Regiment Westelike Provinsie

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Regiment Westelike Provincie
SANDF Regiment Western Cape emblem.jpg
SANDF Regiment Western Cape emblem
Active1 April 1934 to present
CountrySouth Africa
Allegiance
Branch
Type Infantry
RoleMechanised infantry
SizeOne battalion
Part of South African Infantry Formation
Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQ Cape Town
Motto(s)"Non Sibi Sed Patriae" – "Not For Ourselves, But For Our Country"
Anniversaries1 April (Regimental Day)
Commanders
Honorary ColonelCapt. G.S. van Niekerk (Col)
Insignia
Company level Insignia SA Army Company Insignia.png
SA Mechanised Infantry beret bar circa 1992
SA mechanised infantry beret bar circa 1992 SA mechanised infantry beret bar circa 1992.jpg
SA mechanised infantry beret bar circa 1992

Regiment Westelike Provincie is a mechanised infantry regiment 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.

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.

United Kingdom Country in Europe

The United Kingdom (UK), officially the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and sometimes referred to as Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north-western coast of the European mainland. The United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom that shares a land border with another sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border, the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, with the North Sea to the east, the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the south-west, giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world. The Irish Sea lies between Great Britain and Ireland. With an area of 242,500 square kilometres (93,600 sq mi), the United Kingdom is the 78th-largest sovereign state in the world. It is also the 22nd-most populous country, with an estimated 66.0 million inhabitants in 2017.

Army Reserve (United Kingdom) element of the British Army

The Army Reserve is the active-duty volunteer reserve force and integrated element of the British Army. It should not be confused with the Regular Reserve whose members have formerly served full-time. The Army Reserve was previously known as the Territorial Force from 1908 to 1921, the Territorial Army (TA) from 1921 to 1967, the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve (TAVR) from 1967 to 1979, and again the Territorial Army (TA) from 1979 to 2014.

Contents

History

Origin

Regiment Westelike Provincie (R.W.P) [1] (originally called Regiment Westelike Provinsie), is one of eight Afrikaner-oriented Traditional Citizen Force infantry units raised by the Union Defence Force on 1 April 1934, [2] as part of a programme to rebuild the UDF after the Great Depression.

Great Depression 20th-century worldwide economic depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression that took place mostly during the 1930s, beginning in the United States. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations; in most countries it started in 1929 and lasted until the late-1930s. It was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century. In the 21st century, the Great Depression is commonly used as an example of how intensely the world's economy can decline.

Predecessors

While R.W.P has been in existence only since 1934, it regards itself as the successor to several small and short-lived units which were formed in the Western Cape country districts in the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. They were:

First Volunteer Movement

  • Stellenbosch Volunteers  – formed 1856, disbanded c. 1865
  • Worcester volunteers  – formed 1856, disbanded c. 1863
  • Paarl Rifle Corps  – formed 1856, disbanded 1859
  • Malmesbury Volunteer Cavalry  – formed 1856, disbanded c. 1866
  • Paarl Cavalry  – formed 1857, disbanded 1859
  • Paarl United Volunteers – formed 1859, disbanded c. 1862
  • Robertson and Montague Rifle Corps  – formed 1860, disbanded c. 1864
Stellenbosch Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Stellenbosch is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, situated about 50 kilometres east of Cape Town, along the banks of the Eerste River at the foot of the Stellenbosch Mountain. It is the second oldest European settlement in the province, after Cape Town. The town became known as the City of Oaks or Eikestad in Afrikaans and Dutch due to the large number of oak trees that were planted by its founder, Simon van der Stel, to grace the streets and homesteads.

Worcester, Western Cape Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Worcester is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is located 120 kilometres (75 mi) north-east of Cape Town on the N1 highway north to Johannesburg.

Paarl Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Paarl is a city with 191,013 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is the third oldest town and European settlement in the Republic of South Africa and the largest town in the Cape Winelands. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township, it is now a de facto urban unit with Wellington. It is situated about 60 kilometres (37 mi) northeast of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province and is renowned for its haunting scenic beauty and deep viticulture and fruit growing heritage.

No volunteer units in these districts between 1866 and 1878.

Second Volunteer Movement

  • Worcester Volunteer Rifles – formed 1878, disbanded c. 1879
  • Worcester Volunteer Rifles – formed 1885, disbanded 1901
  • Paarl Volunteer Rifles – formed 1885, disbanded 1897
  • Wellington Volunteer Rifles – formed 1885, disbanded 1901
  • Victoria College Volunteer Rifles – formed 1888, disbanded 1899
  • Robertson Volunteer Rifles – formed 1890, disbanded
  • Malmesbury Volunteer Rifles – formed 1892, disbanded 1896.
  • Western Rifles – an administrative grouping, which existed from 1893 to 1908, of the Worcester, Paarl, Wellington, Stellenbosch, Robertson, and Malmesbury units
  • Western Light Horse – formed at Worcester 1903, disbanded 1908
  • Paarl Volunteers – formed 1906, disbanded 1909.
Wellington, Western Cape Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Wellington is a town in the Western Cape Winelands, a 45-minute drive from Cape Town, in South Africa with a population of approximately 62,000. Wellington's economy is centered on agriculture such as wine, table grapes, deciduous fruit and a brandy industry. The town is located 75 km north-east of Cape Town, reached by the N1 motorway and R44. Due to the growth of the Mbekweni township south of the town, it now forms a de facto urban unit with Paarl, just 10 km to the south. Wellington now officially falls under the Drakenstein Local Municipality, which also covers Saron and Paarl.

