Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Band Sergeant-Major Chaitezwi, B.E.M., British South Africa Police

War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, with Second Award Bar, this a tailor’s copy (9828 African Sgt. 2 Cl. Chaitezwi, B.S.A. Police); together with a British Empire Medal miniature dress medal, contact wear and scratches to LS&GC, nearly very fine and better (2) £80-120

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, March 2011.

Chaitezwi enlisted in the British South Africa Police in November 1935 and was awarded the War Medal 1939-45 and the Colonial Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in May 1954. A long served member of the force’s band, he added the British Empire Medal to his accolades on 5 January 1962 (Southern Rhodesia Government Gazette of that date refers), together with a Bar to his L.S. & G.C. Medal in the same month. He retired in November of the following year.

Sold with an interesting copied article from The Outpost, June 1957, describing the presentation of a magnificent Drum-Major’s sash, emblazoned with the names of all of the old forces from which the B.S.A.P. originated, and Chaitwezi’s prerogative to hand out corporal punishment where appropriate, for which, as a result of the physical effort involved, ‘he was entitled, according to Army Regulations, to receive an extra shilling per chastisement, of which three pence went to the Quarter Master for the use of the “cat”. We understand, however, that no such arrangement is in force between Acting Sergeant Chaitezwi and the present Quarter-Master, B.S.A.P.’