We Buy Early Rhodesian Cap Badges, Buttons, Documents & Memorabilia - TOP PRICES PAID!!

If you are looking for how to sell early Rhodesian collectables, please email us a photo of what you have for sale to: sales@britishmilitarybadges.co.uk and we will get back to you wish a cash offer!

We are actively looking to buy and obtain early Rhodesian cap badges, buttons, BSAC medals, Rhodesia related documents, Matabele War collectables and memorabilia and Rhodesian uniform parts. We are interested in buying these items from any time during Rhodesia’s history but we will pay TOP PRICES for early items dating between c. 1889-1903. We guarantee we will beat auctions house prices and you will get to keep the FULL amount rather than handing c.20% over to the auction house in seller fees. So if you have inherited any early Rhodesian badges, documents, collectables, Matabele War souvenirs or you are a collector wish to sell, please come to us first! Just send us a photo of what you have for sale to sales@britishmilitarybadges.co.uk and we will get back to you with a cash offer! It’s completely free to get a valuation from us and you don’t have to accept, so you have nothing to lose coming to us first before going to an auction house. You may be very surprised at how much we can offer you for relevant items, as more than any other, this is the area we specialise in and offer very generous prices!

Some of the items we would be most eager to acquire are Rhodesian Horse cloth slouch hat cap badges and Rhodesia Horse horse boss furniture badge. Early British South Africa Company Police BSACP cloth slouch hat cap badges, Matabeleland 1893 and Rhodesia 1896 medals and buttons. Slightly later, but still 1890s British South Africa Police BSAP buttons and horse boss furniture with BSA Police initials over a lion and tusk emblem badge of the BSAC. Mashonaland Mounted Police MMP and Matabeleland Mounted Police MMP metal cap badges, original Mashonaland Mounted Police Torrin hats, Matabeleland mounted police leather ammunition cross belt pouches. Also, we would be interested in purchasing Rhodesian Mounted Police buttons and similar horse bridle bosses or pouch badges and bandoliers as well as Matabeleland Native Police buttons MNP and headgear or uniform parts. British South Africa Police BSAP Native buttons and Southern Rhodesia Constabulary buttons. If you have inherited or collected other similar insignia pieces from territories bordering Rhodes such as Bechuanaland Border Police BBP buttons and canteen tokens, slouch hat cap badges, helmet plates, pouch badges etc. or Barotse Native Police BNP buttons, badges and wrist badges as well as Northern Rhodesia Police buttons NRP, we would be very keen to buy these as well. Again, top prices paid!

Finally, we would be eager to buy Southern Rhodesia Volunteers SRV Western Department cap badges, buttons and insignia. As well any documents, photographs, hand written memoirs, maps, letters, notes, diaries, flags, paintings, battlefield relics, souvenir Assegais with provenance, battle memorabilia etc. relating to either the Pioneer Corps Column 1890, the First Matabele War 1893, the Jameson Raid into the Transvaal 1895/6 the Matabele and Shona rebellions in Rhodesia 1896 or Mashonaland 1897 or Rhodesia’s involvement in the Boer War 1899-1902. If you have any British South African Company Medals you wish to sell, please let us know who they were awarded to and we will get back to you with a cash offer and as we specialise in this area of history, unlike other dealers we will offer you by far the best price.

Even if you are a collector who has no interest in selling, please email us anyway for a FREE valuation, you may be very surprised at how much we can offer you! Below is a photo of some of the insignia we would be happy to value or acquire. We would also be interested in original, vintage and unusual items relating to Cecil John Rhodes. Please check out our we buy page HERE for more details.

Early Rhodesian & Matabele War badges, buttons and medals

British South Africa Company Police BSACP & British South African Police BSAP

The origins of the BSAP stem from the Bechuanaland Protectorates. Britain declared Bechuanaland a protectorate in 1884 and a police force was formed to ensure the security of the Protectorate. It was named the Bechuanaland Mounted Police. In August 1885 the situation in Bechuanaland deteriorated as a result of the activities of outlaw gangs operating from the Boer Republics and a new force was raised to restore order. It was named the Bechuanaland Border Police and within a short while was able to restore law and order. Thereafter it provided the majority of the manpower for the Pioneer Column’s British South Africa Company Police.

