John Berry
The British South Africa Police has been fortunate in having many great writers in its ranks. Such as Eben Mocke and George Styles to name only a couple. Most of the writers recorded stories of isolated areas of Southern Rhodesia and also the daily doings of members of the Police.There were also a number who wrote very funny stories of Police live. Unfortunately most wrote under pen names which has made it hard now, many years later, to identify them.One of these is the author of the Constable Wonderwayi stories, an amusing yet knowledgeable series on the adventures of an African Constable. He wrote under the name of Umuthi Wangachwahe. There is some evidence that this was Inspector Henry Howard Johnson (4892)One author whose name is known is the late Staff Chief Inspector ’Paddy’ Watson (4119). He was a former editor of The Outpost and wrote under the name of ’Wobbly’. He penned the series on Scrimshank-Wick, which feature in this book. He is also thought to have used other pen names when writing for The Outpost (as editors have been known to do for their publications). The series ’How are They at Home’ was written under several pen names but with the same style.Also featured is some of the work of the great cartoonist, J.H. Jackson, who contributed to The Outpost for decades. Of more recent vintage is former member Richard (Dick) Hamley, author of The Regiment and an illustrator of note.The book comprises 230 pages and is profusely illustrated by ’Kit’, real name also unknown at this time.
