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THE e-NONGQAI

Un-official Police Gazette for VETERANS

of the former South African Police Force

and for those interested in the history of

our Police, Defence and South Africa’s

National Security

19 September 2012; Vol 3 no 9.1

DIE e-NONGQAI Nie-amptelike Polisiekoerant vir VETERANE van die ou Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiemag en vir

diegene wat belangstel in die geskiedenis van ons polisie, ons verdediging en ons nasionale

veiligheid

BSAP Annual Regimental Dinner of the

Transvaal Association of BSAP

Wing Commander Clive Mitchell, RAF, and Mrs Terry Mitchell

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Vision

To impartially publish the Police History relating to Southern Africa from 1652 to 1994

Mission

To build an objective historical picture of the South African Police and our antecedent police

forces in Southern Africa

To build up a bibliography of police related literature

To collect and archive information, reports, photographs and recollections of police officers -

especially those who were eyewitnesses of historical events

To publish short memoirs or accounts of members

To collect personal data, photographs of members and their biographies

To, where relevant, record contemporary (post 1994) police history

Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................... 3

Pre-Dinner Drinks .......................................................................................................... 4

The Piper Whiston calls the tune ................................................................................... 7

The Ambiance ................................................................................................................. 9

Absent Friends and The Fallen - Richard Glanville ................................................... 10

The Menu ...................................................................................................................... 14

Toast to Absent Friends ............................................................................................... 17

Matebeleland 1893..................................................................................................... 18

The Mashonaland Mounted Police .......................................................................... 18

We will remember them! September 1914 on Active Service ................................ 19

Victoria Falls .............................................................................................................. 20

In the North – January 1916 ..................................................................................... 21

BSAP Patrol 1918 ....................................................................................................... 22

We remember some individual Policemen ................................................................ 23

Guest Speaker: Wing Commander Clive Mitchell (RAF) ......................................... 26

After the Dinner some random photogrpahs ............................................................. 32

Some BSAP History ...................................................................................................... 35

BSAP Camels ............................................................................................................. 35

BSAP on Parade ......................................................................................................... 35

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Some items of Historical interest – Moose van Rensburg (Ft Beaufort Museum) 36

Some books from my library on the BSAP ................................................................. 41

The Market Place: Glenn Macaskill ............................................................................. 47

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 50

About the Editor ........................................................................................................... 51

Introduction

Very few South Africans know the parental lineage of the SA Police. We find that the

forbearers of the former SA Police was the London Metropolitan Police (cities) and

the Royal Irish Constabulary (rural areas). Then came the biggest war that Southern

Africa then ever experienced: The Anglo Boer War!

Policemen from all over the Empire joined the Army to come and fight the Boers.

Lord Strathcona saw that the Boer outwitted the British soldier and suggested that

elements of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) come out to fight the Boers by

following and tracking him down! A Mounty always got his man! During 1904 the

NWMP was honoured for their role in the War and became the Royal North West

Mounted Police. Today they are known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

In the mean time the BSAP were quietly fighting Boers at Mafeking and Northern

Transvaal borders.

Then the 10 000 strong SA Constabulary was formed by Lord Baden Powell – many

Canadian-, Rhodesian-, Irish- and Australian policemen in the Army joined the SA

Constabulary. Those “police pioneers” laid the foundation stone for the SA Police

which was to be formed during 1913.

Maj Gen RJ Bobby Palmer also started his career in the BSAP. He came back to South

Africa and joined the SA Police. When the First World War broke out he deserted

after the second attempt he was allowed to go to war and eventually became a pilot

in the RFC.

He came back to the SA Police. He rose to commissioned rank. During the Second

World War he was the OC of 1 SAP later transferring to other units. He won the

DSO and two bars and won many other decorations. He was our first Commissioner

of Police who rose through the ranks – a man who started his career in the BSAP.

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A great honour was bestowed upon me, when Col Terrence “Terry” Schwartz (BSAP

& SAP) invited me as his guest to this year’s annual BSAP Dinner. Here is my report:

Pre-Dinner Drinks

Col Terry Schwartz, Barry George Enslin and Glenn Macaskill

Terry Schwartz and Richard Glanville

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Col Terry Schwartz and Col John Redfern

Jack London & J v Niekerk

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Roy Edwards and Morag Willis

Rear: Dick Glanville; left to right: Ashley Collings, Doug Seccombe and Barry

George Enslin

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Barry George Enslin, Wing Com Mitchell and Bruce Harrison

The Piper Whiston calls the tune

The Piper is Police reservist Alf Whiston

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The Ambiance

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Absent Friends and The Fallen - Richard Glanville

“Now is the time to remember absent friends and the fallen.

