Some notes on the founding of the Basutoland Mounted Police during the British Colonial Period

Some notes on the founding of the Basutoland Mounted Police during the British Colonial Period

BASUTOLAND MOUNTED POLICE

Brig HB Heymans

1872-10-11: Date of Establishment

Establishment: 3 officers and 108 other ranks

1872 Uniform: Yellow cord uniforms.

1880 Uniform: Brown Uniforms

1879: Served at the Battle of Morosi’s Mountain

1880 –1881: Served in the Basutoland Rebellion

Establishment: 300 men with white officers

Firearms: Snider Carbines

Displayed great steadiness in Battle

1884-07-01: Reorganised with permanent white officers

1898: Carried Martini Henry Carbines

1898: 11 white officers

4 black officers

12 white constables

220 Africans in the ranks.

1941: 13 white officers

290 Africans

Carried the SMLE

Uniform:

- Khaki uniform with dark blue piping.

- blue puttees.

- blue diamond on left side of slouch hat; with

- white metal initials on the shoulders.

Officers

- Wolseley helmet with no piping on tunic.

- Gilt helmet badge with BMP in circle half laurel, half oak leaves, with crown above

- Brass shoulder titles

1906

1924

Flag of the Resident Commissioner of Basutoland

1937

1942

1964

LESOTHO MOUNTED POLICE