northern rhodesia police association - nrpa.org.uk · fascinating article from the archives which...

NKHWAZI

NORTHERN RHODESIAPOLICE ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER No. 92 WINTER 2016

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Winter 2016 36pp final moved centre spread.qxp_Layout 1 27/01/2016 08:45 Page 1

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EDITORIALIt is not, I hope, too late to wish all members a Happy,Healthy and Prosperous 2016 (I am writing this over theNew year). I am delighted that the idea first suggested bymy predecessor that members submit stories of lifebeyond NR, has been so well supported as you will see inthis edition. I was particularly delighted by ShielaMacLean's contribution and Nighean Darlaston's photos(what a smart uniform our girls had). Other historicalcontributions come from the memoirs of Doug Waters andColin Jennings’ piece on travelling to Nega Nega sidings.Tim Wright, as usual, has come up with anotherfascinating article from the archives which fallschronologically between the travel to Nega Nega andDoug's World War II memories.It was good to see so many of you at New Scotland Yard. I was delighted to meet up with Vivien Coates and MervynWallace with whose help, I hope, we can arrange a hightech distribution of Nkhwazi to South Africa. The usualpostal method will be used this time but we will beexperimenting in passing a full copy to Mervyn over thenet for him to arrange publication and distribution If itworks this will become the method for future issues. . Derek Hopwood sent in a disc containing a number ofblack and white photos of the 2015 May reunion at Moor Hall, half a dozen of which are published withoutcaptions alongside the NSY pictures in the centre pages.

Speaking of captions, whilst every effort was made toidentify individuals at NSY I'm afraid there are one or two

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that I was unable to remember and they also had theirvisitor identity cards obscured so whoever you are pleasedo not take offence if I haven't named you or worse I'vemistaken you for someone else.

VALETEWe are sad to report the deaths of the following oldcomrades:

Archie Moulds who died on 27 August 2015. at his homein New Zealand.

Maurice Corbett who died on 29th May 2015 in England.

John Wyeth who died in New South Wales, Australia.

James Peter Sutcliffe who died on 11 August 2015.

Joseph Anthony (Tony) Mullins, who died on 3 October 2015.

Norma Mitchell, the widow of Peter Mitchell, who died atSwakopmund, Namibia recently

Louise, wife of Roger Taper who has died in South Africa.

John W. P. Moss who died in the Royal Derby Hospital on20th October 2015.

Charles Maurice 'Joe' Mercer who died 10 November2015 when his car left the road and drove through railingsinto the river Kent in Cumbria.

James Leonard (Jim Bell) who died on 27 November 2015of at the Plymouth Hospital .

Charles ('Chuck') Abrams who died on 5th December2015 at Boston, Lincolnshire

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James Samuel (Jim) Tuke who died on 25th December inMelbourne after a ten year battle with lung cancer. Thefuneral was held on Monday 4th January 2016.

Charles Backhouse who died on 19th January 2016 inPietermaritzburg Hospital.

Terry McCourt who has died in South Africa - no furtherdetails available.

OBITUARIESJohn Wyeth joined the Met in 1947 and the NRP inFebruary 1951. He was promoted to S/Insp in 1962. Heleft after Independence for Australia where he wasappointed ACPF Curator Bare Island, Botany Bay in 1969.

Joseph Antony Mullins MBE, QPMTony joined the Force as a cadet on 4th April1962, madeA/I and was stationed at Broken Hill until leaving to jointhe RHKP in 1964. He retired as ACP in 1997. We extendour condolences to his widow, Nadine, daughter, Kathryn,son, Michael, granddaughter Catelyn and sister Mary

Archie Moulds joined the NRP on 1st May 1957. He wasthen appointed Assistant bandmaster to George Hey. Hemarried W/A/I Aileen Corbett. On retiring Aileen and Archiemade their home just outside Katikati in the Bay of Plenty,New Zealand. Archie was 85 years old at the time of hisdeath. Our condolences go to Aileen his widow.

John William Paxton Moss. John's daughter Carolinesent, via John Coates, an obituary published in the Derby

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Telegraph from which the following has been culled.He joined the NRP in1954 aged 26 after working inindustry in London. Whilst home on leave in 1957 he metFrancoise a French au pair, who was working for hisparents, and after a whirlwind courtship married her withinsix weeks, taking her back to NR. They had twodaughters, the elder Caroline who was born in NR andValerie. After 14 years service John resigned as anAssistant Superintendent and retired to Derby where hewas employed by Rolls Royce in the personneldepartment.

Maurice Corbett, brother of Aileen Moulds (nee Corbett)joined the NRP as an A/I in 1956, Inspector in 1959 andwas prosecutor in Kitwe1961 to 1962. On leaving hequalified as a solicitor in the U.K. (Our thanks to FredLane for alerting us to Maurice's death)

J. Peter Sutcliffe (Extracted from the eulogy at his funeral)Peter was born in 1940 in Lancashire, while his father,who had returned from the Gold Coast (Ghana) had joinedthe Royal Navy for the duration of the war. After the warthe family settled in Garstang where Dad ran the pub.Peter attended school achieving a place in the GrammarSchool where he not only did well academically but alsoexcelled at sport, representing the County at shooting,running and swimming.

On leaving school, rather than go on to University, hisparents encouraged him to strike out on his own, so aged19 he raised the money to emigrate to Cape Town andonce there signed up as a cadet in the NRP in 1959 and was

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confirmed as an A/I a year later. Details of his career aresparse but we do know that love struck when he arrestedIrene for a traffic offence and he subsequently married her.

