Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Detective Sergeant Baleni, British South Africa Police

Rhodesia, General Service (13430 D/Const. Baleni); Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (13430 D/Const. Baleni) mounted for wear, very fine (2) £70-£90

Commissioner’s Commendation Force Orders 152/65, the citation states:

‘The Commissioner has much pleasure in awarding a Commendation and a money award of £5 each to No. 4709, Detective Inspector Peters, and No. 13430, Detective Constable Nenabo [sic], both of C.I.D. Mat., in recognition of the outstanding investigating ability they displayed during investigations into an armed attack on Dube Ranch, Kezi District which occurred on the night of 24th September, 1964.

The prolonged, persistent and intelligent investigations which followed, resulted in the arrest and conviction of three male persons, two of whom were each sentenced at the High Court, Bulawayo, on 1st February, 1965, to serve a total of 10 years imprisonment with hard labour. The success of these investigations was, in large measure, due to the good work of Detective Inspector Peters, who exercised overall direction of the investigations, and of Detective Constable Nenabo, whose tracking ability and stamina led to the early arrest of two of the accused persons.’

Further detail is provided by The Outpost, November 1977:

‘Detective Sergeant Baleni (13430) left the Force on 16 May after a quarter of a century of service. Born in the Plumtree area, he worked for a Bulawayo lumber company before attesting on 1 November 1952 as he was interested in maintaining law and order. Baleni was attached to CID for almost a year before returning to Duty Uniform Branch for seven years. He then rejoined the CID in 1959 and remained with them, assisting in the formation of the Victoria Falls CID and SB. An enthusiastic follower of police soccer, he has retired to become involved in security work but the Force connection is being continued by his son Abel!’

Approximately 33 Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medals issued with the rank of ‘D/Const’.

Sold with copied research which shows Baleni erroneously listed as ‘Nenabo’, including a photographic image of recipient.