Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A unique Q.P.M. combination group of four awarded to Senior Assistant Commissioner B. J. Price, British South Africa Police

Queen’s Police Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue, for Distinguished Service (Sen. Asst. Commr. Basil J. Price, B.S.A. Police); War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police Medal, for Meritorious Service, E.II.R., 1st issue (Maj. Basil J. Price. B.S.A. Police) surname partially officially corrected; Greece, Kingdom, Royal Order of the Phoenix, Knight’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with Star on upper arm of cross, mounted as worn, very fine (4) £800-900

Q.P.M. London Gazette 13 June 1959.

C.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1954:

‘Lieut.-Colonel B. J. Price, attested in the Force on 23rd January, 1927. In 1929 he transferred from the District Branch to the C.I.D. and was promoted to commissioned rank on 16th September, 1940. He has displayed marked ability in the investigation of crime and in the performance of immigration duties. During the war he was in charge of the Security Bureau and for a period acted as Controller of Censorship. He is now Provincial Criminal Investigating Officer, Mashonaland. Throughout his service he has demonstrated his efficiency and devotion to duty.’

Basil Joseph Price had a long service career with the British South Africa Police, and his obituary which appeared in Outpost, September 1972, gives the following:

‘A former Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department, Lieutenant-Colonel Basil Price, died in Bulawayo on Sunday, July 23. Born in England in 1905, Col. Price came to Rhodesia at the age of 21 and attested in the B.S.A. Police on January 23, 1927. He served as a trooper in Que Que before transferring to the CID from the District Branch in 1929. In 1954 he was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service and in 1950 the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service. During the Second World War he was in charge of security and for a time acted as controller of censorship. After 24 years in Bulawayo, Col. Price was transferred to Salisbury as Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer and was later promoted to command the Department. At the time of his retirement as Senior Assistant Commissioner on June 12, 1960, Mr. Price, with 33 years' service, was the longest serving member of the Force. In recent years. Col. Price was vice chairman of the Bulawayo Red Cross and was also a prison visitor. He leaves a widow, Mrs. Nora Price, who has been a leading figure in women's voluntary organisations and has represented Rhodesia at many international gatherings. To Mrs. Price we extend the deepest sympathies of all serving members of the B.S.A. Police and the condolences of his former comrades.’

Price also served as one of the Security Officers for the Royal Tour of Southern Rhodesia in 1953.

1 of 23 Q.P.M.s awarded to the British South Africa Police, and the combination unique to the unit.

Sold with copied research, including several photographic images of recipient.