He and Irene did not return to the UK after Independence.It is reported that he continued working in Africa, 8 different countries were mentioned among them, inaddition to NR, were Swaziland, Liberia and, in particular,Ethiopia from 1986. Irene returned to Britain for thechildren's education and then to see them start their ownlives and families; this meant that Peter and Irene spentas much time apart as they did together.

Peter's work in Ethiopia was of particular significance inthe field of land use planning and environmentalmanagement with major contributions to:The National Conservation Strategy over 5 years,The Woddy Biomass Inventory and Strategic Planning Project over 9 years, and The Nile Basin WatershedPlanning for 4 years.

In these he was the team leader and responsible forcoordinating a multinational and multi-cultural group oftenin challenging conditions.

Sadly, Irene died two years ago. Peter's family remember,especially, him taking them as children to churches inLiberia and Nigeria. His faith stemming from his time as achoirboy in Garstang.

James Leonard (Jim) Bell Derek Hopwood reported thedeath of Jim Bell at the Plymouth Hospital after cardiacsurgery. Jim was born in Argentina where his father was a

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rancher. After service in the Royal Navy he joined the NRP in1959, served with the M.U. and transferred to the ZP in 1964.

Charles (Chuck) Abrams joined the Met in 1953 andmoved to the NRP in 1956 where he served until 1962when he retired in the rank of Senior Inspector.

James (Jim) Tuke joined the force in August 1959 andserved in Choma, Mufilira and Chingola before leaving onIndependence. He was a keen member of the NRPA andattended reunions in Zambia, Brisbane and the 50threunion in the UK.

Charles “Charlie" Backhouse.Charlie was born in 1930 and joined the Met in 1952. Hemoved to the NRP as an A/I in January 1954, and waspromoted to Chief Inspector in 1962. Charlie died in theearly hours of this morning, 19th January, in Hilton Hospital, Pietermaritzburg; he had been in hospital forfour months with a heart condition but unfortunately neverrecovered.

REPORT ON THE CHRISTMAS GATHERING AT NEW SCOTLAND YARDThis year's New Scotland Yard gathering, sadly the last at thisvenue as the Metropolitan Police have sold the building andwill be moving to smaller premises in 2016, was especiallywell attended with more than 90 members turning upincluding Mervyn Wallace from South Africa. As usual thebar staff coped efficiently with demands at the counter. Thefinger buffet of sandwiches, spring rolls and chicken piecesand sausages on sticks went down well with more thansufficient to satisfy the lunchtime pangs of everyone. 8


It was good to see a number of widows present inparticular Vivien Coates and Caroline Williams. Vivien andMervyn Wallace will be helping to get Nkhwazi distributedto South African members. A great meeting and muchenjoyed by all who came along. Photographs of thegathering were taken by Nigel Rugman some of which are published in the centre pages.

NEWS OF OURSELVESYour editor and Priscilla entertained Mike and Jean Mylodto coffee in France during October 2015 and can reportthat they both seemed in fine fettle.

AuthorsTwo members have advised that they have recentlypublished books Frank Short: Policing a Clash of Cultures.David Tolliday-Wright: Grandchild of EmpireBoth books can be obtained through Amazon.Another book to mention but probably not to purchase untilthe paperback comes out, is Britain, Northern Rhodesiaand the First World War: Forgotten Colonial Crisis by Dr Edmund J. Yorke published only in hardback at £55

Nighean Darlaston featured inthe Scottish press' celebrationof a century of the employmentof Police Women, with herpicture in the Dumfries Courierlast July showing her in 1958as a Dumfries and GallowayWPC and in her 1960 NRPWA/I uniform.

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Ian Ross has sent in some photos via Tim Wright, of theold days including the squad photo of 9/57 at Lilayipublished here as a frontispiece with the names (if youcan't recognise figures) on the last page.

Tom Williamson sent the following information aboutNorma Mitchell, whose death is recorded above. I thought you would be interested in some follow-up to thisnews. I served with Peter Mitchell in Kasama in 1962, butthereafter lost touch with him. I had no idea that Normahad moved to Swakopmund or I would have contacted her.Janice Hambly gave me a contact number for theirdaughter Zoe, who lives in Windhoek, but comes herequite often. I have been in touch with Zoe, and she told methat Peter had died in 2006 and that Norma had remarriedand was living in Cyprus. She had been suffering fromAltzheimers for the last five years, and when her secondhusband and her other daughter died, her conditionworsened. Zoe then decided to bring her here, and shewas a patient at the Altzheimers / Dementia Namibia CareFarm, just outside town. There she died.

Zoe was very interested to know that I knew her fatherbefore she was born, and she will get in touch with mewhen she next comes here.

It's small world and further proof of the close bonds weNRP types still have.

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Clive Blackwell rang the Editor on 14th December to sayhe was now out of hospital after a 3 month stay. He has anew flat in Nottingham, Telephone No. 0115 924 5619.Clive asked to have his best wishes to members for 2016passed on.

Sheila MacLean's storyIn 1963, I went to the Congo. The ex-Belgian Congo, sorecently dumped by Belgium in a crisis of haste, guilt, fear,or whatever it was: the République Démocratique duCongo. Even the name was a sort of deluded optimism. I worked for Shell International Petroleum Company and Iwas secretary to the General Manager. He loved to go byhis rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and had been faciallyscarred in a wartime incident in Italy. His charm anddiplomacy made up for that – no-one ever mentioned thescars – and in that job those two attributes were probablymore important than any other. There were four otherpetroleum companies in business throughout the country –Texaco, Esso and might it have been the Italian one anddid it rejoice in the name of Supercortemaggiore – AGIP? Ithink so.