To the military purist, we readily appreciate that it is wrong to say any toasts prior

to the loyal toast, and that toast should never occur until all have dined. We break

with that protocol simply for this toast alone which we take as being sacrosanct and

of very deep importance and significance.

Last year I presented a small potted history of what we were all about. Many people

asked me to repeat it again this year. This I will do with some amendment and in a

shortened version (do I hear sighs of relief?!).

We are a proud organisation; a Regiment in our own right. Peter Gibbs in his

definitive History says, “The BSAP was first created as a regiment and has never

since been formally deprived of that status.” The force was re-formed in 1896 from

its predecessors, the BSACP and the RMP. Indeed Colours (or was it a Banner?)

were, in 1904, awarded at Mafikeng to the BSAP by Lord Milner on behalf of King

Edward VII. The BSAP held “right of the line” throughout its existence from 1896 to

1980.

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Having deviated somewhat, let’s say we were much more than a fighting regiment,

our forefathers assembled before the country came into existence and gave us an

incredible and lasting legacy – we would not be seated here tonight were it not for

those intrepid and honourable men of so long ago and from whom we are spawned.

The BSAP brought the country into fruition, brought in the pioneer column in

relative safety and from then we were the army; we were the post office. The BSAP

erected and administered the early telecommunications systems and manned the

early exchanges.

From the BSAP were drawn the nucleus of the original Staff Corp at the birth of the

Rhodesian Army; it assisted in forming the Northern Rhodesia Police.

But we were more than all of this, we were numbered amongst the finest police

forces in the world, ranking in reputation with the Metropolitan Police, London,

with the Royal Canadian Mounted and the Royal Hong Kong. In early years we

boasted 2 VC’s in our own right and research shows that other VC’s were earned by

BSAP members on secondment.

From our ranks came Sir Percy Silitoe, wartime director-general of MI5 who in his

book said that his life’s proudest moment was when corporal’s stripes were pinned

on his sleeve whilst serving in the BSAP.

Research shows that the BSAP & the RCMP were spawned in their origins on much

the same model.

Most of all we remember those who are not with us this evening. Some perished in

skirmishes; others to the grim reaper. We think of those who might have attended

but cannot or chose not.

We think of 5526 Phil Devlin, one of our “elder statesmen” who. Through failing

health cannot be present though he’d have dearly liked to have been. We wish him

well and a speedy recovery. Then there is 4136 Tom Egleton who has just turned 91

years young. I remember him well as OC Rusape District and retied as a SAC. We

salute him.

Our tentacles (I said tentacles!) spread far – 5831 Dennis Wadsworth sent me this –

Regrettably I will not be attending the Regimental Dinner, it’s a bit too far to travel

from Austria for the evening furthermore it’s my 75th birthday on that day and I’ll be

celebrating. Would you please pass my greetings to anyone who may recall me at

Camp Hospital”

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I replied, “Though just a tad younger than yourself, you-and-I shares a common

birthday so I’ll raise a glass to you too!”

Let us, with sadness remember 5095 Bob Papenfus who succumbed to the grim

reaper very recently after a long battle with that dread disease which he bore with

the extreme fortitude which was typical of is indomitable spirit. We remember him

Returning to the fallen, we have lost members in service in numerous theatres of

skirmish right from our inception culminating in what is now colloquially known as

“the bush war” the latter probably being more recent in our memories. Nevertheless

the BSAP has members who paid the supreme sacrifice throughout our nearly 100

years as a Regiment or Force. Scattered BSAP graves are to be found throughout

Southern Africa including the Transvaal and Swartrukkens.

The Church of St John the Evangelist at Mafikeng, a Herbert Baker building built in

1902, has on its pulpit inscribed “erected by all ranks of the Bechuanaland

Protectorate Service in affectionate memory of their comrades of the Protectorate

Division of the BSAP who fell in the service in the South African War 1899 – 1902.”

We have a long and proud history and tradition and we remember with total and

absolute affection all those who fell under our banner in the service of the Regiment.

Will you all now rise and join me in the final line of the following - you’ll know it

when I get to it –

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them”

Piper plays a lament

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We’ll all now stand in silence for a short while during which I ask that you think of a

person you’d have liked to be here tonight, be he or she be dead or alive.

Ladies and gentlemen – join me in the toast -

“ABSENT FRIENDS AND THE FALLEN “

At those hallowed moments the Editor paid homage to “bush war” SAP-causalities;

friends who died in Rhodesia, No 47174 Sgt Rodney Fall and No 44433 Const Danie

du Toit, both from Durban South District (No 75 District.)

