Belfast Commando
| Belfast Commando | |
|---|---|
| File:SADF era Belfast Commando emblem.jpg Belfast Commando emblem | |
| Country | File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve, Group 28 |
| Garrison/HQ | Belfast, South Africa |
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Belfast Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
History
[edit | edit source]Origin
[edit | edit source]This commando was established on the farm Tweefontein near Belfast in the Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) in 1890. It was named after the capital city of Northern Ireland.
Operations
[edit | edit source]With the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek
[edit | edit source]This commandos registered battle honours[according to whom?] include:
- Sekoekoei in 1876,
- Eerste Vryheids Oorlog of 1880–81,
- Modjadji of 1890,
- Maguba of 1895,
- Mpefu of 1898,
- Anglo Boer War of 1899-1902
Battle Honours
[edit | edit source]| Awarded to Belfast Commando[citation needed] |
|---|
| Unknown: Sekoekoei_1876 Please see the Template:BattleHonour for help |
| Unknown: Eerste_Vryheids_Oorlog_1880_81 Please see the Template:BattleHonour for help |
| Unknown: Modjadji_1890 Please see the Template:BattleHonour for help |
| Unknown: Maguba_1895 Please see the Template:BattleHonour for help |
| Unknown: Mpefu_1898 Please see the Template:BattleHonour for help |
| Unknown: Anglo_Boer_War_1899_1902 Please see the Template:BattleHonour for help |
With the UDF
[edit | edit source]By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.
By 1912, however previous Commando members could join shooting associations.
By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.
These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.
With the SADF
[edit | edit source]During the SADF period, this commando was responsible for area protection and fell under the command of Group 28 at Middleburg, part of Eastern Transvaal Command.
With the SANDF
[edit | edit source]Disbandment
[edit | edit source]This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[1][2] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.[3]
Unit Insignia
[edit | edit source]This units first emblem was the crowned crane. The shoulder flash displayed was authorised in 1980.
Leadership
[edit | edit source]| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officer | To |
| From | Regimental Sergeant Major | To |
References
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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See also
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