Each of the MDs was a one-off, the rascal at Esso was aparty animal, although this was before a certain Lord Sewelgave us his own recent colourful interpretation. The MDswere all great buddies and called themselves the Cold FeetClub as they spent many waiting hours outsideGovernment Ministers’ doors hoping for meetings at whichthey would promote the idea of an oil refinery for theCongo. Despite two years of cold feet, they seemed tomake no progress, although I learn from Wikipedia that a

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company does now exist and there is a Congolese oilrefinery operating under the Société Congo Raffinage … soSignor Supercortemaggiore seems to have triumphed.Well, with a name like that, he could win any girl over.At that time, everything was in turmoil. The massacres atStanleyville had taken place, Anglican missionaries wererethinking, Belgian nuns were contemplating anew the willof God, the world watched, Katanga seceded, poor old DagHammarskjold copped it, Tshombe was overthrown,Lumumba murdered, and powder-blue uniformed JosephKasavubu was overthrown by General Joseph Mobutu, orwas it Mobutu who wore powder blue? I have a memory ofan immaculate Head of State riding in an open Jeep downthe Avenue de l’Indépendance in this most unusual colour,preceded by an impressive corpulence.

Over another couple of borders, Rhodesia asserted itself,and Northern Rhodesia found itself without its oil supply.The RAF began to supply them via barrels loaded ontotransport planes from the Congo, although Wikipedia tellsme it was done via four Canadian Air Force Herculesaircraft while the RAF's operation was from Dar-es-Salaam. Whoever it was, I was offered a seat on a barrelone day and so flew into Livingstone with my cargo andvisited the Victoria Falls and Lusaka too, even managing toinclude a brief stop at the Ridgeway Hotel with its babycrocodiles. Such a fleeting visit.

What a time that was. A time of charm indeed, but in ashaky and shady situation. Street signs still in Flemish andFrench, Belgian restaurants and businesses run byBelgians who had made their lives there and who would

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not return to Belgium come what might, picnics on theRiver Congo, views over the river of French-speakingRépublique Centr’Africaine which could not be visited asLéopoldville and Brazzaville were not speaking to eachother for most of the time, diplomatic receptions, dancing toTrini Lopez and what a brilliant dancer the US CIA manwas. I loved best to dance with him. I am also sure thatcourtesy of someone in some Embassy, I was able to addtwelve bottles of Cardhu to my drinks cupboard - at one fellswoop. The filet du boeuf was to die for. I had never heardof filet. But I now ate it every day, and got fed up with it. Aprevious Madame had taught Alphonse how to cook it, andit did seem that it was all he could do. Occasionally,however, there was pigeon, and I would find MonsieurPigeon waddling round my flat. Alphonse wanted me toknow that he was "un pigeon tout nouveau. Ce matin, ilétait dans le ciel."

At that time, young Donald MacLean was in NorthernRhodesia with his first wife and young family. I did not knowhim then. I met him only in 1988, and a year later came tomy first NRPA reunion.C'est une autre histoire!Sheila

Memories of a Traffic CopA Mobile officer once said to me, following the breaking upof a disturbance following a traffic accident, “it amazes methe number of times that we are called to deal with a riotwe find a white hatted officer in the middle of it.” He wenton to consider whether or not we were to blame for theseoutbreaks of violence but came to the conclusion that we

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were mad to be constantly placing ourselves in thesesituations with either the minimum of backup or none at all.

The following light hearted accounts refer to someincidents that I remember having attended during my daysas a Traffic Officer in Lusaka, Mufulira and Kitwe and mayamuse and bring back memories of how things were inthose long ago days.

Early evening, Saturday. Coming coming to the end of ashift and looking forward to an evening with my then girlfriend, the present Mrs Vening. A Police Land Rovercarrying two prisoners runs into a group of pedestrians,killing one. The group, which quickly increases in numbers,becomes very agitated and one enterprising prisonerdecides it would be an ideal moment to vacate the vehicle.Unfortunately, as he is exiting the rear of the Land Rover, acar, driven by a young European accompanied by hisgirlfriend, runs into the back of the Police vehicle with aninevitable result. This inflames the situation still further andI am met, on arrival, with a difficult situation. I radio forhelp. Tony Sweetman, in the Control Room, after advisingwhat backup he was sending added, “and Jenny wants toknow how long you are going to be.”

Middle of the night on the Great East Road a couple ofmiles on the Lusaka side of the Luangwa bridge . The roadwinds through an escarpment at this point and a car hadleft the road . By the time I got there in a short wheel baseLand Rover the accident had occurred some twelve hoursearlier and the driver had sustained a broken femur.In an amateurish way I splinted his leg as best I could and

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manoeuvred the poor man into the back of the Land Roverwith considerable difficulty and obviously with great pain tohim. He then suffered the 150 mile journey back to Lusakastoically and without complaint.The final chapter in this event came a few days later when Iwas amazed to receive a charming letter from thegentleman in which he thanked me profusely for myconsideration , compassion and first aid skills.Unbelievable!

Mufulira circa 1963: Telephone call from the Border Post:“The Chef de Poste has confiscated an NRG lorry.”“Why?”“He wants his bike back.”“Why have we got his bike?”“He was riding it without lights the other night.”At the Border Post, following tense discussion I was to beseen pushing a bicycle towards the border whilst the lorrywith the Chef de Poste on the running board slowlyapproached from the North. We met in the middle, vehicleswere exchanged and hands shaken. A diplomatic incidentaverted!!!Who says this only happens in films?