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The Menu

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Toast to Absent Friends

We will remember them! Who were we remembering? Below are some examples of

whom we are remembering that night!

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Matebeleland 1893

The Mashonaland Mounted Police

A MMP Fort

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MMP Salisbury

We will remember them! September 1914 on Active Service

Victoria Falls

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In the North – January 1916

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BSAP Patrol 1918

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We remember some individual Policemen

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Guest Speaker: Wing Commander Clive Mitchell (RAF)

Chairman of the British South Africa Police Regimental

association of the Transvaal, distinguished guests,

ladies and gentleman, good evening.

I have to confess that when I was first asked to be your

guest speaker this evening I was extremely nervous. I

wondered what possible connection there could be

between the British South Africa Police and the Royal

Air Force and, more importantly, what I was going to

say to try and hold your interest for a few minutes.

Of course, you will all be aware that I found huge links both between the UK and

Rhodesia and, more importantly for my purposes tonight, between the BSAP and the

RAF. I will try and keep my talk short and interesting but will probably achieve

neither! There is a saying in the UK that everyone is only 6 steps away from Royalty.

Well, in researching for tonight I found out that I am only 3 steps away from the

BSAP. To my amazement, I found out that a former member of the BSAP also

served on 39 Sqn RAF; the Sqn that I commanded between 2004 and 2006.

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Before I go on, I heard a great story the other day, which involves a WWII fighter

pilot who was asked by a local schoolmistress to give a talk at the school assembly

about his exploits during the war.

As he moved onto his part in the Battle of Britain, he described a particularly fraught

engagement: "The focke’s came out of the sun and before long there were focke’s

everywhere. I shot down one of the focke’s but there were simply too many. Before

long, 2 focke’s got behind me and shot my tail and I had to parachute to safety”. By

this stage, most of the young children were smirking and trying to stifle their

obvious amusement.

In order to restore order the headmistress interjected: "Children, what the pilot is

referring to is the Focke-Wulf FW 190, which was a highly advanced German fighter

of the day with speed and manoeuvrability as its 2 greatest assets".

"Madam" replied our pilot, "your facts are correct but the focke’s I was referring to

were Messerschmidt Me 109s."

Returning to my theme, early on in my preparation for tonight, and hoping for some

inspiration, I perused a list of all of the Commissioners of the BSAP. Whilst I learnt

that James Appleby (Commissioner between 7 Dec 50 and 2 Jun 54) served in the

RFC as a pilot before joining BSAP in October 1919 and also that Peter Allum

(Commissioner 7 Feb 78 to 1 Aug 80 and then Commissioner of Zimbabwe Republic

Police until 6 Feb 82) served in the Fleet Air Arm before joining BSAP on 28 April

1946 this was not really what I wanted and did not give me enough to go on.

Finally, by chance, I came across just what was needed; an individual who had

served in the BSAP but who also went on to achieve global fame as an officer in the

RAF. To add to his relevance, he was the individual who served on 39 Sqn and he

also maintained career long links with Rhodesia and played a role in the

development of the South Rhodesian Air Unit and Air Force.

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Our figure of interest was born on 13 April 1892, at Cheltenham, where his parents

were staying while his father was on home leave from the Indian Civil Service. He

was educated at Allhallows School in Devon, while his brothers were educated at

Sherborne and Eton. At the age of 16, not considered academically gifted by his

parents, he was given the choice of "either army or the colonies." He chose the

colonies and first travelled to Rhodesia in 1908. Over the next few years he

flourished, earning his living "gold mining, driving coaches and general farming",

but he also served in the BSAP. In 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, he

joined the 1st Rhodesian Regiment as a bugler and served with the Regiment both in

South Africa and in the German colony of South-West Africa. In 1915 he returned to

England and joined the Royal Flying Corps, serving with distinction on the home

front and in France. In 1917, he returned to England to command No. 44 Sqn, later

to become 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn, on Home Defence duties. He claimed five kills and

was awarded the Air Force Cross. He finished the war a major.

Moving forward, in November 1935, the air section of the territorial force was

established in Rhodesia and in March 1936, our intrepid aviator, now a group

captain, arrived from the Air Ministry in London to advise on the development of

the air unit. On 17 July 1936, the formation of the Air Section Southern Rhodesia

Defence Force was announced in the Government Gazette and on 11 June 1938 it was

first referred to in the Rhodesia Herald as the Rhodesian Air Force. In late August

1939 the Southern Rhodesia Air Unit was dispatched to Nairobi as part of the

mobilization for war with Germany. In doing so, on 3rd September 1939, with its

two detached flights, Rhodesia was the first country in the Empire—apart from

Great Britain—to establish war stations outside its own borders and on 6th

September 1939 the name of the Southern Rhodesia Air Unit was officially changed

to No1 Squadron, Southern Rhodesia Air Force.

