Light Horse Regiment

Last updated

Johannesburg Light Horse Regiment
SANDF Light Horse Regiment emblem.jpg
SANDF Light Horse Regiment emblem
Active21 September 1899 -
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
Type Armoured Car Regiment
Part of South African Armoured Formation
Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQMount Collins in Sandton, Johannesburg
Motto(s)Patria et Libertas
(Country and Liberty) [1]
EquipmentEland APC, Rooikat
Commanders
OC Angola campaignCommandant Roy L. Jackson
Insignia
Beret ColourBlack
Armour Squadron emblems SANDF Armour squadron emblems.jpg
Armour beret bar circa 1992 SANDF Armour beret bar.jpg

The Johannesburg Light Horse Regiment (JLHR), formerly the Light Horse Regiment (LHR) [2] and Imperial Light Horse (ILH), is an armoured car reconnaissance unit of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. It is part of the South African Army Armour Formation and is based at Mount Collins in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Armored car (military) lightweight wheeled armored fighting vehicle

A military armoredcar is a lightweight wheeled armored fighting vehicle, historically employed for reconnaissance, internal security, armed escort, and other subordinate battlefield tasks. With the gradual decline of mounted cavalry, armored cars were developed for carrying out duties formerly assigned to horsemen. Following the invention of the tank, the armored car remained popular due to its comparatively simplified maintenance and low production cost. It also found favor with several colonial armies as a cheaper weapon for use in underdeveloped regions. During World War II, most armored cars were engineered for reconnaissance and passive observation, while others were devoted to communications tasks. Some equipped with heavier armament could even substitute for tracked combat vehicles in favorable conditions—such as pursuit or flanking maneuvers during the North African Campaign.

Reconnaissance military exploration beyond the area occupied by friendly forces

In military operations, reconnaissance(recon) or scouting is the exploration outside an area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about natural features and other activities in the area.

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

Imperial Light Horse Memorial on Platrand Ladysmith (28deg35'28''S 29deg45'33''E / 28.59104degS 29.75909degE / -28.59104; 29.75909) -- at the location of the Battle of Wagon Hill in which 30 men from the regiment died and whose names are engraved on the monument. Platrand-Imperial Light Horse Memorial-001.jpg
Imperial Light Horse Memorial on Platrand Ladysmith ( 28°35′28″S29°45′33″E / 28.59104°S 29.75909°E / -28.59104; 29.75909 ) — at the location of the Battle of Wagon Hill in which 30 men from the regiment died and whose names are engraved on the monument.

Anglo Boer War

The Imperial Light Horse was raised by the British in Johannesburg on 21 September 1899 for service in the Second Boer War. Its initial strength was 444 officers and men. It was informally known as the "Reformers Regiment" as many of its officers served on the Reform Committee, or more commonly the Uitlander Regiment by the Transvaal Government and the Boer Commandos. [1] [3]

Second Boer War war between two Boer Republics (South African Republic and Orange Free State) and the United Kingdom

The Second Boer War was fought between the British Empire and two Boer states, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State, over the Empire's influence in South Africa. It is also known variously as the Boer War, Anglo-Boer War, or South African War. Initial Boer attacks were successful, and although British reinforcements later reversed these, the war continued for years with Boer guerrilla warfare, until harsh British counter-measures brought the Boers to terms.

South African Republic Former republic in southern Africa

The South African Republic, also referred to as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent and internationally recognised state located in what is now South Africa, from 1852 to 1902. The ZAR defeated the British Empire in what is often referred to as the First Boer War and remained independent until the end of the Second Boer War on 31 May 1902, when it was forced to surrender to the British. After the war the territory of the ZAR became the Transvaal Colony. During World War I, there was an attempt at resurrecting the republic in the Maritz rebellion.

