Lot 3700

Description

Special Constabulary Mounted, Auckland 1913 (M.1913/6), at bottom of reverse inscribed, 'L. M. L. F Bartrop'. Nearly fine and rare.

In October 1913 there was a 'Great Strike' that affected all of New Zealand. It began on Wellington's wharves on 22 October 1913 and then spread, by 28th reaching Auckland. The Reform government planned to use the Army to intervene and occupy the wharves but then decided to use specially appointed civilian special constables. The first of these were signed up in November 1913 and in Auckland more than 1,900 were appointed, mainly from rural areas.

Ludlow Maynard La Costa Fox Bartrop was one of those appointed as a Special Mounted Constable. He also served in WWI with the Auckland Mounted Rifles, service number 13/294. He embarked on 16 October 1914 to Egypt and then to Gallipoli where he was KIA on 8 August 1915 at age 41. He is commemorated at the Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial at Gallipoli, Turkey. He was the son of Major George Frederick and Julia Bartrop of Armidale, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.