April 2013 News

BSA Police Former Members Web News
The web site administrator's news pages are kept up to date by courtesy of the Regimental Association Branches and all those members who report recent news events concerning former members of the force. Your contributions and articles for publication are welcome. Have you or has a former member of the force achieved some fame or passed a milestone? Please drop me a line by and tell me about it. Send pictures too.


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Death: Brian John Thomas 5405
Death: Brian John Thomas 5405
Neville Spurr reports, with regret, the death of Brian Thomas on 22 April 2013 in Somerset West, South Africa. Brian was a cadet in the Metropolitan police before joining the BSA Police in November 1955. He served on a number of stations in Matabeleland and the Midlands, before joining the Criminal Investigation Department. Brian was comissioned in 1973 and served in command of various sections of the Salisbury CID, and ended his service in charge of the Homicide Section. He retired with the rank of Chief Superintendent in February 1979. Brian was awarded the PMM in 1978. He was a keen sportsman and, as a school boy, had represented Wales at rugby. He also represented Matabeleland Province, and both the Salisbury and Bulawayo police teams while in the force. Outside police work, Brian was involved with the Association of Round Tables, being National President at one stage. He joined Astra Corporation in risk management and went on to work for Barloworld and Avis before retiring in 2010. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife, Myra, family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
26 April 2013

Death: Patrick Harry George 'Pat' Berry 9268 PDG
Christopher Driver reports, with regret, the tragic death of Pat Berry on 19 April 2013 near Luanda, Angola. Pat served in the force between November 1974 and July 1980. Towards the end of his service Pat had been involved in SWAT operations. He was the recipient of a PDG. After 1980, Pat settled in South Africa and at the time of his death had been involved with construction projects in Angola. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
26 March 2013

Death: Peter John Driver 7401
Des Howse reports, with regret, the death of Peter Driver on 10 April 2013 in Durban, South Africa. Peter joined the force in August 1965 and served through until July 1980. He ended his service as a Detective Inspector in the Criminl Investigation Department. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
26 April 2013

Western Cape Outpost Magazine: April 2013: Edition 73
Mike Mays, the new Editor of the Western Cape Outpost, has submitted his first edition of this publication for your reading pleasure. May I extend my compliments to Mike on a really good first edition... packed with information and well worth the read. These PDF documents seem to be getting larger and larger. Did you know that you can upload them to your Kindle or Ipad device? It is possible. Please click on the link Western Cape Outpost or on the image to the right.
20 April 2013

Death: Patrick James Murphy 5226
Trevor Wilson reports, with regret, the death of Patrick Murphy on 18 April in Johannesburg, South Africa. Pat's policing career started in Wiltshire as a police cadet, before joining the BSA Police in March 1954. He served on several stations, at the two training depots and eventually PGHQ, all in a Staff Branch role. During his service Pat had been an active sportman in both soccer, cricket and later golf, the former more so and involving him in the police and Mashonaland soccer associations. He retired from the force in May 1980 with the rank of Assistant Commissioner. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife, Gladys, family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
20 April 2013

Death: John Brampton 'Robbie' Robertson 3893
Karl Hurry reports, with regret, the death of Robbie Robertson on 12 April in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. He was 94 years of age. Robbie joined the BSA Police in April 1940. He served in the force for 20 years, leaving in May 1960 with the rank of Staff Inspector. He later joined the Rhodesia Railways Security Branch. Robbie represented the force at rugby, cricket, hockey and tennis. He also took part in the BSA Police Coronation contingent of 1953, in the UK, representing Rhodesia at both the Coronation and at the Royal Tournament. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
20 April 2013

The 3rd Annual Scottish Gathering
It is perhaps appropriate to remind former members who visit this site of the forthcoming 3rd Annual Scottish Gathering which will be taking place on the 25th May 2013. Attached is an invitation to all Association members and also former members of the BSA Police. There is also a copy of The Scottish Gathering Newsletter No 9 for your reading pleasure. Support these events... you will enjoy them if you do.
13 April 2013

The Transvaal Outpost - April 2013 : Edition 32
Craig Viljoen has send in his latest edition of The Transvaal Outpost - April 2013 : Edition 32 for your reading please. Craig recently took over the reins as editor, and we must compliment him on this edition which is packed full of information, and indeed many memories.
13 April 2013

Death: Alexander Colin Campbell 4689
Mike Main reports, with regret, the death of Alex Campbell on 24 November 2012 in Gaborone, Botswana. He was 80 years of age. Alex served in the BSA Police between January 1951 and January 1954, stationed mostly in Matabeleland, at Plumtree. He left on expiry of his initial contract with the rank of 2nd Sergeant. Alex joined the Department of Agriculture and was involved in Tsetse fly control, but was soon drawn to furthering his education at Rhodes, graduating in Social Anthropology. He then settled in Botswana, where he worked for Government. Alex is credited with being one of the foremost experts on the people of Botswana and for setting up that country's National Museum and Art Gallery, of which he was at one time curator/director. He was a Commissioner of Botswana's National Monuments, founder of the Botswana Society and joint author of several publications resulting from his archaeological research, a passion in later life. Alex was the recipient of an MBE in 1966. Somewhat belatedly, our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife, Judy, family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
12 April 2013