The Light Horse was engaged through much of the war and fought its first battle at Elandslaagte 21 October 1899, where its first colonel, John James Scott-Chisholme was killed leading from the front. [1] [4] [5] The Regiment was present at the Siege of Ladysmith, (battle of Wagon Hill), Colenso, the Battle of Spion Kop (where they captured Commandant Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo, the commander of the Carolina Boer Commando [6] ) and the Relief of Ladysmith. [1] [4] [7] [8] [9]

Battle of Elandslaagte battle

The Battle of Elandslaagte was a battle of the Second Boer War, and one of the few clear-cut tactical victories won by the British during the conflict. However, the British force retreated afterwards, throwing away their advantage.

John James Scott Chisholme was a British cavalry officer who died heroically leading a charge that turned the Battle of Elandslaagte in the Second Anglo-Boer War.

Siege of Ladysmith

The Siege of Ladysmith was a protracted engagement in the Second Boer War, taking place between 2 November 1899 and 28 February 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal.

After the successful raising of the siege of Ladysmith the Light horse join the Mafeking Relief Column and were the first to enter the town on the night of 16/17 May 1900. [10]

Siege of Mafeking siege during the Second Boer War

The Siege of Mafeking was a 217-day siege battle for the town of Mafeking in South Africa during the Second Boer War from October 1899 to May 1900. The siege received considerable attention as Lord Edward Cecil, the son of the British prime minister, was in the besieged town, as also was Lady Sarah Wilson, a daughter of the Duke of Marlborough and aunt of Winston Churchill. The siege turned the British commander, Colonel Robert Baden-Powell, into a national hero. The Relief of Mafeking, while of little military significance, was a morale boost for the struggling British.

In late 1900 a second battalion – the 2nd Imperial Light Horse was raised and embodied. Both battalions then went on to fight in the Transvaal and the Orange Free State Republic until the end of the war. In total the members of the Regiment won four Victoria Crosses during the war: [1]

Battalion military unit size

A battalion is a military unit. The use of the term "battalion" varies by nationality and branch of service. Typically a battalion consists of 300 to 800 soldiers and is divided into a number of companies. A battalion is typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. In some countries, the word "battalion" is associated with the infantry.

Orange Free State independent Boer sovereign republic in southern Africa between 1854–1902

The Orange Free State was an independent Boer sovereign republic in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century, which ceased to exist after it was defeated and surrendered to the British Empire at the end of the Second Boer War in 1902. It is the historical precursor to the present-day Free State province. Extending between the Orange and Vaal rivers, its borders were determined by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1848 when the region was proclaimed as the Orange River Sovereignty, with a British Resident based in Bloemfontein. Bloemfontein and the southern parts of the Sovereignty had previously been settled by Griqua and by Trekboere from the Cape Colony.

Victoria Cross Highest military decoration awarded for valour in armed forces of various Commonwealth countries

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for gallantry "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces. It may be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded to Commonwealth countries, most of which have established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command although no civilian has received the award since 1879. Since the first awards were presented by Queen Victoria in 1857, two-thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the British monarch. These investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.

Robert Johnston (VC) Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross

Major Robert Johnston, VC, was an Irish rugby union player and soldier. During the Second Boer War, Johnston was awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with the Imperial Light Horse. He played rugby for both Ireland and the British Lions. He is one of three Ireland rugby union internationals to have been awarded the Victoria Cross. The other two are Tom Crean, who also served with the Imperial Light Horse in the Second Boer War, and Frederick Harvey who served in the First World War. Johnston, Crean and Harvey all played club rugby for Wanderers. In 1896 Johnston and Crean were also members of the same British Lions squad that toured South Africa . Johnston was also one of three alumni of King William's College to have been awarded the VC. The other two were George Stuart White and Robert Henry Cain. White served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War and Cain served in the Second World War.

Herman Albrecht Victoria Cross recipient

Herman Albrecht VC was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Bethlehem Municipality type A in State of Palestine

Bethlehem is a city located in the central West Bank, Palestine, about 10 km south of Jerusalem. Its population is approximately 25,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. The economy is primarily tourist-driven, peaking during the Christmas season, when Christians make pilgrimage to the Church of the Nativity. Rachel's Tomb, an important Jewish holy site, is located at the northern entrance of Bethlehem.

