Rhodesian Police WW2
 

Does anyone know or can anyone confirm the color of the pagri on the pith hlmets worn by the Rhodesian police during WW2. Have been told that it was dark blue, but cannot find any reference that can confirm this. Was also wondering if the police force served outside of Rhodesia with the British Army in the African theater or if they remained at home. .
Much appreciated,
Mike

Do you mean Rhodesia as in Southern Rhodesia and the British South Africa Police (BSAP),or Northern Rhodesia and the Northern Rhodesia Police (NRP) ?

I'm really not sure -
Have seen several pith helmets with blue pagris/puggarees and was told it indicates "Rhodesian police" - not sure whether Northern or SABP.

WW2 Rhodesian Police
 

As regards the Northern Rhodesia Police - Up to 1947 the officers wore a khaki,cloth covered tropical sun helmet.No cap badge was worn but on the side of the helmet was displayed the Regimental Flash ( a triangle half white,half blue).In that year this helmet was replaced by the black peaked cap except for ceremonial duties when in full dress a khaki Bombay Bowler ( Wolseley helmet) was worn.This did have a dark blue pugaree on the front of which was worn the chrome Force badge.You will find more,and illustrated examples, in The History of The Northern Rhodesia Police, by Tim Wright.
A very small number of NRP Officers did serve in the Armed Forces,often in North and East Africa,they would of course wear the uniform and accoutrements of the Units to which they were attached.A much larger number of BSAP Officers served thus, and also in the Eastern Mediterranean, and in those Territories liberated from the occupation.See Blue and Old Gold,The History of the BSAP 1889 - 1980, by Gibbs,Phillips & Russell.
Hope this helps.

Hello and thank you 1314,
Very helpful, but am still insure of what I am holding.
It is a WW2 British made pith helmet with the appropriate war department stamps on the sweatband to support this with a navy blue pagri. So based on what you are saying it isn't Northern Rhodesian Police as t does not have the white and blue triangle. Furthermore, while it does have a blue pagri, it is WW2 and hence pre 1947. So that would leave BSAP which I assume would have SA pith helmets with the exception of those who may have served in Britis units elsewhere in North and East Africa in WW2. If the latter then it would explain the British made pith helmet, however instead of a helmet with the markings of the unit the policeman served in this one has a navy pagri - so it is a British made helmet with British war department stamps with a navy BSAP pagri - did any BSAP serve as BSAP in North or East Africa?

A picture will follow

BSAP
 

The BSAP mobilised a training cadre which raised the Rhodesian African Rifles in 1940, many of the training cadre were later commissioned as platoon commanders in the RAR and saw service in East Africa and Burma.

A second detachment of BSAP were seconded for service in Eritrea, Somalia, Cyrenaica, Egypt and the Dedeconese Islands, as members of the British Military Administration Police in the former Italian colonies. It may be that these chaps wore the headgear mentioned. Some went even further afield to Burma and Singapore as members of the BMP Police.

This is a 1939 dated BSAP Wolesley helmet as worn during WW 2 for interest. The BSAP never wore a blue puggaree on the pith helmet. The sweat band is stamped with the letters SRG inside a triangle.

BSAP Helmet
 

The NRP wore a Wolseley helmet of this colour but with a dark blue pugaree with similar leather piping around the rim.A black patent leather chinstrap was fitted.