Mufilira-Kitwe road:African male knocked over receiving serious injuries fromwhich he subsequently died. The vehicle involved had leftthe scene due to the belligerent attitude of the assembledcrowd. We managed to get the man into the ambulancewhich departed, leaving me, the constable with me and abrand new Rover 90 facing the crowd.

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As I was on the radio contacting Control, a barrage ofstones hit the front of the car denting the bonnet andcracking the windscreen. With thoughts of having tocomplete the damage report form in sextuplicateuppermost in my mind I leap out of the car and bellowed at the mob which was some thirty or forty in number. Thisto my surprise, stopped them momentarily in their tracksenabling me to get some tear gas from the boot. As thecrowd moved towards us once more a rapid check for windindicated 'no wind' so tear gas was deployed. At thatmoment a breeze sprang up blowing straight towards me.... David Venning

THE STORY OF DOUGLAS WATERS CPMChapter 1. Before he joined the NRPDoug was born in 1920 in Dover. He was brought up andattended school in that town until the early '30s when hisfather moved the family to the countryside outside Doverand started a small holding with chickens and pigs. Thisgave Doug a taste for the agricultural life and in 1937 aged16 he left school and started work on a farm for a weeklywage of 15/9d prior to attending Agricultural College. Oncompleting the general agricultural course at the Kent FarmInstitute he undertook a course in commercial fruit growingand took a job with the Ashdown and General FruitCompany at Horsted Keynes in June1939. In Decemberthat year, when at home on holiday, Doug decided to do hisbit and join up. He went to the Army Recruiting Office inDover only to be told that as he was under 20 he could notsign up for 'hostilities only' but would have to join the Army

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMANI would like to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Thanks, possibly, to the unseasonableweather we enjoyed a very happylunchtime at New Scotland Yard onDecember 4th with 92 on parade. Agreat turnout which, I hope, bodes wellfor our next summer gathering, back at the Moor Hall Hotel on 19th and 20th May.

Sadly that was our last Christmas “do” at Scotland Yardafter some 30 years. We shall be gathering this year at theUnion Jack Club near Waterloo Station on 6th Decemberfor our lunch time meeting.

I make an earnest plea to members, for all our futuregatherings please make a big effort to book up as soon asthe informations hits your doormat. Early bookings helpenormously with the administrative process and saves anhuge amount of time on the phone whipping up support.

You all know the reunion dates from Nkhwazi and if thetime of an event is approaching and you haven't heardanything then please make contact to find out what ishappening – all the relevant telephone numbers are here in Nkhwazi.

It looks as though we shall be able to project Nkhwazi toSouth Africa without having to increase subscriptions, whichis good news. For this we have to thank, Vivian Coates,Malcolm, our Editor and Mervyn Wallace who was over

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Nkhwazi meetsour Chairman


from RSA and who will manage matters out there.With the exchange rate as it stands why not consider apossible last visit? I'm certain you are assured of a verywarm welcome in South Africa.John Hambly

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The chairman welcoming everyone

Vivien Coates and Roy Coppard

Chairman, John Hambly afterpresentation to Peter Wilkinson

for his support and help in organising the reunion venue

Nigel Rugman and the Editor(Nkhwazi staff photo!)

New Scotland Yard - 4th December 2015


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Phillip Lee and Glenda Beecroft

Hilary Currey, Rosemary Winhalland Donald MacLean

Tim Wright, Janice Hambly,Heather Martin and Elizabeth Hawkins

Paddy Ryan, Chris Lyon + 1

Bert Cubitt, Keith Radcliffe + 1

Chalky White and Ed Sharrod


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The scene at lunch time

2015 May Reunion


as a regular. Since he didn't fancy signing for 22 years he left.Next day he took the bus to Canterbury and went to theRAF recruiting office where he was told there werevacancies in three trades only, butchers, RAF police orwireless operators. He chose the latter and on 9th January1940 he reported to RAF Uxbridge where he was kittedout. Then with a bunch of other recruits he was despatchedby train to Morecombe for 4 weeks basic training. They alllived in seaside boarding houses and Doug remembereddoing PT, during that exceptionally cold winter, in the iceand snow on the seafront.

On completion of his basic training course he was postedto RAF Cosford where he was held until he joined No2Wireless School at Yatesbury, Wiltshire for a 5 monthsignals course. He was taught signalling by radio withMorse code at 21 words per minute and by Aldis lamp at 9 words per minute. On completing the course he was sentto Porthcawl for a month's gunnery training, learning air toair gunnery flying in Fairy Battles and Whitley bombers.Doug passed out as an above average gunner.

Completing all these courses in November 1940 he wassent to the Operational Training Unit (OTU) for 4 weeks atHarwell before being sent to an operational squadron. Theconclusion of this OTU was a 'milk run' over enemyterritory, in Doug's case it was a flight over Brest to dropleaflets to the French. Then at last he was posted to 214 squadron at Stradishall, Suffolk, in 3 group, flyingWellingtons. On arrival Doug was crewed up with anotherWOP/AG whilst the rest of the crew were all sergeants.

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The Captain, Mick Elder, had already completed 14 operational sorties.

During the next two months there was very little operationalflying due to the continuous bad weather and Doug onlydid one trip to Dusseldorf. By March the weather wasimproving and on 12th March the squadron was detailed tobomb the Folke-Wolf aircraft factory at Bremen and Dougreported that on that night he could see the works quiteclearly beside the river in the light of the full moon. Theyreturned safely. The next night they were briefed to go toHamburg.

