The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards

Four: Serjeant David French, British South Africa Police

1914-15 Star [South African issue] (Tpr., B.S.A. Police); British War and Victory Medals (1838 Sjt., B.S.A.P.); Southern Rhodesia Medal for War Service 1939-45, unnamed; with B.S.A.P. cap badge (hook repaired) edge bruising and contact marks, very fine and better (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Late Bruce C Cazel Collection of British Campaign Awards.

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David John French was born in England on 12 August 1886. He attested for the 7th Dragoon Guards at Shorncliffe, Kent, in May 1902. In 1905 he was transferred to 5th Dragoon Guards posted at Bloemfontein, South Africa. French remained with the 5th Dragoon Guards until discharged on 23 March 1914. On 8 May 1914 he attested as a Trooper for the British South Africa Police in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. At the time of his attestation, he listed his occupation as ‘Riding Instructor’. Selected to join ‘No. 1 Mobile Column, French saw service in German South West Africa, and was involved in the capture of Schuckmannsburg, 21/22 September 1914. He resumed his police duties on 13 November 1914. Promoted to Serjeant, French was posted to the Rhodesian Native Regiment in 1917 and served in the East African Campaign. Later the same year French returned to Rhodesia and was a training N.C.O. for Rhodesia Native Regiment recruits. When the regiment was demobilised in 1919, Sergeant French was transferred back to the B.S.A.P. After the Great War, French was posted to Fort Victoria and served there until discharged in 1926. He then settled in Rhodesia and was a member of the B.S.A.P. Reserve, being recalled for service during the Second World War.

No. 1 Mobile Column, which captured Schuckmannsburg, and which constituted Southern Rhodesia’s first active participation in the Great War, consisted of four officers; 41 B.S.A. Police; 37 B.S.A. Native Police, together with three maxim guns. Members of No. 1 Mobile Column received the ‘South African’ issue 1914-15 Star - as indicated by the style of naming.

Sold with a wealth of copied research, which includes extracts from the O.M.R.S. Miscellany of Honours, No. 8, 1987, The B.S.A. Police Issue of the 1914-1915 Star, by Bruce C. Cazel, which features the group to French.