The BSA Police was a mounted infantry unit at its inception and followed military lines of rank, organisation and structure, rather than traditional policing ways. The horse was the primary modus of transportation and, when in column, troopers were supported by ox and mule drawn wagons for logistics. At one time even camels were deployed, principally for carrying supplies, but they were also used for patrols. African police often sported a laden mule for extended rural patrols.

Transit between major centres had been confined to the Zeederberg Coach which established a route into Rhodesia from Pretoria in 1890 and seems to have continued to ply the route to Fort Salisbury up until the early 1900s. Doel Zeederberg, owner of the coach company, died in 1907 and from there on the business went down. Police transportation would appear to have been confined to horseback, horse drawn buggies and the bicycle.

As an aside, the line of rail first reach Umtali, on the eastern border, from Beira in then Portuguese East Africa in September 1892 and another line reached Bulawayo from the south in May 1893. It took some time for the line between Umtali and Bulawayo to be linked.

The first reference to a vehicle of any sort in the history of the force seems to point to the use of bicycles. This is hardly a motor vehicle in the true sense of the phrase, but clearly the first, non horse-drawn, wheel apparatus to be used by the BSA Police, chiefly by the town policeman and African Police. (photo pg 168 B&OG). Richard Hamley makes mention in his book, The Regiment, of a BSA Police Despatch Rider utilising a bicycle circa 1900 between Salisbury and Marandellas.

The first motor car to be brought into Rhodesia was in 1902, by Charles Duly. It was a French built Clément-Gladiator, an eight horsepower vehicle originating from a bicycle manufacturer of the same name. It was a two stroke engine. Little is said about fuel supplies. The first vehicle in Salisbury only appeared in about 1906 and was a Chenard-Walcker another vehicle evolution by a French bicycle manufacturer. By 1910 there were many more vehicles on the roads and vehicle licensing had been introduced.

Spurling, in his history of the BSA Police, suggests the first official mechanised transport initiative had taken place in 1910, when Sgt W A Hollick 1373 had been involved in the offloading and supervision of an English manufactured Belsize car and two Maudsley cars, from Coventry, acquired by police on an experimental basis. In 1911 the force was equipping with Model T Fords, one of which had been railed to Umtali and two had gone to Bulawayo. (Photo pg 196 Model T Ford)

Further attempts were made in 1913 to introduce mechanised transport to the force, but the recommendation to acquire two Colonial Noiseless Napiers and a motorised tractor were turned down. The regiment was to remain a mounted organisation for a little longer. Colonel Edwards had at this time managed to obtain authority for the purchase of two FN Motor Cycles, but there is little evidence to suggest they were actually acquired.

The advent of World War I was probably saw origin of police transport in Rhodesia. Much of this initiative was the result of the formation of Murray’s Column, mobilised to counter the advances of German interests in Tanganyika. By this time Duly & Co was a prime importer of the famous Ford vehicles of the time. In August 1917 the BSA Police Mechanical Transport Section was first formed which mustered some 90 vehicles for the troops on the Tanganyika border.

Murray’s Column had been responsible for moving 50 light Hupmobile and Ford lorries from Lupembe to near Malangani. Murray sent the vehicles back to Buhora for supplies.

The British South Africa Police conducted most of its rural patrols on horseback up until around about the early 1960s. In 1913 Commissioner Edwards first proposed the use of motor cycles in the BSA Police to save on horse flesh during the advent of the Great War. He had three of these machines brought into the country for trials at about that time. These bikes were the French made 2.5Hp Fabrique National single cylinder shaft driven motor cycle. They were deployed to Bulawayo, Gatooma and Gwanda. Not much seems to have been introduced until 1927. “Horse transport is a thing of the past, and the B.S.A. Police, mounted on motorcycles, would result in higher efficiency at a lower cost of upkeep in every branch of work at present undertaken by the horse.” – From a letter to The Outpost September 1926. Less than a year later this photograph appeared (Photo). All the riders are wearing spurs as it would seem that that mounted dress order was applicable for motor cycles.