By January 1940, with Britain at war with Germany, the Royal Air Force was

desperate for trained aircrew and our main man, now an air vice-marshal, frustrated

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by delays launching Commonwealth Air Training Plan stations in Canada,

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, turned for help to Southern Rhodesia.

Fortunately, the Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister Godfrey Huggins, recognised

an opportunity not just to aid Britain and the Allies, but also to boost the domestic

economy. The Rhodesian Air Training Group was formed and it trained 10,000

Commonwealth and Allied airmen, 7% of the total, between 1940 and 45. It also

provided the stimulus for manufacturing that had been lacking in the 1920s and

1930s. Southern Rhodesia's textile, metallurgy, chemical and food processing

industries expanded rapidly. On 1st April 1940, the Southern Rhodesian Air Force

was absorbed into the RAF and 1 Sqn was redesignated as No 237 (Rhodesia)

Squadron RAF. Nos. 44 and 266 sqns RAF were also assigned the name "Rhodesia"

because of the large number of Rhodesian airmen and crew in those units and both

have notable history.

At the outbreak of the Second World War, No.44 Sqn was part of our personality’s

No. 5 Group, and it was one of only two squadrons to operate continuously

throughout the war. It was also commanded by Wg Cdr John Dering Nettleton VC,

a South African born in Nongoma, Natal. On 17 April 1942, RAF Bomber Command

launched a daylight bombing mission against the MAN diesel engine factory at

Augsburg in Bavaria, responsible for the production of half of Germany’s U-boat

engines. It was to be the longest low-level penetration so far made during World

War II and it was the first daylight mission flown by the new Avro Lancaster.

Nettleton was the leader of one formation of six Lancaster bombers. As his

formation crossed the French coast at low level it was intercepted by German

fighters, returning to base after intercepting a planned diversionary raid which had

been organised to assist the bombers. Four of the aircraft in the formation were shot

down. Nettleton continued towards the target and his two remaining aircraft

attacked the factory, bombing it amidst heavy anti aircraft fire. Nettleton survived

the incident but his damaged Lancaster was alone in limping back to the UK. His

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VC was gazetted on 24 April 1942 and three Rhodesians were awarded the D.F.C.

and the D.F.M. Following the war the government of Southern Rhodesia named a

new school after Nettleton (Nettleton Junior School) in the suburb of Braeside in

Salisbury (now Harare).

No 266 Sqn was formed in October 1939 and operated Spitfires during the Battle of

Britain. Prior to "D" day the Sqn was employed in silencing RADAR targets in order

to make a success and surprise of the Invasion. On "D" day the squadron was first in

support of the initial landings on the beach-heads.

It is noteworthy that the ‘Rhodesian’ squadrons were the first to use two of the most

outstanding aircraft of the war, the Typhoon and the Lancaster. Moreover,

Rhodesians fought in the RAF in many of the theatres of World War II, probably the

most notable of those in the contemporary era being Ian Smith. Ian Smith

interrupted his studies during the Second World War and joined the Southern

Rhodesia Air Force. After completing his flight training, he was seconded to the

RAF as a Pilot Officer. He served with distinction in the RAF and on 4 October 1943,

his Hawker Hurricane crashed on take-off from Alexandria, due to a throttle

malfunction. His harness, which was built to withstand a stress of nearly one tonne,

snapped and his face was rammed against the Hurricane's instrument panel. He

sustained severe facial injuries and broke his jaw, a leg and a shoulder and also

buckled his back. Six months after undergoing extensive plastic surgery at the 15th

Scottish Hospital in Cairo, he returned to active service with 237 Sqn in Corsica. In

July 1944, his Spitfire was shot down over the Po Valley by German anti-aircraft

artillery whilst he was conducting a strafing attack on German ground forces. He

parachuted from his aircraft, landing behind enemy lines in the Alps. Italian

partisan and French resistance groups gave him refuge and, after assisting in the

planning of bombing raids against Germans for nearly five months, Smith and three

other Allied soldiers embarked on a 23-day hike through occupied Italy to reach

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Allied lines. After being repatriated to Britain, he served with 130 Sqn until the end

of the war.

In 1946 it was agreed with the Southern Rhodesian government that air training

should be continued in Rhodesia. To implement this decision the Rhodesian Air

Training Group was disbanded and a new organisation known as the Air Training

Wing, Southern Rhodesia, formed to replace it. The scheme provided for the

commencement of initial training on 6 January 1947, basic training on 23 June and

advanced training on 2 December. The scheme continued until October 1953 when

the final passing out parade of No’s 19 and 34 courses was held. This marked the

closing down of the Air Training Wing and the RAF left Rhodesia on 26 January

1954.

