Harrismith Commando

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Harrismith Commando
SADF era Harrismith Commando emblem.jpg
Harrismith Commando emblem
Active1899-2008
Disbanded2008
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
Type Infantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part of South African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve, Group 25
Garrison/HQ Harrismith

Harrismith 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.

Light infantry Type of infantry

Light infantry is a designation applied to certain types of foot soldiers (infantry) throughout history, typically having lighter equipment or armament or a more mobile or fluid function than other types of infantry, such as heavy infantry or line infantry. Historically, light infantry often fought as scouts, raiders and skirmishers—soldiers who fight in a loose formation ahead of the main army to harass, delay, disrupt supply lines, and generally "soften up" an enemy before the main battle. After World War II, the term "light infantry" evolved, and now generally refers to rapid-deployment units that specifically emphasize speed and mobility over armor and firepower. Some units or battalions that historically held a skirmishing role have kept their designation "light infantry" for the sake of tradition.

Regiment Military unit

A regiment is a military unit. Their role and size varies markedly, depending on the country and the arm of service.

South African Army ground warfare branch of South Africas military

The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910. The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by Boer Commando (militia) forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies. It then fought as part of the wider British effort in World War II, but afterwards was cut off from its long-standing Commonwealth ties with the ascension to power of the National Party in South Africa in 1948. The army was involved in a long and bitter counter-insurgency campaign in Namibia from 1966 to 1990. It also played a key role in controlling sectarian political violence inside South Africa during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Contents

History

Origin

This unit originated upon the mobilisation orders of the Orange Free State Republic in 1899.

Operations

With the Free State Republic

Anglo Boer War

This commando was initially sent to occupy mountain passes of the Drakensberg between the Orange Free State and the British Colony of Natal. English speakers of Harrismith were sent to the Oliviershoek Pass or serve in the Town Guard.

Drakensberg mountain range in South Africa

The Drakensberg is the name given to the eastern portion of the Great Escarpment, which encloses the central Southern African plateau. The Great Escarpment reaches its greatest elevation in this region – 2,000 to 3,482 metres. It is located in South Africa and Lesotho.

Colony of Natal British colony in south Africa (1843–1910)

The Colony of Natal was a British colony in south-eastern Africa. It was proclaimed a British colony on 4 May 1843 after the British government had annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia, and on 31 May 1910 combined with three other colonies to form the Union of South Africa, as one of its provinces. It is now the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

City guard

A city guard, city watch, town guard, or town watch was a law enforcement and security formation found in many countries and historical periods, usually subordinate to the local municipal government. Historically many cities had their own guard formations, which doubled as police and military forces in times of need.

The first engagement of the war was at Besters Station with an advance on Ladysmith when this commando occupied Middle Hill. 100 men from the commando were part of the initial assault.

Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal Place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It lies 230 kilometres (140 mi) north-west of Durban and 365 kilometres (227 mi) south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textiles, and tyre production. Motor vehicle tyres are produced by "Sumitomo Rubber South Africa" in the nearby town of Steadville.

The first Free Stater to die in the Anglo Boer War, Fred Johnson, came from this commando. [1]

This Commando was also involved in the battle of Rietfontein which [2] 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. [3] [4] [5]

George White (British Army officer) British Army officer

Field Marshal Sir George Stuart White, was an officer of the British Army. He was stationed at Peshawar during the Indian Mutiny and then fought at the Battle of Charasiab in October 1879 and at the Battle of Kandahar in September 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. For his bravery during these two battles, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He went on to command a brigade during the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1886 and became commander of Quetta District in 1889 in which role he led operations in the Zhob Valley and in Balochistan. He was commander of the forces in Natal at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte in October 1899. He commanded the garrison at the Siege of Ladysmith: although instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to surrender the garrison he responded "I hold Ladysmith for the Queen" and held out for another four months before being relieved in February 1900. He finished his career as Governor of Gibraltar and then as Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The Free State forces consisted of the following commandos:

Kroonstad Commando

Kroonstad 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.

Winburg Commando

Winburg 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.

Bethlehem Commando

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.

In 1900, the commando together with those from Vrede and Heilbron were again assigned the defence of the mountain passes.

The remnants of the Harrismith Commando was captured in a sweep operation between block house lines by a British column on 13 February 1902. [6]

With the UDF

By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.

By 1912, previous Commando members could however join shooting associations.

By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.

These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.

UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab.jpg
UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab

With the SADF

During this era, the unit was mainly used for rural area force protection, police assistance and stock theft control. The unit was also engaged in securing the Lesotho border.

The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 25.

With the SANDF

Disbandment

This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units. [7] [8] 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. [9]

Harrismith Commando was the last commando to be disbanded, in March 2008. [10]

Unit Insignia

SADF era Harrismith Commando insignia SADF era Harrismith Commando insignia.jpg
SADF era Harrismith Commando insignia

Leadership

Leadership
FromHonorary ColonelsTo
FromCommanding OfficersTo
1899Commandant C.J. de Villiersnd
1900Commandant Phillip Bothand
1902Commandant Truternd
1994Lt Colonel A.J. Jordaan2008
FromRegimental Sergeants MajorTo

Memorials

Reconciliation Memorial

On 11 June 2017, a Reconciliation Memorial was unveiled at Platrand near Ladysmith. This memorial honours the fierce battle that occurred on 6 January 1900 between the Devonshire Regiment and the Harrismith Commando on that site. [11]

Market Square

The towns market square has a monument, adjacent Warden Street, to the memory of those who served in the Harrismith Commando. An obelisk in the same street in front of the Dutch Reformed Church lists the names of the men of the Harrismith Commando who died in the Anglo Boer war. Of the 73 names, 19 are listed as having died at Platrand, 32 killed or mortally wounded elsewhere and 22 who died in prisoner of war camps overseas and buried in India and Sri Lanka. [12] [13]

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ https://kznpr.co.za/uncategorized/military-interest-general/
  2. ↑ http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol155jh.html
  3. ↑ http://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/visiting-historic-harrismith-cemetery
  4. ↑ https://www.zulu.org.za/places-to-go/battlefields/page17
  5. ↑ https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03071840209416120?journalCode=rusi19
  6. ↑ Atwood. R, General lord Rawlinson From Tragedy to Triumph Bloomsburg Academic 2018 pg 74
  7. ↑ 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.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "About the Commando system" . Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  9. ↑ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'" . Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  10. ↑ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7661:new-medal-for-ex-commandos&catid=111:sa-defence
  11. ↑ https://ladysmithgazette.co.za/87829/unveiling-reconciliation-memorial-wagon-hillplatrand/
  12. ↑ Ascoli, David A Companion to the British Army 1660-1983. (London. 1983)
  13. ↑ Hawkins, E.B. The Story of Harrismith. (Ladysmith. 1982)

See also

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