Bethlehem Commando
| Bethlehem Commando | |
|---|---|
 Bethlehem 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 25 |
| Garrison/HQ | Bethlehem, Free State |
| Motto(s) | Suid Afrika Eerste (South Africa First) |
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Bethlehem 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]
Origins[edit]
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2015) |
During the Anglo Boer War with the Free State Republic[edit]
This Commando was involved in the following:
- The battle of Rietfontein[1] took place on 24 October 1899 between six commandos of the Free State Army commanded by General A Piet Cronje and a British Flying Column dispatched from Ladysmith under the command of Sir George White.
The Free State forces consisted of the following commandos:
- Harrismith Commando
- Kroonstad Commando
- Winburg Commando
- Bethlehem Commando
- Vrede Commando and
- Heilbron Commando.
- The battle of Magersfontein that took place on 11 December 1899.
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 this era, the unit was mostly used for border control, area force protection and stock theft control.
The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 25.
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.[2][3] 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.[4]
Unit Insignia[edit]
Leadership[edit]
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| From | Commanding Officer | To |
| 1900 | Commandant Michael Prinsloo | nd |
| From | Regimental Sergeant Major | To |
References[edit]
- ^ Hawkesbury, John (June 2012). "WITNESS TO RIETFONTEIN 24 October 1899: Part One". Military History Journal. 15 (5). The South African Military History Society.
- ^ van Stade, L B (Col) (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". African Security Review. 6 (2). Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "The South African National Defence Force: The Commando System". South African Police Service, Department of Safety and Security. 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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