bruce all the way from New South Wales,, 6604 John and Mary Gold, 205169J Margaret and Les Underhay, 4727 Mike and Rosemary Edden, 8324 David & Cynthia Naisbitt, recently returned from a contract in East Timor, 5848 David and Jean Clinker with David well recovered from his knee operation, 6940 Jack and Joan Taylor eagerly awaiting acceptance as residents, 7432 Will Keys thoroughly enjoying his retirement from the legal profession accompanied by 900436 Neill Gordon, Police Reservist David and Alison Catherall, PRAW Pilot Clive Puzey and last but not least our latest "dinosaur" immigrant from Zimbabwe 4016 Eric Jones accompanied by his daughter Christine Lenz.

Apologies were received from 5885 Mike Fitton, 25548T Simon & Jacqui Lucas, 6833 Peter Greef, 6994 Colin John, 5757 Ian and Rachel Milton, 7429 Frederick and Carol Carr-Thompson, 5921 Peter Nicholls, 5865 Roland and Anci De Chazal, 7861 Mike and Brenda Woods,1 7638 Gordon Hodnett, Dick and Jan Howlett and Dick's squad mate Derek Bell.

One again John Gold contracted the same ex-South African lady caterer who did so well last year to provide the food, to do the same this year and she laid on an excellent spread with a true southern African flavour, which was enjoyed by all.

Although Gordon Hodnett was unable to attend, as he needed to keep his Toowoomba store open for business, he very kindly provided a superb hamper as the main prize for the benevolent fund raffle, which was greatly appreciated. Other contributors of raffle prizes were Gerry Dyer, Mike Edden and Mike King.

The opening of Xmas presents was well received and it was seen that some serious thought had gone into the selection of suitable gifts within the price range of around A$10.00. To the Chairman's dismay, who missed out this year, Les Underhay walked off with the top three raffle prizes and Clive Puzey snaffled two, with every other winner getting one each and the fund benefited by over A$100 from the 26 members and guests present.

It was a very pleasant day enjoyed by all, so much so that the caterer has been booked again for next year.

Application forms for membership were submitted by Jack Taylor, David Bruce and Neill Gordon took the form away with him.

We look forward to seeing everyone at the dinner in September.

Mike Edden

Annual Dinner

The Queensland Branch held its 2007 Annual Regimental Dinner at 6.30pm on Saturday 13 October at the usual venue at the Coorparoo RSL (Returned Serviceman's' League). Present were: 7012 Mike and Ginny KING; 5216 Eric JONES; 25548T Simon and Jacqui LUCAS; 6278 Gerry and Wendy DYER with guests Anne, Gerry's sister, and her husband John WIGHTMAN (visiting from Zimbabwe); 6994 Colin JOHN  with guests Rob and Sandy KNIGHTS (ex-Internal Affairs Rhodesia); 7432 Will  and Jacqui KEYS; 205169J Margaret and Les UNDERHAY; 4727 Mike and Rosemary EDDEN; 6604 John and Mary GOLD with guest Godfrey (Goofy) LAWRENCE; 6303 Pete and Carol NORTJE; 5757 Ian and Rachel MILTON; 014040K David and  Alison CATHERALL; 5848 Dave and Jean CLINKER; 6969 Billy BUDD; 7638 Gordon  HODNETT and guest Joan FLETCHER; and last, but not least, our Guest Speaker Paul LINEHAM. Apologies were received from 5216 Eric FOULKES; 5165 Don SILLIS (roaming around Australia in his caravan); 6833 Peter GREEF (who lives in Buderim, along way north on the Sunshine Coast); 7429 Frederick CARR-THOMSON (Overseas); 10552 Derek PERKINS (working); 7445 Mike BENNETT (Lives in Sydney NSW) 5865 Roland De CHAZAL (Lives on Magnetic Island); 5885 Mike FITTON; 5762 David BRUCE (Lives in NSW); 23451 Chris WHEELER (Lives on an Island); 9875 Barrie HOCKING; 28014Z Mike HAYES and 6940 Jack TAYLOR. Mike KING thanked Dave and Jean CLINKER and Billy BUDD for making their usual special effort to travel to the dinner, especially as they live so far away from Brisbane and introduced the WIGHTMAN'S, who were on holiday from Zimbabwe, as having from the furthest away. He then read out the list of apologies and gave the reasons they were unable to attend.

He went on to propose the toast to "Absent Friends". I followed Mike's opening address by drawing attention to the presence of Goofy Lawrence, who played cricket for Rhodesia as an opening bowler in the early '60s, migrated to South Africa in 1964 where he continued his illustrious career. Everyone was delighted to meet the WIGHTMANS, not only because Ann is Gerry's sister, but they were able to pass on first-hand knowledge of life in Zimbabwe, which was of great interest especially to the ladies in attendance.

I was also pleased to have the KNIGHTS on my right and found that Rob and I had a common interest in Zaka where I had been stationed from '51 - '53, he had been there in Internal Affairs in '65, so we had a lot to chat about. I feel concerned about the members who were absent and not listed among the apologies and ask myself: Was it a lack of courtesy to the Secretary, not to bother to reply? . Or disinterest in those few functions that this Association does hold? The notice convening the dinner had been circulated in plenty of time for members to decide what they wanted to do. Of course, some of them could have been away on business or holiday, or too far away to travel, or too unwell, or for some reason be unaware of the function. Nevertheless, it is a thought-provoking situation which must exercise the minds of members not only here in Australia but all over the world.

