Percy Cleaver Collection

Archive Collection

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Physical Description

Scope and Content

Recruitment film for the Palestine Police, not dated c1946. The commentary for the film was written by Rex Keating. Photocopies of letters from Percy Cleaver to his aunt and uncle Feb 1936-June 1938. Photograph album containing 207 photographs including images of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Acre, Haifa, Tel-Aviv, group photographs of Palestine Police and published Arab Revolt photographs, 1936-1938.

Administrative / Biographical History

Cleaver, Percy (1915-1998)

Born 14 February 1915 Grimsby, England. Educated Brigg Grammar School, England. Joined Palestine Police in 1936 and served as Constable in the Licensing Office, Traffic Department, Armoured Car Unit and Riot Squads in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Tel Aviv and Haifa. Initial contract expired and declined to re-engage. Joined British South Africa Police, Rhodesia in 1939. Secondment to British Armed Forces 1941-1946. Initially served in Eritrea, East Africa, Tripoli, Tripolitania with Occupied Enemy Territory Administration as a Police Officer. Kings Commission 15 April 1943 to 2/Lieutenant. Opted into Force 281, “8” Army, the fighting force for liberation of German and Italian held islands of the Aegean; attached to the British Naval Harbour Defence boats; Greek Sacred Heart Regiment (Commando Unit), and Greek Caiques supplying food and medical supplies to the Greeks on the islands. From October 1944-June 1945 garrisoned on the island of Symi (off Coast of Turkey) with platoon of paramilitary Greek-Cypriot Police. Promoted to Captain 24 April 1945. Superintendent of Dodecanese Police, Rhodes Island, 1945. Awarded Commendation (Operational) by the Commander in Chief, M.E.F. Resumed duty in British South Africa Police Rhodesia in August 1946. Seconded to Bechuanaland Police Force, Serowe, in 1950. In the British South Africa Police served through the ranks Constable to Chief Inspector. Joined General Post Office, Sydney, Australia in Communication Centre 1959. Joined permanent staff of Rhodesia Television Ltd, News Department as Senior Newsreel and Feature Cameraman. Free Lance Accredited Cameraman for overseas T.V. 1965-1975. Worked in Commercial Security advising businesses, 1976-1984. Died 22 July 1998.

Access Information

Open

For further information on how to use the Middle East Centre Archive, please see our Archon entry at http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13531965

Acquisition Information

Received as a gift from Carl Cleaver (son of Percy Cleaver) in October 2003. Photograph album received as a gift from Palestine Police Old Comrade’s Association on 29 July 2005 to whom it had been given by Carl Cleaver.

Other Finding Aids

Percy Cleaver Collection (pdf file)

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

CD Video viewing copy and the original 16mm film (safety film).

Archivist's Note

Fonds level description created by Debbie Usher 26 May 2004 and revised 5 July 2004 and 2 August 2005. Biographical history created from a résumé written by Percy Cleaver.