Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Rhodesian Police Cross for Distinguished Service (P.C.D.) group of six awarded to Senior Assistant Commissioner E. G. H. White, British South Africa Police, who became Sergeant-at-Arms to the Rhodesian Parliament in 1970

Rhodesia Police Cross for Distinguished Service (Sen. Asst. Commr. E. G. H. White); Rhodesia General Service Medal (Snr. Asst. Commr. E. G. H. White); Rhodesia Police L.S. & G.C., with Bar (Sen. Asst. Commr. E. G. H. White); War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police Forces Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (Eric G. H. White, Supt., B.S.A. Police); Colonial Police Forces L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue (3512 Insp. Eric G. H. White, B.S.A. Police), surname officially corrected on the last, generally good very fine (6) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Keith Holshausen Collection.

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Just 34 Rhodesia Police Crosses for Distinguished Service were awarded.

Rhodesia Police Cross for Distinguished Service (P.C.D.) Rhodesia Government Gazette 12 July 1971.

Eric Gordon Hammett White, who was born in East Ham, England in October 1913, joined the British South Africa Police in July 1935, the beginning of a distinguished 33-year career in which he served in virtually every part of Rhodesia and earned a reputation as an efficient investigator. A report written by the O.C. Midlands Province, after he had served for 20 years, states:

‘White bears an exemplary character, and is steady, loyal and reliable. He is a good disciplinarian, and is respected by his subordinates both European and African, whom he handles fairly and justly. He handles the Public well and is respected by them. I consider he is capable of holding the rank of Chief Inspector.’

Duly promoted to that rank in April 1956, he was a Senior Assistant Commissioner by the time of his retirement, having survived serious injuries sustained in an air crash in 1967, when Police Reserve Pilot Alfred Dendy Lawton was killed. White amassed an impressive array of Honours & Awards, including the Colonial Police M.S.M., awarded in 1960, and a Bar to his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1971, the same year in which he was awarded his P.C.D. On retirement, he succeeded Major-General Garlake as Sergeant-at-Arms to the Rhodesian Parliament; sold with a detailed file of research, including colour illustration of White in the Opening of Parliament procession.