Volunteer era

After the Boer War the regiment was reorganised into two wings and in 1904 its left wing was re-designated the Western Rifles, both as voluntary units in the Transvaal Volunteers. [1] [11]

Union Defence Force

With the new amalgamation of the British colonies into the Union of South Africa in 1910 the separate colonial forces were combined into new organisations. The Regiment was re-designated as the 5th Mounted Rifles (Imperial Light Horse) on 1 July 1913 and transferred to the Active Citizen Force (the reserves) of the Union Defence Force. [1]

World War I

The Regiment took part in operations during World War I first in the South-West Africa Campaign in what is today Namibia [13] and afterwards in Egypt, Palestine and France. [1]

During the Interbellum the Regiment was placed on the reserve but was briefly mobilised in 1922 to support the police during the Second Rand Revolt and fought in the Battle of Ellis Park. [1]

Light Horse Regiment Battle of Ellis Park historic marker Light Horse Regiment Battle of Ellis Park historic marker.png
Light Horse Regiment Battle of Ellis Park historic marker

World War II

At the start of World War II the Regiment was bought up to strength and a second battalion reconstituted as infantry battalions. However the two battalions were soon separated and fought different wars. [1]

The second battalion was soon re-designated as the 13th Armoured Car Company in the South African Tank Corps. The 13th was amalgamated with Royal Natal Carbineers to create the 6th Armoured Car Regiment and later that unit combined with the 4th Armoured Car Regiment to form the 4th/6th Armoured Car Regiment. [1]

The 1st Battalion joined the 3rd Brigade of the South African 1st Infantry Division and fought in the North African Campaign and fought in the first and second battles of El Alamein. [1]

Returning to South Africa the 1st Battalion along with the 2nd were reorganised and amalgamated with the Kimberley Regiment to form the Imperial Light Horse/Kimberley Regiment. In September 1943 the regiment sailed for North Africa and joined the South African 6th Armoured Division in Egypt as a motorised battalion [1] under command of Colonel R. Reeves-Moore, DSO MC . [14] On 21 April 1944 the Regiment disembarked in Taranto as part of the 6th Armoured Division to join the British 8th Army in the Italian Campaign. [15] The Regiment was assigned to the South African 12th Motorised Brigade which was detached from the 6th Armoured Division (which initially formed part of the reserves) and move up to Isernia and relieve the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade in fighting in the mountains above Monte Cassino. They held these positions until after the fall of Monte Cassino and the breakout from the Anzio beachhead, when they withdrew and were reunited with the 6th Armoured Division. [1] [16] The Regiment then advanced with the 6th Division as part of the I Canadian Corps until they were north of Rome. The Regiment entered Florence on 4 August 1944, then as part of the 11th South African Armoured Brigade. [1]

After a short period of rest and refitting, on 22 August 1944, the South African 6th Armoured Division was then placed under the command of the United States 5th Army. The army took part in the attack on the Gothic Line in which during heavy fighting around Monte Porro del Bagno almost a quarter of the Regiment were either killed or wounded before the breakthrough was achieved. The Regiment remained in the line and after breaching German defences at Bologna, the Regiment fought its last large engagement at Finale south of Venice, after which the Regimental band led the Allied victory parade at Monza on 14 May 1945. [1] [15] The Regiment remained in northern Italy for about three months before returning to South Africa in August 1945 where they were demobilised shortly after arriving back home. [1] [17]

The Regiment reformed in 1949 as an armoured regiment equipped with Sherman tanks in the Citizen Force. [1] In 1960 when South Africa left the Commonwealth and the Union became the Republic of South Africa the Regiment was symbolically retitled the Light Horse Regiment abandoning the inclusion of Imperial in its name. [1]

Border War

The Regiment, now equipped with armoured cars, prospered during the next 15 years reaching a strength of 2,000 by 1975 when it was split into two:

Both regiments saw action in the South African Border War (1966–1989) in Northern South-West Africa (now Namibia) and Angola, and were also involved in security operations policing the South Africa's townships in the late 1980s and early 1990s. [1]