It was another clear moonlit night and they took off at 20.30 hrs, crossed the coast and as usual tested guns overthe sea before crossing the Dutch coast. Before long theyran into heavy flack having been coned by searchlights.Doug, in the front turret fired down at the mastersearchlight. Suddenly all the lights went out and momentslater the aircraft gave a lurch and started to go down. MickElder, the Captain gave the order to prepare to bail out.Doug extricated himself from the forward turret, clipped onhis 'chute and stood by the front hatch with the otherWOG/AG, the navigator, and the second pilot. The captainturned and pointed to the open hatch indicating we were tojump. Doug went first and as he looked back he saw thatone engine was on fire and the plane was heading straightfor the ground.To be continued...

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A single ticket to Nega NegaThis is the true storey of Eric William Pullon. I never methim but as a fellow “townie” I think it a tale well worthtelling. Eric was born in 1895 in Nottingham; one of a familyof seven children. His father, Joseph, was a printer whoowned and ran a letter press business in the city.

Nottingham at the end of the 19th century was congested ,over populated and with some of the worst slums in theKingdom. One Government Sanitary Commissiondescribed the city as being worse than any other in theEmpire, including Calcutta. Education was somewhatlacking and St Peter's Ragged School in Broad Marsh wascondemned because it was collapsing into a sewer. Thecity had a reputation for violence and riots.

By the time Eric was seventeen the country was in a stateof turmoil what with women demanding the vote andWinston Churchill proposing a programme that would leadup to the beginning of a welfare state with a stateretirement pension and the state ownership of the railways.Malnutrition was rife throughout the country and the freebreakfast offered in schools in the poorest areas comprisedporridge and bread and dripping. As a result of the poorphysical standard of volunteers the Army reduced theheight requirement for recruits from five feet three inches tofive feet.

And to add to Eric's problems Notts County Football Clubhad been relegated to the second division. Seventeen yearold Eric, who was employed as a clerk, determined thatenough was enough and decided to join his brother whowas farming in British South Africa.

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How do you plan a journey to darkest Africa when travelagents have not yet been invented (pace Thomas Cook)?Eric caught the tram to Nottingham Midland RailwayStation and approached the ticket office where thefollowing conversation took place:“ A single ticket Nottingham to Nega Nega sidings, please”.“ Never heard of it. Where is Nega Nega, son?”“Its in Africa, sir”.The ticket clerk consulted his timetables and said, “bitdifficult, that one. Come back tomorrow”.for a week. Hetook the advice and with a revolver, a picnic basket and £3in his pocket began the 7 day journey to Nega Nega. He reported that he enjoyedthe ride north and commented that engine drivers werevery helpful in providing him with boiling water for coffeeand cocoa in his billy can.

The following day Eric returned to the station and washanded train and ship tickets to Nega Nega sidings, Kafuefor the sum of just less than £7. There were no otherformalities, no passport, no visa, no health documents norindeed were any other documents required. Sterling wouldbe accepted throughout the journey.

He was no doubt seen on his way by members of hisfamily and carrying his suitcase Eric travelled to Londonwhere he boarded the S.S.German (she was renamed theGlengorm Castle with the arrival of the WW1 and sawservice with Union Castle until 1930). Twenty five dayslater Eric landed in Cape Town where he was befriendedby a detective who suggested he needed to buy a firearmand a basket filled with food sufficient

Arriving at Nega Nega Eric was met by a bullock cart which

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carried him the last nine miles to his brother's farm where,presumably, he worked for the next two years.

With the outbreak of the war in 1914 Eric received a letterinforming him that he was to report to the personal railwaycoach of a senior administrator of the British South AfricaCompany. At Nega Nega sidings he was interviewed andrecruited into a small team of Europeans who wereinstructed to construct and maintain a telephone line fromKashitu to Kasama.

Think of the logistics! No roads, very little in the way ofmaps, the bush had to be cleared, all provisions andequipment had to be carried, repeater stations had to bebuilt at specified intervals and the line was always open todamage by the local wild life.

By November 1915 they had reached Chansa, averagingsix miles a day. By Christmas that year the wire wasconnected to the military telegraph line to Abercorn andEric now had the responsibility for maintaining some 492miles of telegraph wire.

With the contract completed, Eric decided that he hadbetter do something worthwhile for his country and appliedto join the Imperial Defence Force. Rejecting hisapplication the authorities made him responsible formaintaining and repairing some 700 miles of military andcivilian telegraph lines throughout the territory. He was then21 years of age.

Eric was still in British South Africa in 1925 when it becamethe Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia. He moved north,worked in the mining industry and eventually became the

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town manager with the Broken Hill Town ManagementBoard. He died in 1976 and descendants of his family stilllive in Nottingham (which is still a lively town). Somereaders of this must have met Eric, a character toremember.Colin Jennings

PS: One of the reasons for this tale is that Eric wrote abook which was entitled 'A Bush Telegraph: Memoirs ofEric William Pullon, 1914 to 1918 in Northern Rhodesia'and published in Durban, ISBN No. 0-62018543-0. Keepyour eyes peeled the next time you visit your local Help theAged charity shop – I have just spotted a copy on e-bay for £75.CJ

PADDY RYAN’S STORY CONTINUED...Most people die of thirst

But the Irish were born with it (Spike Milligan)After my dismal showing in the local Town CouncilElections I obtained a sort of notoriety having gained thelowest ever recorded votes in that election or any other.But I was astonished at the number of people who cameup to me and said they had voted for me, if they had alldone so, I would have headed the polls.