Matabeleland AGM
Karl Hurry reports that the AGM of the Matabeleland Branch of the Regimental Association was held on Saturday the 6 April 2013 at the Green & White, Bulawayo. Chairman, Ken MacDonald, read his report and commented on the success of the various functions held during the year, notably the Annual Dinner, the Ladies Luncheon hosted by Nikki Brown, the braai hosted by Ian And Tupps Paterson, and the Annual Luncheon. The existing Committee agreed to continue and were unanimously returned to office:

• Chairman: Ken R MacDonald
• Vice Chair/Treasurer: Karl V Hurry
• Secretary: Denise C Hurry
• Member: Gordon Geddes
• Member: T Cranston

The meeting was followed by a social bring and braai.
13 April 2013

Death: Declan Condon 7725
Dick Glanville reports, with regret, the death of Declan Condon on 30 March 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Declan served in the BSA Police between March 1967 and July 1970 and left on his own request with the rank of Patrol Officer. Before his death, Declan ran D&K Management Consultants, an investigating agency, with his son, Kyle. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
6 April 2013

Victory Service Club March 2013
Something we do not get enough of is a little feedback on gatherings and photographs.

Picture by Alan Lane 5248
Fred Punter, Bob Morriston, Peter Dancer, Mike Wiltshire

Fred Punter recently submitted this photograph of himself alongside Messrs. Morriston, Dancer, and Wiltshire, taken at a recent meeting of the Regimental Association held at the Victory Service Club.
7 April 2013

Death: John Haigh Howe Thatcher BEM 6126/9105
Dick Glanville reports, with regret, the death of John Thatcher on 25 March 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was 72. John served two tours in the BSA Police, the first being between February 1960 and November 1965. He re-attested in 1974 and served further until April 1978. During his earlier service John served in the District Branch and it was here, in 1963, that he saved the lives of some children caught in a swollen river, for which he was awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallantry (See Outpost May 1963 Extract). After re-attestation, John joined the Criminal Investigation Department and while serving on operational duties suffered the loss of hearing in one ear during a mortar attack. He left the force with the rank of Detective Section Officer. John took up religious studies and joined the Rhodesia Branch of the Christian Police Association. He served in the Rhodesian Corp of Chaplains as a Chaplain's Assistant. He had a keen interest in writing poetry. John was from a line of former members of the force. His grandfather, Arthur Thatcher was a member of the Natal Mounted and Bechuanaland Police forces who saw attachment to the BSA Police. John father was 3193 Lt Col, and latterly Senior Assistant Commissioner Charles Thatcher. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy.
ADF 8646
1 April 2013

Old Mazoe Police Station
Robert Vos 8404 wrote and enclosed a photograph of the old Mazoe police station. He says that he was posted at Mazoe shortly after the new police station had been constructed, in 1972.

Picture by Robert Vos 8404
Old Mazoe Police Station circa 1972

The old station, which was built in the 1920’s (corrugated metal rondavels under thatched roof), was removed from the site for re-erected at the National Archives in Salisbury (now Harare). Those rondavels are still at the National Archives and are the home of a display of liberation war memorabilia and documents (from the other side).
13 April 2013

Achievements: April Birthday Parade
A few former members will celebrate 'landmark' birthdays this month, including:

• 55th Birthday for 9639 Andy Cox (24 April);
• 60th Birthday for 8635 Barry Henderson (29 April); 8958 Bob Belder (30 April); 9885 Bimbo Westland (13 April);
• 70th Birthday for 6359 Duncan Mitchell (18 April); 6424 Wynn Berry (20 April); 6612 David Willis (14 April); 7045 Bob Gates (2 April); 7155 Ernie Mason (3 April); 7210 Ian Thornton (16 April); 9057 David Willis (14 April);
• 75th Birthday for 22835 Michael Goldberg (14 April); 5589 Michael Payne (12 April); 5601 Eric Robb (9 April); 5812 Thomas Singleton (18 April); 6093 Dennis Benneyworth (25 April);
• 80th Birthday for 4757 Ron Pilbrough (20 April); 4840 Michael Purslow (15 April); 5070 Thomas Holden (20 April);

If you know them, drop them a message... its a good time to refresh your connection. Please note that not all birthdays are mentioned here, just those in multiples of 5 years over 50 or anyone 90 and over.
1 April 2013

Andrew Field (8646)
Web Master

The BSA Police Senior Officer.

Rank of the Commissioner of Police