Strapper Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 When someone in the Eastern Cape arrives on your doorstep clutching and old chocolate box and says "The butcher told me you are interested in medals..." makes me cast aside my fishing rod and get excited. Opening the box it is dominated by large dress sergeant stripes and crowns. But...next to the original box of issue, an Cape of Good Hope GSM with Bechuanaland clasp..uncleaned, with a QSA, Orange Freestate and Cape Coloney Bars...uncleaned and KSA with box of issue and usual to bars. Issued to The CGHM to 1065 Pte GRP Van Onselen C. Pol The QSA to 1065 Pte GRP Van Onselen Cape. P.D. 1. and KSA to L/Cpl GRP Van Onselen C.P. Dist.1. With sergeant and First Class Sergeant Stripe and crown.http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-9930-0-95177600-1364030173.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-9930-0-89259200-1364030254.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-9930-0-89259200-1364030254.jpg
Strapper Posted March 23, 2013 Author Posted March 23, 2013 http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-9930-0-33395800-1364030635.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-9930-0-76858100-1364030665.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-9930-0-23473800-1364030707.jpgI am Looking for any information, anyone may have regarding this grouping, the family are interested. As far as I can figure out, he was based In District 1, Queenstown, attested in 1896, served in Bechuanaland and boer war...The family say he was sent to the Rand Revolt in 1922 and retired in Uitenhage a Sergeant Ist class. Any idea of his uniform ,Hat or Cap Badge or why there is no WW1 Medals, But he served in the 1922 Strikes? Any ideas,,
Chris Boonzaier Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 The name sounded familier... but was not him... Lennox van Onselen wrote a book called "A Rhapsody in Blue" about the origins of the SAP, printed in 1959... i think he was cape police... maybe a relative...
Brett Hendey Posted March 23, 2013 Posted March 23, 2013 A find like this usually only happens in dreams! There might also be a SA Police Good Service Medal missing. I will tell a Cape Police expert about this discovery. Although he is not (yet) a member of this forum, he will be very interested in this discovery and he may well be able to give useful information on this policeman's service. Brett
Strapper Posted March 23, 2013 Author Posted March 23, 2013 That would be awesome Brett...thanks. I wonder what still lies in the bottom of draws round eastern cape...
Strapper Posted March 23, 2013 Author Posted March 23, 2013 Hey Chris, I know about that book. Everyone in the Eastern Cape is related, it is just a matter of degrees of separation.
Paul R Posted March 24, 2013 Posted March 24, 2013 What a great package to receive! Is there a service record archive there?
Mervyn Mitton Posted March 24, 2013 Posted March 24, 2013 Always exciting to open old boxes - not knowing what you will find inside. However, it's not often that you find medals of this quality. Mervyn
Strapper Posted March 25, 2013 Author Posted March 25, 2013 No service record or information, just what is in the pics, you'd think with the uniforms, medals and such, photo's of cape police and even official pics would have been taken, I am also wondering why he didn't serve in WW1. Maybe they were absorbed into the SAP? Kind regards D.
Brett Hendey Posted March 25, 2013 Posted March 25, 2013 The Cape Police expert replied to my e-mail and wrote that, unfortunately, van Onselen's papers have not survived, although they may have been sent to Pretoria if he was transferred to the S A Mounted Rifles or S A Police. Audrey Portman (GMIC member 'aud') may be able to help and she can be contacted at rhino.research@icon.co.za. Regards Brett
Brian Wolfe Posted March 25, 2013 Posted March 25, 2013 What a great find! Like finding the lost Dutchman gold mine, (I have maps and will negotiate a price). Regards Brian
Brett Hendey Posted March 25, 2013 Posted March 25, 2013 Perhaps I should have mentioned in my last post (#10) that after the Union of South Africa was established in 1910 there were major changes in the organisation of the police forces of what became the four constituent provinces of the Union. Those men who were serving as paramilitary police were transferred to the S A Mounted Rifles, the regiments of which became the foundation of the Union Defence Force. The more conventional police became founder members of the S A Police. Men from the SAMR and some from the SAP saw active service in the German South West African campaign of WWI and were awarded the standard WWI trio of medals. The long serving policemen who went on to serve in the SAMR were eligible for the award of the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas LS & GC Medal, while long serving members of the SAP got the SAP Good Service Medal. Shown below is a medal group to a man who went from the Natal Police into the SAMR and qualified for the WWI trio and Permanent Forces LS & GC Medal. I have misplaced a pic of a SA Policeman who served in GSWA and later earned the SA Police Good Service Medal. I will add this later if anyone is interested. Regards Brett
Mervyn Mitton Posted March 25, 2013 Posted March 25, 2013 I think many members will be interested Brett. I hope you can find-it. Mervyn
Brett Hendey Posted March 26, 2013 Posted March 26, 2013 Here is the group I mentioned yesterday. Bezuidenhout served in the Commander-in-Chief's Bodyguard in the GSWA Campaign, the CinC being General Louis Botha, who was also the Prime Minister of South Africa and one of the most successful Boer Generals during the Anglo-Boer War. The S A Police Good Service Medal is the 1st Type, which has its inscription in English and Dutch. Even if van Onselen did not serve in GSWA, with long service and good behaviour he would have qualified for the Good Service Medal. Regards Brett
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