A Visit to an Asylum - The local rugby club had heard of myreturn and they asked me to “Guest” for them on a fewoccasions One of their annual friendly fixtures was a gameagainst a prominent Junior side, in a well known Midlandstown. I was asked to play in this match which was to beplayed about 40 miles away. . We were informed that theonly pitch available was on the grounds of St. BridgetsMental Institution.26


This Junior Club had taken a short term lease on thegrounds of a 1st Class Mental Institution with about 800patients and had erected goal posts etc. They had nochanging rooms of their own so the visiting team had tochange in a ward of the mental institute, a huge imposingbuilding on the outskirts of town. The Secretary said itmight be an opportunity for any of our players who had arelative in the institution to visit them, thus killing two birdswith the one stone. Play a rugby game and visit a mentallyill relative.

We assembled in a the town square on a bleak Sunday in January, 2 doctors, 2 vets, 1 undertaker, 4 farmers, 2 publicans, 3 factory workers, 1 blacksmith and myself anex-colonial and all set off in a convoy. We stopped on theway at a pub belonging to a disabled widow who wasrelated to one of our players, she allowed us to serveourselves and we had two rounds each. We stopped there onour way home. She had a barman at that stage to serve us.

On arrival at the grounds we were shown to the changingroom by the Secretary, which was an empty ward in theasylum or one that had been cleared for us. There were nohangers so our clothes were left on the floor.

The Ref was the local Vet who had played for his college.One of the linesmen hadn’t turned up but this didn’t seemto worry the Ref who immediately went to one of the Malenurses and asked if we could borrow one of the patients toact as a linesman. The Male nurse immediately replied“Will John the Baptist be alright, as he has done it before?”The patient known as John the Baptist duly appeared andwas delighted to run the line. The only disconcerting thingwas that he smoked a pipe throughout the game. He was

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amazing at judging at where the next few line-outs wouldtake place and this gave him time to refill and relight hispipe before play came back to him again. He had playedrugby prior to his arrival at hospital. John the Baptist’smarvellous control of the game still impresses me yearslater, and I often wonder what happened to him.

At the end of the game we were informed it was deemedunwise to take a shower at the Mental Institution but wewere to use showers in a local bar known as The PoachersInn. I remember it had a sign inside the door which read:

Reilly the night raider With his spindly legs Can poach anything But a pair of fried eggs

The drinks flowed generously in the bar, during which Iasked the Ref why he hadn’t asked for one of the MaleNurses to run the line. He replied after some time, “Theywere worse than the patients. A lot of the patients havebeen to 3rd Level or have attended rugby playing schools.”The inmates watched the match from their dormitories andcheered a good tackle; they gave great appreciation whena good move came off. They reckoned the game wasinvented by one of their own. At the occasional brawlbetween players, they shouted their appreciation. Naturallyenough, it was the only entertainment they got.

In the next edition I will describe how I came to own a pubwhich ran out of beer after 3 years and also a brief periodworking for the Daily Mirror.P.A.Ryan

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OUR HISTORY FROM TIM WRIGHTLIVINGSTONE 1913-14 - This extract from the SouthAfrican Defence Force magazine, the Nongquai, of 1914was sent to Tim Wright by David McCarthy of Natal, thegrandson of Lt Col J J McCarthy CBE DSO MC NRP

'NORTHERN RHODESIA POLICE NOTES BY THEOFFICIAL CORRESPONDENTCHRISTMAS AT HEADQUARTERS WAS VERY QUIET.No carolling, none of the customary midnight revelry;everyone strictly sentimental. Perhaps the intense heat hadsomething to do with it. It was hot. Yet one imagines thatshould have caused our throats to become the drier.

One could hear a gramophone occasionally at work on oneof Billy Williams' well-known songs. A little snow might havemade all the difference.

His Honour the Acting Administrator broke the spell bygiving a tea to all the children at Livingstone. The kiddieshad a right royal time. Mr Swanson (Skipper) was FatherChristmas, and all eyes were for him, tea I'm afraid beingsomewhat neglected. The bon-bons and toys beingdistributed, away they went to the garden with their parentsto hear the N.R.P. Band which was in attendance underSergt.-Major Taylor.

The Band played many of their latest numbers from Home.Major and Mrs.Stennett were present.

On New Year's Eve His Honour gave a dance, which washeld at Government House. Several officers of the N.R.P.attended and a jolly evening was spent. The Band (N.R.P.)attended under the direction of the Bandmaster, and

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played the following items:- Waltz, "Nights of Gladness";waltz, "La Rinka"; barn dance, "Willie"; waltz, "Druid'sPrayer"; waltz, "Charming"; waltz, "Septembre"; two step"Alexander's Rag-Time Band"; waltz, "Dreaming"; waltz"Queen of the Rink"; barn dance "Willie." "Auld Lang Syne "was played at midnight, all the dancers joining hands andsinging.

We are pleased to note that we are having the pick of thebasket in waltzes. Ancliffe's "Nights of Gladness" being aparticularly fine number to head a dance.

The usual sports long looked forward to, did not take placeon New Year's Day. We were all sorry to hear of thisdecision, because after our year's work, the sports are ourone great time, and I am perfectly sure they are thoroughlyenjoyed by one and all when each New Year comes along.We have been able to boast of bumper sports each year,and the writer (in England recently) journeyed here andthere to find new items for this year's sports, and was verysurprised to find actually that none of the sports hewitnessed really came in line with the N.R.P. annual event.We sincerely trust this great day will not be cast aside, asthe Police have very little sport other than in their own"Lines" after the day's work. All work and no play --.

