Joseph Cyril Brundell OBE (1878 - 1938)

Born 29 Oct 1878 in Wandsworth, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Died 22 Feb 1938 at age 59 in Bulawayo, Matabeleland, Southern Rhodesia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Andrew Field [send private message]

BSA Police Crest

Biography

Birth & Upbringing: Joseph was born in London, Wandsworth, England 1878. ^[1] Joseph was the son of Josiah Brundell and his wife Elizabeth.
Occupation: Policeman - joined the BSA Police in June 1901; Reg. No. 1142; served until October 1935 leaving with the rank of Major. ^[2][3]
When Major Brundell came to Rhodesia, it was not to join the British South Africa Police. He came out in 1900, on the advice of Lord Grey, as an ordinary immigrant. Soon after his arrival he went to the Sabi Mine to learn mining under a contractor and was engaged in woodcutting as a sawyer, in charcoal burning, and in mining generally.
In 1901 he joined the Police. He left Sabi for Bulawayo and was engaged as a special detective by the Matabeleland Constabulary Force, later known as the Southern Rhodesia Constabulary till amalgamation with the British South Africa Police. He received a commission in 1911, when he reached the rank of first-class detective, and attained his rank of major in 1929.
As a junior officer under Major-General Sir Alfred Edwards, Major Brundell was responsible for the organisation in both the Rhodesias of the Criminal Investigation Department and the Immigration Department, and also for the application of the finger-print system of identification in the investigation of crime. For this purpose the Central Finger-print Bureau was established, and this branch of the service, which has always operated as a " clearing house " for both Southern and Northern Rhodesia, was under Major Brundell's control. He also devised and introduced a system to deal with the registration of foreign natives and to account for the payment of their tax. In 1930, he negotiated the intricate and delicate agreement between the Governments of the Union of South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, whereby residents in the Colony were relieved of the restrictions imposed in terms of the Union "Immigration Quota Act, 1930."
Honours and Awards: Joseph was twice honoured having been awarded the King's Police Medal (KPM) on 23 December 1923 ^[4] and then later he was admitted as a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) on 1 January 1935. ^[5] Joseph was the first officer within the British South Africa Police to be awarded the KPM.
Demise: Joseph died, aged 60, in 1938 at his home in Bulawayo. ^{[6] [3]}
Burial: Joseph Brundell was buried on 23 February 1938 at the Bulawayo Town Cemetery follow a semi military funeral service at St John's Anglican Church and later at the graveside.

Research Notes

• Some birth date estimates are based on ages given at death.
• This profile is Work in Progress Field-4274 10:48, 6 May 2019 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ England and Wales Birth Registration Index 1837-2008" Database with images. familysearch.com Vol/Page: 1D/715 citing General Register Office, Southport, England
2. ↑ Andrew Field: BSA Police Commissioners BSAP Website
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Obituaries Outpost Magazine - Journal of the BSA Police - citing p. 4 March 1938 Edition
4. ↑ The London Gazette Medals and Awards Supplements 32893 citing page 8 1 January 1924
5. ↑ The London Gazette Medals and Awards Supplements 34119 citing page 11 1 January 1935
6. ↑ Zimbabwe Death Notices 1904-1976 Database with images. [ familysearch.com] Ref: 91/1938 as cited by National Archives, Harare - added by Field Jan 2019