Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: African Station Sergeant Mateyu, British South Africa Police

War Medal 1939-45; Colonial Police Forces L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, with Second Award Bar (10623 African Cl. 1 Sgt. Mateyu, B.S.A. Police); Colonial Police Forces Medal for Meritorious Service, E.II.R., 2nd issue (10623 African Stn. Sgt. Mateyu, B.S.A. Police); St. John Service Medal, unnamed, some contact wear and edge bruising but generally very fine or better (4) £400-500

Mateyu was born in Goromonzi District in January 1919 and was a student at the Howard Institute prior to enlisting in the British South Africa Police in August 1940. Briefly attached to the Southern Rhodesia Military Forces in May-June 1942, he went on to enjoy a distinguished policing career up until his retirement in January 1970, being awarded an official Commendation by the Inspector-General for ‘his intelligence, initiative, zeal and ability’ during an investigation in Gwelo which led to the arrest of a thief (B.S.A.P. Force Order No. 907, 26 October 1944 refers), in addition to having his record favourably endorsed on two further occasions for successful investigations in the Salisbury area in 1954 and 1956.

Having been recommended for his Colonial Police L.S. & G.C. back in February 1959, and been awarded his Meritorious Service Medal in June 1963, he added a Bar to the former distinction in August 1965. Mateyu, who received his St. John Service Medal in April 1959, was also entitled to the Rhodesia General Service Medal, but whether he was ever actually issued with the award remains unknown; sold with full research, including a copy of the full report of the investigation that led to the recipient’s Commendation in 1944.