This abbreviated history of the BSA Police, compiled by
Andrew Field (8646), is in the form of a time line listing.
There is a moving time line being developed for this site.
|
Date |
Event |
|
21-May-1884 |
Bechuanaland Territories declared a British Protectorate |
|
01-Jul-1884 |
Bechuanaland Mounted Police (BMP) formed |
|
04-Aug-1885 |
Bechuanaland Border Police (BBP) founded (a forerunner of
the BSA Police) |
|
|
British South Africa |
|
29-Oct-1889 |
Royal Charter authorizes the formation of the British
South Africa Company's Police, which absorbed elements of the BBP, with
responsibilities to protect and police Mashonaland |
|
01-Jan-1890 |
BSA Company signs contract with Frank Johnson for
occupation of Mashonaland and resulting in the formation of the Pioneer
Column |
|
06-May-1890 |
Pioneer Column sets off from Kenilworth, Kimberly
destined for Macloutsie |
|
28-Jun-1890 |
Police and Pioneer Forces leave Macloutsie for the
occupation of Mashonaland |
|
01-Jul-1890 |
Pioneers reach the Shashi River and establish Fort Tuli |
|
10-Jul-1890 |
Lieut. Col. EG Pennefather commanded the advance column
of Pioneers and BSAC Police towards Mashonaland |
|
12-Sep-1890 |
Pioneer Column reaches their destination and establish
Fort Salisbury in Mashonaland |
|
01-Oct-1890 |
Disbandment of the Pioneer Column |
|
11-May-1891 |
Portuguese occupation of Macequece (Massikessi) driven
back by BSAC Police elements |
|
11-Jun-1891 |
Anglo-Portuguese Treaty signed |
|
Jan-1892 |
Establishment of Mashonaland Mounted Police (MMP - a
forerunner of the BSA Police) |
|
1893 |
Formation of the Matabeleland Mounted Police (also a
forerunner of the BSA Police) |
|
18-Jul-1893 |
Matabele raids against Shona tribes people into Fort Victoria
area leading to the 'Lendy Incident' and, consequently, Matabele War |
|
03-Oct-1893 |
Commencement of the Matabele War |
|
24-Oct-1893 |
'Battle of Shangani' |
|
1-Nov-1893 |
'Battle of Bembezi' - defeat of Matabele army |
|
04-Nov-1893 |
BSA Company forces occupy Bulawayo |
|
Dec-1893 |
Matabele War comes to an end |
|
04-Dec-1893 |
Last stand of Major Allan Wilson against the Matabele on the
Shangani River |
|
1894 |
Matabeleland Native Police formed and placed under the
control of 'Native Commissioners' |
|
18-Jul-1894 |
BSA Company's jurisdiction over Matabeleland confirmed by
Order in Council and the boundaries of Rhodesia were set down
|
|
03-May-1895 |
British South Africa Company's territories formally named
Rhodesia |
|
29-Dec-1895 |
Dr Leander Jameson launches Raid into Transvaal with 500
BSAC police from Pitsani and Mafeking |
|
02-Jan-1896 |
'Battle of Doornkop' at which Dr Jameson surrenders, was
arrest and interned in Johannesburg with surviving elements of the raid |
|
22-Mar-1896 |
Matabele Rebellion commences - 141 settlers murdered |
|
1-Apr-1896 |
Bechuanaland Border Police renamed as
the Bechuanaland Mounted Police (BMP) |
|
14-Jun-1896 |
Mashona Rebellion breaks out - 119 settlers murdered |
|
01-Oct-1896 |
The Matabeleland and Mashonaland Mounted Police forces
amalgamated to form the Rhodesian Mounted Police |
|
22-Oct-1896 |
Matabele Rebellion settled through negotiation with
rebellion Chiefs |
|
29-Dec-1896 |
Fixed establishment set for Matabeleland and Mashonaland
Divisions of the force, which became known as the British South Africa
Police, under the control of Colonel Sir Richard Martin |
|
29-Dec-1896 |
Lt. Colonel JS Nicholson assumes command of Matabeleland
Division and Lt. Colonel the Honourable FRWE de Moleyns, DSO, assumes command
of Mashonaland Division |
|
2-Aug-1897 |
Bechuanaland Mounted Police (BMP)
becomes the BSAP No.1 (Bechuanaland Division) |
|
27-Oct-1897 |
Mashona Rebellion quelled |
|
12-Oct-1899 |
Anglo-Boer War Starts |
|
17-May-1900 |
Relief of Mafeking involving elements of BSA Police
predecessor forces |
|
22-Jan-1901 |
Death of Queen Victoria |
|
26-Mar-1902 |
Death of Mr. Cecil John Rhodes |
|
31-May-1902 |
Boer Surrender, the Treaty of Vereeniging, signed at
Pretoria |
|
1903 |
Matabeleland and Mashonaland Divisions united under one
command in terms of Police Ordinance of 1903 |
|
11-Mar-1903 |
BSAP No.1 (Bechuanaland) Division
ceases to exist becoming the Bechuanaland Protectorate Police (BPP) |
|
Oct-1903 |
Lt. Col. William Bodle appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
1903 |
Bechuanaland Division of the BSA Police abolished
|
|
01-Oct-1903 |
First Commandant Depot, Sub-Inspector H Chapman,
