M.B.E.AND QUEENS SOUTH AFRICA MEDAL-TO C.R.B. DRAPER-MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES FOR THE BOER WAR-LATER DISTRICT COMMISSIONER OF NORTHEN RHODESIA
Order of The British Empire, Member badge(Civil) hallmarked 1919 by Garrard, mounted on pin, a little cleaned.
Queens South Africa Medal,(1st type reverse) clasps:
CAPE COLONY/ORANGE FREE STATE/TRANSVAAL
Named to; 13507 C.R.B. DRAPER 73RD COY 19TH IMP YEO.
Medal about extremely fine, and toned.(Also entitled to the SA 1901 clasp).
M.B.E. London Gazette 15th March 1918.Christopher Robert Burroughs Draper,Esq., Magistrate and District Commissioner Northern Rhodesia.
From the O.B.E.Handbook: J.P.N. Rhodesia,Magistrate and District Cmmr.N Rhosesia,b 9June 1878 s, of the late Rev W.H.Draper,M.A.(Oxon)Middeleton Rectory,Bicester,Educ: Stubbibgton House,Fareham and H.M.S. "Worcester" War Work: Organising trnsport and food for Military Porters engaged South East Sfrican campaign.Adderess: Livingston, Northern Rhodesia.
Christopher Robert Burroughs was born on 9th June,1878 at Bicester,Oxfordshire.He went into the Merchant Navy,and was employed by the N.Z.Shipping Co,and he aso enlisted in the Royal Naval Reserve as a Midshipman.He attested for the Imperial Yeomanry (Paget's Horse) on 10th March, 1900.His Fathers Address given as Rev'd Draper, Middleton Rectory, Bicester,Oxfordshire.He served in South Africa,and was Mentioned in Despatches in Lord Robert's Gazette on September 9th 1901.He was discharged on 24/06/1901.
He was then enployed by the British South Africa Company,as an Official.(See "They came to Northern Rhodesia"copy supplied with Medals)
By 1916, Draper was the Tangananyika District Commissioner,and was involved in a bitter dispute over the Contracted Carriers employed by the Army,complaining they were employed on "Fixed term contracts", and not until the end of the War-see
" War, Mobilisation, and Colonial Crisis" This contributed to unrest after the War.
In 1918 there was unrest in Northern Rhodesia following the War and Spanish Flu epidemic.The "Watchtower" was a movement that was the equivalent of "Jehova's witness's" in Northern Africa.
It's followers were ant-colonial, and this led to unrest
in Northern Rhodesia.Draper had tried to arrest "fanatical prophets and converts", and put in a request for a company of the Northen Rhodesia Police,later asking for 100 men,and a full platoon with a lewis Gun were finally dispatched to Draper.The anticiipated uprising did not happen, and eventually over 100 Watchtower supporters were arrested and taken to Kassama.
Draper was mentioned in despatches twice,
London Gazette 5th March,1918.:Nyasaland Rhodesia Force, lines of communication,Draper Esq.,C.R.B.,District Commissioner
London Gazette 28th January 1919:
Draper,Mr.C.R.B.,N Rhod.Administrator.
Sold with copied M.I.D.'s and various internet articles about Drapers roll during WW1 and the "Watchtower" incidents.
Not entitled to WW1 Medals, although a London Gazette reference can be found, for The Gazette of 07/03/1918, where Draper is listed as Native Commissioner Nyasaland Rhodesia Force.
Interesting pair, worthy of further research
Code: 52380