As for our subject, he moved to South Africa in 1948 and was the manager of the

South African Marine Corporation from 1946 to 1953 when he returned to the UK.

For those who have not worked it out yet, his name is Arthur Travers Harris,

commonly known as ‘Bomber’ Harris.

Johnny was at school a few weeks ago and the teacher asked all the children what

their dads did for a job. Most replies were navigator, fireman, plumber etc but

Johnny kept his mouth shut. The teacher noticed this and asked him “Johnny, what

does your father do for a job?” Johnny replied “my dad dances in a gentlemen’s

club and takes off his clothes for the men. If they pay him enough he will go out

with them and rent a hotel room and sleep with them.” The teacher was horrified

and sent the other kids out for a break before asking Johnny if what he had said was

true. Johnny replied “of course not. He plays cricket for England but I was too

embarrassed to say!”

In finishing, I would like to use the words of Air Vice-Marshal Sir Charles Meredith,

Air Officer Commanding the Rhodesian Air Training Group, which I think

encapsulates the former relationship between our air forces. He said, ‘the RAF owes

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much to Rhodesia but it also owes a debt of gratitude to Rhodesians. Rhodesian

young men in relatively large numbers made their way "home" by many and various

means, with the sole object of becoming pilots in the Royal Air Force. Thus it came

about that "the Few" in the early days of the war numbered in its ranks

representatives of the flower of Rhodesian youth. The RAF is proud and thankful

for the contribution made by these representatives of the Colony in its ranks. Many

of them have won high honours and decorations for their gallant and selfless deeds

in the air. Many, having laid down their lives, will not return to their homes. All

have been distinguished for their high sense of loyalty to the Mother Country in the

time of her greatest need’.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that is more than enough from me. However, given our

proximity to the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Britain I would like to ask you to

charge your glasses and join me in a toast. It is traditional to remember the ‘few’.

However, in breaking slightly with that tradition, and in recognition of the efforts of

your countrymen that I have just outlined, I would ask you all to rise and join me in

a toast to ‘Airmen and airwomen in battle’. Finally, as I believe is customary on

these occasions, I would like you all to join me in a toast to ‘The Regiment’.

After the Dinner some random photogrpahs

Chris Russell and Tony Glover

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Fran and Peter Stiff

The Editor and Mr Holmes – sharing a private Joke!

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Col Terry Schwartz, Judy Hankinson, HBH and Police Reservist Alf Whiston

David Holmes wrote: “This was a wonderful event, very well organised and a

privilege to have been there. (British South Africa Police Regimental Association of

the Transvaal annual dinner.)”

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Some BSAP History

BSAP Camels

BSAP on Parade

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Some items of Historical interest – Moose van Rensburg (Ft Beaufort Museum)

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BSAP Depot 1932

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Some books from my library on the BSAP

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Note by Editor: The above book belonged to a BSAP member. It was alleged that the

book was shot during an attack! I have kept the book in this condition.

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The Market Place: Glenn Macaskill

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Conclusion

The Editor wrote the following note to his former colleague, Col Terry Schwartz:

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Dear Terry

Thank you from the bottom of my heart: I left the DINNER with a feeling that the

BSAP's catch words were TRADITION; LOYALTY & COMRADESHIP and with

everything to PERFECTION!

There was an AMBIANCE at the DINNER that I have never felt in my life!

I am proud to have been there!

I travelled the globe - this was one of the best DINNER's I have ever attended in my

life!

Salute

Hennie Heymans

About the Editor

The editor is an Afrikaner born and bred in Durban, Natal, where he grew up. In

those days the Union Jack was visible next to the Union Flag in front of the Durban

City Hall. He joined the South African Police during 1964. He is a graduate of the

University of Natal (UND) – class of 1969. During 1970 he served as a body guard to

Mr Larder Burke (Rhodesian Minister of Law & Order) when Mr Burke and Mr Ian

Douglas Smith visited Durban to watch rugby. (Mr Ian Douglas Smith and the rector

of UND, Prof OPF Horwood were married to two sisters.)

During 1971 he obtained his commission in the South African Police and was posted

to Pretoria at the Security Branch HQ. Over the years he met various liaison officers

of the BSAP in Pretoria e.g. Butch Fletcher and Peter Grant. During 1974 he served in

Rhodesia where he was attached to the SB of BSAP.

He has a keen interest in the BSAP whom he regards as one of the Commonwealth’s

choice police forces.

Greetings

Hennie Heymans

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