Some notes on the founding of the Basutoland Mounted Police during the British Colonial Period

BASUTOLAND MOUNTED POLICE

Brig HB Heymans

1872-10-11: Date of Establishment

Establishment: 3 officers and 108 other ranks

1872 Uniform: Yellow cord uniforms.

1880 Uniform: Brown Uniforms

1879: Served at the Battle of Morosi’s Mountain

1880 –1881: Served in the Basutoland Rebellion

Establishment: 300 men with white officers

Firearms: Snider Carbines

Displayed great steadiness in Battle

1884-07-01: Reorganised with permanent white officers

1898: Carried Martini Henry Carbines

1898: 11 white officers

4 black officers

12 white constables

220 Africans in the ranks.

1941: 13 white officers

290 Africans

Carried the SMLE

Uniform:

• Khaki uniform with dark blue piping.
• blue puttees.
• blue diamond on left side of slouch hat; with
• white metal initials on the shoulders.

Officers

• Wolseley helmet with no piping on tunic.
• Gilt helmet badge with BMP in circle half laurel, half oak leaves, with crown above
• Brass shoulder titles

1906

1924

Flag of the Resident Commissioner of Basutoland

1937

1942

1964

LESOTHO MOUNTED POLICE