Fiction BSA Police Specific
The British South Africa Police force is steeped in the history
of then Rhodesia and much has been written about the force
over the years by historians, adventurers and a good number
of former members themselves. This page attempts to bring
to you a bibliography of fiction works which make specific
reference to the British South Africa Police.
The Webmaster's grateful thanks is extended to the active
members of the BSAP History group (See Discussion Groups)
who put this list together and the group's moderator Geoff
Quick who allowed this list to be published on these pages
for your benefit. Please note that the new history, Blue
and Old Gold, in now in distribution
BRUCE, Sir Michael - BSA Police
1723; Served 1912-1914
Tramp Royal (click to buy)
Elek Books Ltd - 1954
This is the autobiography of Sir Michael Bruce (Bart) who
served in the BSA Police from 1912 -1914. This section of his
life is covered in chapter 2.
Roy McTaggart 5425
19 September 2009
BURGESS, Alan
The
Word for Love
(click to buy)
Michael Joseph Ltd, 1968
ISBN: 978-0330025508
The book is the story of an Inspector at a BSA Police outpost going through his
mid-life crisis during the 60s as political tension increases. A very
pleasant and readable story. Republished by the Companion Book Club.
Bernard Robertson
EARLY, Robert John
A Time of Madness
Salisbury: Graham Publishing, 1977
The parallel stories of a member of the Rhodesian Army and a member of the
BSA Police Special
Branch and the turbulent times during the country's terrorist war.
Geoff Quick
FULLERTON, Alexander
The White men Sang
Peter Davies, London, 1958
Novel base on facts surrounding the wiping out of Major Allan Wilson's patrol during the
Matabele War - Peter Stiff, 4831
 GILL, Peter; BSA Police: 7659 - Served: 13-Dec-1966 to 5-Apr-1977
An Awakening Mind
Ammar Publishing, 2006
ISBN: 978-0-9554240-0-3
Peter Gill's 'An Awakening Mind' is a gem. My literary consultant, Mary, has
suggested that this is a book written by a man fond of telling stories, who
has been nagged by someone to put his stories down in writing. That person
should be given a beer. I read the book in
two days. It had particular resonance with this erstwhile Rhodesian
policeman because it is written by a Rhodesian policeman abut being a
policeman in a country that was once called Rhodesia. This is the vehicle
that Peter uses, with excellent effect, to give the reader his perspective
on his corner of Life, the Universe and Everything. He is completely honest
about his project and prepares the reader for this in his foreword.
This is an absolutely delightful read. I earnestly look forward to
the promised sequel.
Geraint Jones
GREENE, L Patrick
Trooper Takes Command
Harrap, 1940
Following on from the previous titles 'Trooper Useless' and 'Not so Useless' this third offering follows our hero to Mpakwe where he relieves a very sick member i/c and restores order and cleanliness to the camp and the administering of justice in the district. These books all have elements of real-life police work but are fictionalised to appeal to a wider audience particularly the younger group.
Ted Dowling
Updated: 22 May 2010
'LAMBURNE, John BSA
Police 1757; Served 1913 to 1919
Trooper Fault (click to buy)
John Murray, 1931
Trooper Fault is a fictional policeman in the early days of the BSAP and the author gives his character the regimental number 1757. This in fact identifies the author as John Battersby Crompton Lamburn, writing under one of his several pen-names. Lamburn was the young brother of the author Richmal Crompton who later used him as the model for her "Just William" stories. 'Trooper Fault' follows this young man's recruitment into the Force, his passage to Africa, recruit training in Depot (where he meets RSM James Blatherwick), and on to his district station of Tokwe. Despite the passage of time many present day readers will identify with the career of young Fault. His story ends with an almost John Buchan- type suppression of a native rebellion, thus saving the Colony for another day. Tpr 1757 Lamburn served from 19/9/1913 to 30/11/1919 but nothing is known of his service. On leaving the Force he moved to the Far East and travelled throughout China. Returning to England in the 1930s he took to writing.
David Sloman (5695)
Updated: 22 May 2010
MACASKILL, Glenn ; BSA Police: 6538 -
13-Dec-1961 to 4-Jul-1980
Kings Gold
Sunninghill: Crest Publishing 2003
ISBN: 0-620-31002-2  This
is a work of fiction and informative fact carefully interwoven. The prologue
is set against the backdrop of the Matabeleland massacres by the Fifth Brigade
in the early 1980s. The scene then shifts to early 2000, when the disastrous
and tragic dark cloud descended upon Zimbabwe. A roller coaster ride takes the
reader through legend and tribal superstition, murder, romance, courage and
a series of extraordinary plots and thrilling climaxes. Former BSA Police members
Trevor Lawson and Gift Shimenga and friends find themselves embroiled in political
intrigue involving some of the world's major intelligence agencies, the traumatic
events of a country on the brink of anarchy, and the exciting quest to unravel
the secret of bygone forbidden riches. 'An epic adventure midst the ruins of
Zimbabwe'.
PAGE, Gertrude
The Rhodesian
London: Hurst & Blackett Ltd, 1912
A romantic novel set in Southern Rhodesia in about 1910. The main character is a Major Carew [The Rhodesian] who joined the BSACP Pioneer Column to escape his past in England.
His life is crossed by two wealthy, English educated young ladies from South Africa who
are on a visit to S.R. with their mining magnat Uncle. A plot is hatched by the one young
lady to ensnare the reclusive Major into marriage with her lifelong friend. I'm not into
love stories and only started to read this book because of the BSA Police mention in the first
page of Chapter 1, entitled 'The Police Camp'. I was quickly hooked and much to
my wife's amusement, read the book from cover to cover in one sitting. What gripped me was
the vivid portrayal of early settler life and the special relationship between the
Policemen and the community they served - in this case the scattered missionaries and
miners around the Zimbabwe Ruins. Major Carew and his troopers are depicted as dedicated,
professional 'soldier/policemen', as the author calls them. However, the
highlight of the book, for me, was the author's superb description of the sights and
smells of the Rhodesian bush and its seasonal changes. It made me feel quite homesick. A
recommended Rhodesiana novel - and for the record, I even enjoyed the love story! Frank
Flowers (7404) New Zealand.
SCHREINER, Olive
Trooper Peter
Halket of Mashonaland (click
to buy)
London : T. Fisher Unwin. 1897.
A fictional story about a trooper in Mashonaland, who can be identified as a member of the
BSACP. The author did not approve of Empire building in southern Africa and book is said
to reflect her anger at Rhodes methods
SMITH, Ivan Peter Thornton
BSA Police 7357; Served 1965-1977
Come break a
Spear (click to
buy)
N.p.: N.p.1980
A novel about two men, one white the other black and both members of a Police Anti
Terrorist Unit (PATU) stick.
TEMPLE, Derek
Out with the Mounties.
N.p. England : Samson Low Ltd. 1930 (?)
Although described as the experiences and adventures of a trooper of the Rhodesian Mounted
Police, is a work of fiction written in the “Boy's Own Adventure” style,
about a policeman's chase after a man wanted for murder. Includes a number of
photographs and is dedicated to a BSA Police Trooper. Although a work of fiction, the libraries
at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities as well as the National Army Museum in London
have the book in their BSA Police collections. Derek TEMPLE was not a member of the
BSA Police.
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