A little tennis takes place among the officers and theirfriends occasionally, but golf is not attended by many of theN.R.P., because I suppose one never knows when onemay be cleared to an out-station.

Reports to hand show the health of the Police to begenerally good. At Mongu, Barotseland, Capt. Jamesreports the health of Police only fair. Mongu is not the best

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of stations at any time. During the rainy season one cantravel by boat to practically every out-station. Therein liesthe trouble: water, water, everywhere; filthy, horrid lookinginsects, and countless mosquitoes. Lieut. Burton is on trekin the above country; we hope he will not be smitten by anyof these pests.

Lieut. McCarthy, O.C., "E" Company, Fort Jameson, heldan al fresco At Home by the light of the moon lately, andaccording to all accounts, had a most enjoyable evening.Your health, Sir! You are wanted at Headquarters to breakthe monotony.

News reaches us of a dance and social at Broken Hill latelyin connection with the Rifle Association.

Lieuts. Hornsby and Castle are transferred toHeadquarters. We are pleased to find these two youngofficers putting their shoulders to the wheel. Examinationsare harder now-a-days, and an occasional day from tennisand golf has to be managed, alas.

Lieut. Graham has passed his probation. Now for the Lawand Chinyanga exams!Corpl. Read, late B.S.A.P., has been seconded for servicewith N.R.P. as Civil Clerk.Your Christmas Number, with an article on RegimentalMagazines, recalls to the writer's mind the many pleasantyears spent in the Corps in which the "Light Bob" figures,13th Somerset Light Infantry. I have not seen the paper foryears, but am awfully pleased to hear it is still in existence.A word about another--the Royal Engineers: The artist wasuntil recently Sergeant-Major in the N.R.P. I have seenmuch of this gentlemans's work, and often have I tried toinduce him to portray members of the Corps to send toTHE NONGQUAI.

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The Town Police, under S-M. Coote, are doing splendidwork in their branch. S-M Coote, a robust and experiencedman in police matters, has had nine year's MetropolitanPolice service, and although his work is very extensive, hefinds time to impart to his native police matters of muchimportance. Every native of Town Police has his watch, andis able to tell the correct time. Beats are worked correctly,windows and doors marked as they should be, and manydetails of a policeman's life are carried out by the darkiesunder S-M Coote. Their intelligence is remarkable fornatives and discretion is finely used. Two native detectiveshave been added to the Town Police recently, and to judgeby the work already done, they will prove efficient membersof the Town Police.

Sergt.-Major Boyd, at the Gaol, is being surrounded by hispalace: the extensions and alterations have beennumerous. The sanitary arrangements have beenimproved. The European part of the Gaol is very airy, andthe health of prisoners studied without doubt.TAPA.'

Comment by Tim WrightMajor F S James retired from the NRP in 1923 to becomeChief Constable of Chesterfield and later Sheffield.Capt.C C Hornsby succumbed to enteric in German EastAfrica in 1917. Capt.E C Castle served on until 1931. Major G P Burton acted as Commandant of the NorthernRhodesia Regiment for three months in 1933 beforehanding over to B J Graham who retired with the rank ofLieutenant Colonel in 1937. 1099 Cpl John Gordon Read BSAP arrived at Livingstone

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on 19 December 1913. He did not remain in the Force forlong but had a distinguished career in the Colonial Servicethat earned him the CMG. He died in 1958.Sergeant-Major Arthur Coote was at Lusaka in 1917 butmust have left the Force soon after. The most decorated NRP officer in World War I, McCarthyretired in 1924 to farm in Nyasaland. But who was 'TAPA', the official correspondent and why didthe New Year Sports not take place? I was not aware thatany pre-World War I member of the NRP had previousservice in The Somerset LI but the first ten years or so ofthe adult life of the Pay & Quartemaster, Major H L Byas areso far unaccounted for so he seems the most likely suspect.The career of the Adjutant, Captain G F Watherston, hadended abruptly on on 16 December 1913 so perhapspreparations for the Christmas & New Year festivities were disrupted. Another puzzle is which former NRPSergeant-Major provided artwork for the journal of theRoyal Engineers and how did this come about?

NEWS FROM ZAMBIAExtracted from The Zambia Society Trust monthlynews bulletinsKalusha questioned by ACC: The Anti-CorruptionCommission has interrogated FAZ president KalushaBwalya for five hours in relation to alleged corrupt activitiesat Football House. The ACC is investigating Bwalya forallegedly receiving a bribe ahead of the 2022 FIFA WorldCup bid. The commission is also investigating FAZ after theassociation’s former treasurer Kelvin Mutafu revealed thatthe association was involved in corrupt activities involvingticket sales and illegal replica jersey dealings. (The Post, 17th and 18th Dec).

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Most of Zambia plunged into darkness: Most of thecountry was hit by a power blackout for five hours onTuesday 22nd, the second time this month. CopperbeltEnergy Corp. Plc (CEC), which supplies power to most ofZambia's mines, said it had resorted to emergency powersupplies and imports from the Democratic Republic ofCongo. A Zesco spokeswoman later said a preliminaryinvestigation had revealed that there was a fault at theLeopards Hill substation in Lusaka but the cause of thefailure was not yet known. (Reuters Africa, 23rd Dec).

Kazungula Bridge works start: The construction of theKazungula Bridge, a multi-national border crossing projectover the Zambezi River between Zambia and Botswana,has started. The road and rail bridge project will cost overUS$161 million and is being implemented in three phaseswith the first phase being the construction of the bridge.The contractor Daewoo Engineering has already erected atemporary bridge to pave the way for construction of themain bridge. The project is expected to employ over 700hundred people. (ZNBC, 21st Nov).

