Potchefstroom Commando
| Potchefstroom Commando | |
|---|---|
 Potchefstroom 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 30 |
| Garrison/HQ | Potchefstroom |
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Potchefstroom 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]
Operations[edit]
With the Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek[edit]
At the beginning of the Second Boer War, this units commandant was A.P.J. Cronjé, who was later replaced by P.J. Liebenberg.
The commando had an initial strength of 1,249 and fought at :
- Ottoshoop,
- the Siege of Mafeking,
- the Battle of Modder River,
- the Battle of Magersfontein,
- the Battle of Poplar Grove,
- the Battle of Donkerhoek,
- the Battle of Bronkhorstspruit,
- the Battle of Bergendal,
- the Brandwater Basin,
- the 1st de Wet hunt, at Gatsrand and at
- Hartbeesfontein.[1]
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]
The unit resorted under the command of Group 30.
The Old First Prison was used as this commandos HQ till 1998.
During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordons as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police.
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 |
| XXX | XXX | XXX |
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| 1899 | Commandant Mathinus Johanes Wolmarans | nd |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
| XXX | XXX MMM JCD | XXX |
References[edit]
- ^ Hall, Darrell (1999). The Hall Handbook of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902. Pietermaritzburg: University of Natal Press. pp. 13, 17. ISBN 9780869809495.
- ^ Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "About the Commando system". 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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