appointed on amalgamation of Mashonaland and Matabele Divisions
|
|
05-Oct-1903 |
Commandant General orders 11 separate and complete
Troops, of which one is a Depot Troop to which all recruits would be
posted, and perceived to be the birth of Morris Depot |
|
1907 |
First Fingerprint Bureau established in Rhodesia
|
|
01-Jan-1908 |
African Police training camp established on the site of
what was to become Tomlinson Depot after moving from Lorelie Farm, east
of Salisbury |
|
1909 |
Control of the BSA Police transferred to the Imperial
Government under the control of one Commissioner of Police |
|
1909 |
Lt. Col. J H Fuller appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
1911 |
Maj. Gordon Vallancy Drury appointed Commissioner of
Police |
|
1913 |
Criminal Investigation Department established
|
|
2-Nov-1913 |
Maj. Gen Sir AHM Edwards appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
Apr-1913 |
District Police were organised into Regimental troops
(mounted), later found to be unsuitable |
|
Apr-1913 |
The country was divided into six police districts,
coinciding with magisterial districts |
|
1914 |
Chief Supt. Joseph C Brundell (1142) becomes first
Officer Commanding Criminal Investigation Department |
|
04-Aug-1914 |
Great Britain declares war on Germany |
|
21-Sep-1914 |
Occupation of the German civil post of Schuckmannsburg,
Caprivi Strip, German West Africa, by elements of BSA Police
|
|
12-Aug-1915 |
Formation of first BSA Police Infantry Company, 'A'
Company, for service in Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland border with
German East Africa |
|
17-Aug-1915 |
Departure BSA Police Infantry 'A' Company to the North |
|
01-Feb-1923 |
Col. Essex Capell appointed Commissioner of Police
|
|
Date |
Event |
|
|
Southern Rhodesia |
|
12-Sep-1923 |
Government by the Chartered Company dissolved and
Southern Rhodesia annexed to Great Britain and Sir John Chancellor appointed
Governor. |
|
01-Oct-1923 |
Responsible Government established in Southern Rhodesia
and Sir Charles Coghlan appointed first Premier |
|
13-May-1926 |
Col. George Stops appointed Commissioner of Police
|
|
13-Feb-1933 |
Col. John S Morris appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
1936 |
Col. JS Morris, Commissioner of Police, appointed
Commanding Officer of all Southern Rhodesian Forces |
|
01-Aug-1939 |
Police Reserve formed in terms of the Defence Act 1926
and Major HH Rochester (855) appointed Officer Commanding Police Reserve |
|
1941 |
Women's Auxiliary Police Service formed |
|
Jul-1941 |
Elements BSA Police sent to North Africa and the Middle East
for service in Abyssinia and Eritrea; and Cyrenaica and Tripolitania |
|
05-Jul-1941 |
Kum-A-Kye accepted as the Regimental March of the BSA
Police |
|
24-Apr-1945 |
Brigadier John Ross appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
1945 |
Mundy Commission makes recommendation for improvement of
the BSA Police |
|
1948 |
Police Dog Section introduced |
|
1948 |
Expansion of the Police Reserve into two sections, an A
Reserve and B Reserve |
|
1949 |
Colony divided into provinces Mashonaland, Matabeleland
and Midlands for administration of policing |
|
7-Dec-1950 |
Col. James Appleby (2123) appointed Commissioner of
Police |
|
Date |
Event |
|
|
The Federal Era |
|
1953 |
Federal Intelligence and Security Bureau (FISB) formed
under the directorship of Basil “Bob” de Quehen (3136), a former member
of the force |
|
1953 |
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland comprising the two
Rhodesia's and Nyasaland formed |
|
Aug-1953 |
Elements of BSA Police deployed to Nyasaland to assist with
the quelling of nationalist disturbances |
|
1954 |
Col. Arthur S Hickman (2622) appointed Commissioner of
Police |
|
1954 |
Establishment of the Police C Reserve, known as the Field
Reserve |
|
12-Feb-1954 |
HRH Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, becomes Honorary
Commissioner of the BSA Police force. |
|
6-Nov-1955 |
Col. Harold Jackson (2853) appointed Commissioner of
Police |
|
1957 |
Police Reserve Airwing Formed |
|
12-Sep-1957 |
Southern Rhodesian African National Congress (ANC) formed |
|
13-Mar-1958 |
Mr. Basil G Spurling (3100) appointed Commissioner of
Police |
|
1959 |
The Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters moves
from Bulawayo to Salisbury to premises within Morris Depot. |
|
25-Feb-1959 |
Banning of ANC and launch of Operation Spider, the arrests