900mw to be generated from solar: The Government hasembarked on a programme aimed at generating 900megawatts of electricity from solar energy to cushion thepower deficit the country is grappling with. Minister ofTransport and Communication Kapembwa Simbao saidthat Government wants to reap the benefits of the use ofsolar energy by generating electricity for both domestic andcommercial use. (Zambia Daily Mail, 25th Dec).

Zambian Conservationist shortlisted for Award:Game Rangers International (GRI) has announced thatCosmas Mumba, Project Manager for GRI-Zambia Primate

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Project (ZPP), was one of three finalists in the prestigiousTusk Conservation Award supported by Prince William.Under Cosmas’s careful stewardship, and in collaborationwith Zambia Wildlife Authority, 500 yellow baboons andvervet monkeys have been successfully rescued fromillegal captivity, rehabilitated and given a second chance atlife back in the wild. (Lusaka Times, 30th Nov).

Prices push inflation to 19.5 percent: Zambia’s inflationrate rose to 19.5 percent in November from 14.3 percentrecorded the previous month, according to figures releasedby the Central Statistical Office (CSO). The increase hasbeen attributed to the sharp rise in both food and non-fooditems. (Zambia Daily Mail, 27th Nov).

South Africans charged with animal smuggling:Six South Africans and a Zimbabwean national haveappeared in court in Monze charged with attempting tosmuggle wildlife to South Africa. Zambian air forcepersonnel and ZAWA officers arrested the men as theywere off-loading 12 sable antelope calves from a trailer andpreparing to put them into a plane parked under trees neara dirt landing strip in the bush. Each of the animals can besold for about $1 million. A specially equipped light aircraft,vehicles, weapons and veterinary drugs were also seized.(Lusaka Times, 14th Oct).

National Day of Prayer: President Edgar Lungu ledZambians at the Show Grounds in Lusaka as the countrycommemorated the National Day of Repentance, Prayerand Fasting, dedicated to seeking God's divine interventionin the country's economic challenges. The presidentannounced that October 18th will become an annualnational holiday. This has, however, been controversial.(Times of Zambia, 19th Oct).

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Zambia Airways back: The long-awaited national airlinehas finally been incorporated and will operate as ZambiaAirways 2014 Limited, which will be a successor of thedefunct Zambia Airways which was liquidated in 1994.Formation of the national flag carrier is expected to boostthe Zambian tourism sector because tourists will find iteasier to fly direct to Zambia. According to ChiefGovernment Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili,Government is targeting the end of next year for the newairline to become operational. (Times of Zambia, 20th Oct).

Veteran Politician dies at 107: Veteran politician andformer freedom fighter Samuel Mbilishi has died at the ageof 107 in Lusaka at his farm in Katuba area in Chibombodistrict. He served in the first Cabinet of former PresidentKenneth Kaunda and was also appointed as a diplomat inthe United States of America and other countries. (Lusaka Times, 23rd Oct)

The Final Date for Material for NKHWAZI No. 93 is 31st May 2016

Putting a name to members of European Squad 9/57. Back row L to R: A/Insps P.Downs, G.W.Stock, S.Garvey, P.Shortt,J,Voss, R.S.Cheshire, J.N.D.Frye,G. Pitman, M.A.Hasleden Middle row: A/Insps. R.Wardle, R.J.Gange, T.A.Young, R.K.D.Smith,T.H.Willows, R.Dixon, I.Ross, R. Hemp??, R.GroeblerFront row: Insp Robertson (equitation), S/I Jones (law), A/SuptEdwards(language), S/Supt Coton, Commanding Officer, S/Insp Lee(admin), Insp Bardwell (drill), Insp Dixon (transport)

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QM STORESHere is the list of items currently available from Jerry Miller, our Treasurer:

Silk Crested tie £17.50 Polyester crested tie £8.00Polyester striped tie (in Force colours) £7.50Baseball caps £8.00Cuff links (pair) £10.00Cravats (in Force colours) £8.00Bow ties (in Force colours – self tie) £7.00Bow ties (in Force colours – ready tied) £6.50Cummerbund in Force colours £9.00Polo Shirts , navy or white with NRPA crest £14.00(specify size and colour required).These items will be available at reunions. If required by post pleaseadd £2.The following items are made to order:Blazer badges £17.50 Sweatshirts (NRPA crest on left breast) £22.50 (specify size and colour required).

Note re post: The price for the sweatshirt includes p&p. For allother items, please add £2.00 for p&p.

While stocks last, Tim Wright's History of the Northern RhodesiaPolice is available at £12.50 a copy plus £2.50 p&p.

The new NRPA coffin pall is available on loan for a member's funeralfrom Chris Lyon. A returnable deposit of £50 is required to securethe loan.

VISITING SOUTHERN AFRICA?

Let Chris Maltby help in planning your itinerary. He can book your flights, hotels and car hire.

Chris has considerable local and personalknowledge allowing him to give you the best of bothworlds - planning, convenience and mostimportantly, cost saving, using routes andaccommodation known to him and which arerecommended.

Did you know that air fares booked from South Africa are cheaper than those booked in the UK?Whilst South African hotels that offer a two tierpricing system favour South African reservations.

Chris’s services are freeBest to email him at:

[email protected]

FAX: 0027 22 77 21216or

Tel (all hours): 0027 83 676 1313

northern rhodesia police association - nrpa.org.uk · fascinating article from the archives which...

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