The British South Africa Company Police 1890-1892

The Bechuanaland Protectorate was split in half at this time and one half of the territory was ceded to the Cape colony and the other to the British South Africa Company. This resulted in the fact that the majority of the Bechuanaland Border Police then joined the BSACE, The Pioneer Column was formed as a paramilitary force to move northwards to the new arritory and colonise the new territory. The column consisted of two mounted infantry troop (designated A and B troops) and a third troop (C troop) of artillery, equipped with 7 pounders and maxims. On the 6th of July 1890 The Pioneer Column of the British South Africa Company with it’s protection element, the BSACP crossed the Shashi river into Matabeleland and travelled north into Mashonaland where they stopped on the 12th September 1890 at the place which was thus named Fort Salisbury. The next day the Union Jack was formally raised. Fort Salisbury started to develop and in January 1892 most of the BSACP were disbanded.

Mashonaland Mounted Police 1892-1896

for the fledgling colony and 150 men wer A civil police force was found to be necessary recruited into the MMP and organised into Frontier Patrols. The MMP was organised along cavalry regiment lines. At the same time the Mashonaland Horse volunteers were formed to assist in controlling marauding Matabele warriors.

Matabeleland Mounted Police 1893-1896

At the end of the Matabele War the Matabeleland Mounted Police was formed as a regular force under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Bodle. The force was 150 men strong and were tasked to protect the local settlers from Matabele warriors who were still on the offensive in the Matopos and the Shangani area. Doctor Jameson acted on exaggerated reports of oppression by the Boers in the Transvaal over British people on the gold mines and rallied together a force of 511 men in Rhodesia, All were members of the Matabeleland. Mounted Police and had been strengthened by ex members of the Bechuanaland Border Police. A raid was launched and proved to be disastrous. The column was surrounded at Doornkop near Krugersdorp by a force of 4000 Boers with artillery. The column was defeated and taken prisoner.

Matabeleland Native Police 1893-1896

This force was raised from local natives and was under the command of the Native Commissioners of the Colony. Many of the recruits came from the two senior Matabele impis. Their purpose was to carry out the orders of the Native Commissioners and to maintain communications and better understanding amongst the local population. At the outbreak of the rebellion some native policemen deserted with their firearms and thus the force was disbanded in 1896.

Mashonaland Constabulary 1892-1903 The Mashonaland Constabulary

Formed as Rhodesia’s first town police. Its members were armed with 45 revolvers and were issued with handcuffs and batons and patrolled the towns by foot and bicycle. A small mounted section was responsible for the outer areas of the municipality.

Matabeleland Constabulary 1893-1903

Established in the Colony and was based on the This was the second civil police force to be same lines as the Mashonaland Constabulary.

Southern Rhodesia Constabulary 1903

Constabulary and Constabulary. the This police force was formed out of an amalgamation of the Mashonaland Matabeleland

The BSA Native Police 1903

The Shona and Ndebele tribes provided recruits so that the BSAP could be representative of the people of the country and take part in the police tasks throughout. They were attested as District Constables, Town Constables, Mounted District Constables and as Detectives. The BSA Native Police was disbanded in the 1930s and all its members incorporated into other branches of the service.

British South Africa Police 1897-1980

The Police General Order dated 22nd August 1898 brought about a change in title for the force and the word Company was dropped. The BSAP comprised of four Divisions

the Bechuanaland Protectorate Division. Matabeleland Division, Mashonaland Division, and the North Zambezi Division. The first division was disbanded in 1903 and the fourth became the Northern Rhodesia Police. In its early days the BSAP served with the Rhodesia Regiment in the Transvaal during the Boer War of 1899 to 1902.