and detention of 500 leading nationalists |
|
29-Dec-1959 |
Formation of the National Democratic Party
(NDP) comprising fromer members of SRANC, under leadership
of Michael Mawema |
|
1960 |
Establishment of the Special Police Reserve |
|
1960 |
Women Field Reserve force established |
|
12-Sep-1960 |
Freedom of the City of Salisbury conferred on the British
South Africa Police |
|
Dec-1961 |
Banning of the NDP |
|
20-Sep-1962 |
Banning of Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU) |
|
02-Jan-1963 |
Police Forensic Science Laboratory established in
Salisbury |
|
26-Apr-1963 |
Mr. Frank Barfoot (3342) appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
Aug-1963 |
Seeds sewn for the formation of the Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO) under the pseudonym of 'The Department of the Prime
Minister' with the impending break-up of the Federation. |
|
Aug-1963 |
Ken Flower (3654), a member of the BSA Police force
(served as Deputy Commissioner until 1967),
appointed to form and nominated to be first Director General of CIO |
|
08-Aug-1963 |
Zimbabwe African Nationalist Union (ZANU) formed by
Ndabaningi Sithole |
|
12-Sep-1963 |
Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), referred to as
the PM's Department, formed under instruction of Prime Minister Winston
Field |
|
Oct-1963 |
Prime Ministerial Mandate signed by Mr Winston Field
creating the Central Intelligence Organisation including the creation of
the BSA Police Special Branch (also known as Branch I - Internal)
|
|
31-Dec-1963 |
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland dissolved
|
|
1964 |
Formation of Volunteer Additional Force (VAT) police
anti-terrorist units, comprising Regular and Reserve police, known then
as the 'Sinoia Commandos' |
|
4-Jul-1964 |
Nationalist insurgents set up a crude road block in Melsetter
area and stab Petros Oberholtzer to death in their first offensive action in
the country. |
|
26-Aug-1964 |
State of Emergency declared and Zimbabwe African
Nationalist Union (ZANU) banned |
|
Date |
Event |
|
|
The Rhodesian Republic |
|
02-Mar-1970 |
Rhodesia declares itself a Republic |
|
27-Jun-1970 |
Mr. Sydney Bristow (3844) appointed Commissioner of
Police |
|
1971 |
Women's A Reserve formed to perform normal police duties
in line with their A Reserve male colleagues |
|
01-Dec-1972 |
Operation Hurricane, Joint Operations Command (JOC) Bindura, commences joint force
operations against Zimbabwe African Nationalist Liberation Army (ZANLA) elements in the north eastern, mostly Mashonaland
Province, area |
|
21-Dec-1972 |
Attack on Altena Farm, Centenary introduces a new phase of
the ZANLA offensive |
|
Jul-1973 |
First intake of 42 National Service Patrol Officers
commence training at Morris Depot, Salisbury |
|
06-Feb-1974 |
Mr. Peter Sherren (3862) appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
01-Feb-1976 |
Operation Thrasher, JOC Umtali, commences joint force
operations again ZANLA terrorists in the Manicaland Province
|
|
01-Feb-1976 |
Operation Repulse, JOC Fort Victoria, commences joint
anti terrorist operations in the south east of the country, mostly in
Victoria Province |
|
01-Aug-1976 |
Operation Tangent, JOC Bulawayo, to combat the Zimbabwe
Peoples Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA)
offensive mostly in Matabeleland commences operations |
|
01-Sep-1976 |
91 Members of the African police promoted to the
previously exclusive European ranks in a programme of black advancement |
|
01-Aug-1977 |
Operation Grapple, JOC Gwelo, commences to combat both
ZIPRA and ZANLA elements in the central Rhodesian province of Midlands |
|
06-Feb-1978 |
Mr. Peter Allum (3939) appointed Commissioner of Police |
|
03-Mar-1978 |
Internal agreement of the 'Salisbury Four' - Chirau,
Muzorewa, Sithole and Smith |
|
21-Mar-1978 |
Transitional Government comes to power out of the
Internal multi-party agreement of the 'Salisbury Four' |
|
01-Jun-1978 |
Operation Splinter, JOC Kariba, commences to combat
waterborne infiltration into Zimbabwe-Rhodesia via Lake Kariba out of Zambia |
|
3-Sep-1978 |
Air Rhodesia civilian aircraft, Hunyani, shot down by
terrorist missile and survivors murdered |
|
12-Feb-1979 |
Second civilian aircraft, Umniati, shot down killing all on
board |
Do you have a significant event in the histroy of the BSA Police that is
not listed? Please communicate your suggestions to
