Belfast Commando
| Belfast Commando | |
|---|---|
 Belfast Commando emblem | |
| Country |  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]
Origin[edit]
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]
With the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek[edit]
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]
| 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]
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]
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]
Disbandment[edit]
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]
This units first emblem was the crowned crane. The shoulder flash displayed was authorised in 1980.
Leadership[edit]
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officer | To |
| From | Regimental Sergeant Major | To |
References[edit]
- ^ Col L B van Stade (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
See also[edit]
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