TOPIC:

I have PM'ed you my email address IL. Thanks in anticipation.

Rory

Rory
Sent just now.
Regards
IL.

Rory,

Herewith the text of the three pages of the 1904 Detailed History of the Railways that IL refers to:

RAILWAY POLICE.

The force of Railway Police may be said to have passed through three phases: -

(a). From June to September, 1900, there was a force of 30 men attached to the
Railway Staff Depot for discipline, etc.
(b). From September, 1900, to February, 1901, the force was increased to 4 officers and 116 non-commissioned officers and men, and was separated from the Staff Depôt. The Commissioner (Major Macdonald, D.S.O., Reserve of Officers, Hampshire Regt.) was graded as A.A.G., and had under him two Assistant Commissioners and one Pay and Quartermaster.
The headquarters were fixed at Pretoria, and non-commissioned officers and men were obtained from the ranks of the Regular Army and from Colonial and Volunteer Corps.
At this time the force, though nominally separate for Railway purposes, was really under the Provost Marshal and was a species of Military Police. It was paid at first from the Civil Treasury and later from Railway funds, but was not in close touch with the Railway Authorities.
(c). On February 14th, 1901, the force was re-organised on lines laid down by Capt. C. J. Lloyd Carson, who was appointed Assistant Commissioner. The strength was as follows: -

1 Assistant Commissioner (in command).
5 Superintendents (including I Chief Superintendent) in charge of sub-districts.
14 Inspectors.
16 Sergeants.
109 Constables.

The rates of pay for Superintendents and other ranks under scheme (b) had varied from 20s. to 10s. per day with rations; these were now altered as follows: -

Chief Superintendent ... 20s
Superintendents … 20s. to 14s. 6d. according to stations.
Inspectors … 23s. to 13s. according to stations.
Sergeants … 19s. to 9s. 6d. according to stations and class.
Constables … 12s. 6d. to 7s. according to stations.

The highest rates of pay in every case were given to men at or near Koomati Poort, the lowest to those in the O.R.C.
The headquarters were now fixed at Johannesburg, where all other Railway offices were, and a fresh enrolment was undertaken. Only men with police and railway experience were selected; and these signed agreements to serve till the 30th September, 1901, on the understanding that, if found satisfactory, they would be guaranteed further employment in this or some other Government Department of the new Colonies. They were then, in accordance with Army Orders, given furlough pending discharge or demobilisation, and joined the police force to take up their new duties.
In addition to the scales of pay noted above, members of the Railway Police were entitled to 3s. 6d. travelling allowance for every night they were absent on duty from their headquarters, and were also privileged to obtain provisions and coal under conditions similar to other railway employés.
The Assistant Commissioner was the "Commanding Officer", and all communications from any member of the Police force reached him through the Chief Superintendent. All Superintendents ranked as Warrant Officers of the Army, and received compliments as such.
To each Superintendent a section or railway was allotted, and within those limits each was responsible for the maintenance of efficiency and discipline amongst all ranks. He was empowered to suspend for inefficiency or breaches of discipline, such action being reported by telegraph, followed by details in writing addressed to headquarters.
An Inspector ranked as Army "Class 17" and was appointed to a sub-district. He was charged with detailed superintendence of all Railway Police matters, and it was essential for the proper performance of his duties that he should be constantly on the move.
Each station at which Railway Police were quartered was in charge of a Sergeant. It was his duty to attend all trains, to give any necessary aid to the R.S.O. and railway officials, and to see that all constables knew and carried out their orders, that a regular roster of duty was kept and that men when on duty were properly dressed. He was directed to make reports without delay, and to submit weekly a diary chronicling all doings at the station within his charge.
Constables were enjoined to use tact, combined with firmness, and to remember that they existed as a body to prevent crime and disorder, not to create it.
One of the Superintendents, together with two men, carried on detective work, and was instrumental in obtaining several convictions.

Appendix A to this Chapter gives the strength and distribution of the police over the whole railway system.
Appendix B shows, in summary form, the results of police operations during a period of 9 months, giving an average of over 150 convictions per month.

We may now consider very shortly the most common offences committed on railways, and the instructions issued regarding each of them.
Permits to travel within the limits of the O.R.C. and the Transvaal were issued to civilians by: -

(a) the Chief of the Staff
(b) the Military Governor
(c) the Director of Railways
(d) the Provost Marshal
(e) the Commissioner of Police
and (f) by the Press Censor (to War Correspondents only)

whilst the Commander-in-Chief alone could grant permits to travel by rail into the adjacent Colonies.

Railway Police were authorised to examine the permits of all travellers, and in suspicious cases were to arrest the traveller after consulting the R.S.O., if present. They were not empowered to interfere with traffic arrangements to enable them to carry out their examination, but could communicate with the next Police Post by telegraph if necessary.
The lack of foodstuffs and liquor, together with the strict censorship over letters, was instrumental in creating an illicit traffic on the railways; and the Police were empowered to make such search as they could whilst trains were standing at stations, arresting the offenders when discovered.
Ill-disposed persons, and emissaries of the enemy acting as spies, were found to be using the railways, disguising themselves in British uniforms. Such persons would be unprovided with the necessary authority from a Military Officer, and were to be removed from the train in custody.
The number of cases of theft of stores was causing considerable loss to the Army, and the Police were directed to question closely any person found on railway premises in possession of Government stores. If the answers given were unsatisfactory, they were directed to hand civilians over to the Provost Marshal and soldiers to the nearest Military Authority.
To preserve the inviolability of telegraph offices, and to prevent confusion and risk of accident, the Police were enjoined to forbid any person whatever from loitering or bivouacking within railway limits, or in the neighbourhood of stations and platforms; whilst no one was allowed to ride or drive through the premises without permission from the railway authorities.
It was clearly laid down that Police Sergeants and Constables were primarily stationary, and could not therefore leave their station except by order of superior authority. Inspectors and travelling examiners, on the other hand, were directed to be constantly on the move, to ensure the greatest efficiency amongst all ranks on their respective lengths.






Lt-Col Girouard, in his earlier (1903) report states:



..

Thank you to both IL and Neville who have provided much needed detail into the Railway Police whom, I confess, I didn't know existed until yesterday.

My fellow had another medal roll - see extract below - which, interestingly points out that service with the Railway Police di not count towards the award of the Kings South Africa medal.



Thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Rory

Rory
That does not really surprise me. Could be that your chap's service was away from active districts or else it was at a desk somewhere at HQ. Somewhere in my collection is a QSA to a Lt. in Rimington's Guides who was denied a KSA because he was seconded for duty with the administration at Pretoria. Another example is a chap in the Tembuland MRC who finally got a Cape Colony clasp for his QSA but no KSA. Eventually, a KSA was issued - with the roll being endorsed that his unit was on active service up to the end and was finally relieved by the Cape MR.
So, the KSA was not bestowed lightly.
Whatever the reasoning for your man, Officialdom used a heavy hand.
Regard
IL.