Apathy is no excuse not to return the courtesy of the Secretary's notice advising the date and nature of the function; if there are difficult situations we are here to help where needed; total disinterest is disappointing. For me, putting on the tie, blazer and trousers, is a little nostalgic in Brisbane where the trend in dress is to be more comfortable in casual wear, so the jackets come off very early if the air conditioning is not up to standard and we do not wear our medals as the current view of members is to look forward rather than to the past.

However this year was noteworthy as I found $100 in the jacket pocket that I had put there a year ago, which brightened up my evening! Gordon HODNETT once again provided a very substantial hamper as the raffle prize, which was won by the CLINKERS. Gerry DYER proposed the "Loyal Toast" and remarked that it was now nine years since the Queensland Branch was formed with only sixteen members and he was pleased that we now numbered well over 40 (even though some have moved away, they still retain their membership). At that point I wondered why those ex-members in Sydney and Melbourne haven't taken the initiative to start a branch of the association. It would be interesting to find out.

Dinner was a choice between "Nut crumbed Barramundi" or Mediterranean stuffed chicken breasts", followed by Pavlova with mandarin segments or Vanilla cheesecake with raspberry topping". The committee provided a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine for each of the four tables of eight. John GOLD introduced the guest speaker Paul LINEHAM, originally a Kiwi, who was a well known Australian radio personality, at one time broadcasting from a "pirate" radio station before they were shipwrecked; joined the RAAF and is a Squadron Leader performing various duties, including being part of the Australian Rescue Team sent to deal with the Indonesian "Tsunami" and who now runs safari-type holidays to South Africa.

Paul gave an excellent speech about his service in Indonesia and his praise for the youth who have put the place back together again, and we all thoroughly enjoyed his tales on South Africa, which included a passing mention of the state of the Victoria Falls airport and the Zimbabwe tourist situation which was not flattering to the Mugabe regime.

I was very pleased that John had found such an interesting speaker who was a break from the more traditional speakers at these dinners and who looked to the future rather than the past. I replied and after thanking him for his very interesting speech, presented him with an engraved pewter platter on behalf of the Committee. Will KEYS rounded off the ceremony by asking us to stand and gave the final toast "Australia"; whereupon the party broke up into numerous groups until 10pm when we reluctantly called it a day.

Out and About

I have since seen and circulated an email showing the erection of a Billboard at Messina stating "We know why you're in South Africa" - "Life in Zimbabwe is Murder these days" as part of opposition's electioneering platform and have since heard from Hugh Phillips that it has been pulled down but Geoff Hill has turned it into an international furore. At least not everyone has given up on the old country.

My circulation of this gem to a much wider audience than usual has prompted some interesting replies, not least from Jack Fisher, now living in New Zealand, who in catching up with me summed life as a fellow pensioner by remarking that "It is rather a matter of wondering how many green bottles are still hanging on the wall, isn't it?", which made me ponder on how my fellow septuagenarians and octogenarians are coping with life wherever they may be. I used to read obituaries of older members, without turning a hair, but now that I am reading those much younger than I, Jack's remark certainly sums it up, so I am pleased to report that in my everyday programme I still take the family dog for a walk and continually find other dogs with owners with southern African connections, which helps to while away the time.

The other day, we were walking up the pathway of our road when I saw that residents at the top of the hill on the other side of the road appeared to have put  two new garden statues in their front garden, only to find as we walked past, two little heads followed our every movement. They were a pair of wallabies sitting upright on their hind legs. After we had gone past one bounded to the road, looked right, then left and right again before crossing. I was most impressed with its road sense! A week or so earlier, we woke one morning to see a Koala sitting in a tree just outside our garden fence, where over the next five days it was up and down that tree and its larger neighbour feeding and sleeping. We back onto the Kimberley Park Forest in Shailer Park, Queensland, but that was the first time I had seen a wild Koala in its native habitat anywhere near the house. A few days later my son-in-law and I were feeding two wild magpies on our back veranda with meat scraps from our hands. As most of my walk consists of trying to avoid the massacre of dozens of ants who always choose to cross my path, the various sights and sounds of the morning chorus are something which didn't even happen at Zaka and certainly not in Salisbury, though Kariba residents used to complain about the loss of their domestic pets to predators.

As my younger Queensland colleagues battle the traffic and wend their way to and from work looking forward to retirement I, on the other hand, wonder whether I will ever have to put my brain cells to good use ever again. I will find out shortly when two ex-members visit Brisbane in the near future:. 6388 Will Cornell and his wife arrive Brisbane on Sunday 11 November for two nights before moving on to the Gold Coast then flying back to Los Angeles and. 8318 David Cushworth arrives Brisbane on Monday 12 November to stay for up to a week with me before flying back to Los Angeles on the 18th. Anyone wishing to be in touch with either member should contact me as soon as possible.

Mike Edden