Post 1994

After the country's first multiracial elections in 1994, following the Defence Review by the newly formed South African National Defence Force, in March 1997 the two battalions were amalgamated into The Light Horse Regiment and designated an armoured reconnaissance regiment. [1]

SANDF era Light Horse Regiment Centenary Coin SANDF era Light Horse Regiment Cetenary Coin.png
SANDF era Light Horse Regiment Centenary Coin

Freedom of entry

During the Regiment's sixtieth anniversary celebrations in 1959, the Freedom of the Cities of Johannesburg, Mafeking and Ladysmith were awarded to it. [18]

The unit exercised its freedom of entry into Johannesburg on the 9th of November 2013 as part of the centenary celebrations of the City of Johannesburg with fixed bayonets, colours flying and drums beating.

Regimental symbols

The Regimental device for both headdress and collar dogs are a set of crossed flags mounted on lances. The flags are those of the RSA and the Regiment.

SANDF Regimental Colours of Light Horse Regiment SANDF Regimental Colours of Light Horse Regiment.png
SANDF Regimental Colours of Light Horse Regiment

Previous Dress Insignia

SADF era Light Horse Regiment insignia SADF era Light Horse Regiment insignia ver 2.png
SADF era Light Horse Regiment insignia

Officers Commanding

Leadership
FromHonorary ColonelTo
FromOfficer CommandingTo
1961Cmdt AJW Drysdalec. 1965
1966Cmdt AR Nelc. 1970
1971Cmdt RV Gibsonc. 1974
1974Cmdt RL Jacksonc. 1978
1978Cmdt M Finlayc. 1982
1982Cmdt AD Thompsonc. 1983
1983Cmdt DM Bessengerc. 1983
1983Cmdt JP Schuinc. 1985
1985Cmdt IW Pearcec. 1990
1990Cmdt GA Nelc. 1993
1993Cmdt DJF Jacobsc. 1993
1993Cmdt JF Elsc. 1993
1993Lt Col WJ Albertsc. 2000
2000Lt Col HJ Marksc. 2003
2003Lt Col J Martinsc. 2007
2007Lt Col HE Jansenc. 2016
2017Lt Col ID Nkoanac. nd
FromRegimental Sergeant MajorTo
c. 1945WO1 WFE Deanc. 1948
c. 1948WO1 S de Langec. 1953
c. 1953WO1 CJ Wesselsc. 1959
c. 1959WO1 WJC Surmonc. 1965
c. 1965WO1 PJ Oosthuizenc. 1975
c. 1975WO1 R Mortonc. 1976

Alliances

Battle honours

In total 31 battle honours have been awarded to 1 LHR and 2 LHR, 23 of which are currently displayed on the Regimental Colour:

The Battle Honours Elandslaagte and Relief of Mafeking, which the regiment had assumed, were disallowed when pre-Union battle honours were reviewed by the SA Defence Force in the 1960s.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ At the British Cemetery on the northern side of Wagon Hill ( 28°35′15″S29°45′55″E / 28.587379°S 29.765325°E ) there is another obelisk monument to the Imperial Light Horse bearing the epitaph:
    Tell England, ye who pass this Monument,
    We, who died serving her, rest here content. [19]
    There is also another obelisk monument to the Imperial Light Horse at the Intombi Cemetery in Laydsmith ( 28°35′44″S29°49′20″E / 28.59559°S 29.82221°E ). It states "This monument is erected by their comrades in memory of NCOs and Troopers of the Imperial Light Horse who are buried in this Cemetery" and lists fourteen names. It too bears the same epitaph, written by Edmund Garrett who was inspired by the famous epitaph of Simonides at Thermopylae. [20] [21]

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This page details the South African Army order of battle in 1940, before and after the formation of expeditionary forces.

References

Further reading

Gibson, George Fleming (1937), The story of the Imperial Light Horse in the South African War, 1899-1902, G.D. & Company, OCLC   752706183

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