Stellenbosch University University in South Africa

Stellenbosch University is a public research university situated in Stellenbosch, a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Stellenbosch is jointly the oldest university in South Africa and the oldest extant university in Sub-Saharan Africa alongside the University of Cape Town which received full university status on the same day in 1918. Stellenbosch University designed and manufactured Africa's first microsatellite, SUNSAT, launched in 1999.

Robertson, Western Cape Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Robertson is a town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa known as the valley of wine and roses, at the heart of the wine route - Route 62.

No volunteer units in these districts between 1909 and 1913.

Citizen Force

Malmesbury, Western Cape Place in Western Cape, South Africa

Malmesbury is a town of approximately 36,000 inhabitants in the Western Cape province of South Africa, about 65 km north of Cape Town.

No CF units in these districts between 1929 and 1934. [3] [4] [5]

Garrison

The regiment was based in the country town of Stellenbosch, 45 kilometres (28 mi) outside Cape Town, and recruited its members from the surrounding districts of the western part of the Cape Province. At that time, Citizen Force service was voluntary.

Brandy

The new Regiment lost no time in ensuring that the inner man was cared for and in 1936 the first specially bottled R.W.P brandy was produced. [6] :60 The much honoured tradition of toasting the Regiment and dignitaries in pure, undiluted R.W.P brandy is still in use today.

With the Union Defence Force

World War Two

The National Party-voting Western Cape districts generally did not support South Africa's involvement in World War II. In spite of this R.W.P was able to muster enough men who were willing to go on active service. The Regiment mobilised on 1 September 1940 [7] and became No. 12 Armoured Car Company, South African Tank Corps. [8] After months of training in this new role, No12 Armoured Car Company was amalgamated with No. 11 Armoured Car Company (RSWD) Regiment Suid Westelike Distrikte, to form 5th Armoured Fighting Vehicle Regiment, South African Tank Corps. [9] The Regiment moved to Egypt in September 1941 but was disbanded on 13 October 1941 after arrival. The personnel were used as reinforcements for depleted armoured car regiments already operating in the Western Desert with whom they participated in many of the well known battles in North Africa like Sidi Rezegh, Bir Hakeim, Gazala, and El Alamein.

On the disbandment of the South African Tank Corps early in 1943, former R.W.P personnel were absorbed into the Royal Natal Carbineers and Imperial Light Horse and soon adapted themselves to tank warfare, serving with distinction in their new units with the 6th South African Armoured Division in Italy.

Post war

The Regiment was presented with a Regimental Colour by his Majesty King George V1 during the visit of the Royal Family to South Africa on 31 March 1947. The wartime Prime Minister Gen Jan Smuts accepted the appointment as Colonel-In-Chief of the Regiment from 17 September 1948. [10]

Remustered and renamed

In 1949, R.W.P itself was converted to Armour, and it was renamed Regiment Onze Jan, after 19th-century Afrikaner political leader Jan Hofmeyr, in 1951. From 1952, Citizen Force recruits were chosen by ballot rather than volunteering.

During the 1950s and 1960s the Regiment was part of the part-time component of Western Province Command.

With the SADF

When the Army was re-organised for internal security duties in 1960, ROJ was converted back to infantry and was renamed Regiment Boland. R. Bol later moved to Paarl and, after the introduction of National Service conscription (in 1968), it formed a second battalion in Worcester on 1 September 1970.

Divisional Command

In 1975 the regiment became part of the conventional force structures mainly under the command of 71 Motorised Brigade (South Africa). [11]

The Regiment took part in annual training camps since 1948, was part of the national mobilisation in 1960 and since the late seventies did training at the Army Battle School as part of 71 Mot Brigade, 75 Brigade and 9 Division .

The two battalions were separated in April 1974. 1 R. Bol resumed the original title Regiment Westelike Provinsie and moved to Cape Town, while 2 R. Bol remained in Worcester as Regiment Boland. The only remnant of their association is the similar cap-badges of the two Regiments.

Operations

R.W.P served in the Angola campaign in 1976, and carried out several tours of duty in the Border War in South West Africa. It was also deployed on internal security duties in the Townships during the 1985–90 State of Emergency.

With the SANDF

Military service has been voluntary again since 1994. [6] 71 Motorised Brigade and 9 Division was dissolved in the late nineties and the regiment presently forms part of the South African Army Infantry Formation.

Regimental Symbols

Spelling

In 1983, R.W.P adopted the Dutch spelling of "Provincie" because it regards itself as the successor to several short-lived volunteer units which existed in the Stellenbosch and Paarl and neighbouring districts in the 19th century, when Dutch, rather than Afrikaans, was the prevailing language in those areas. (See below for a list of those units.)

Insignia

Previous Dress Insignia

SADF era Regiment Westerlike Provincie insignia SADF era Regiment Westerlike Provincie insignia.jpg
SADF era Regiment Westerlike Provincie insignia

Current Dress Insignia

SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia.jpg
SANDF era Infantry Formation insignia

Regimental Freedoms

R.W.P has been granted the Freedom of the following Cities: [6] :65

These honours mean that the Regiment may march on foot or mechanised with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed through the streets of Cape Town or any of the Overstrand towns, namely Hermanus, Rooi Els, Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay, Kleinmond, Fisherhaven, Hawston, Onrus, Sandbaai, Stanford, Gansbaai, Uilenskraal Mond, Franskraal, Pearly Beach and Baardskeerdersbos.

Leadership

Regiment Westelike Provinsie Leadership
FromColonel-In-ChiefTo
1948Field Marshal the Right Hon. J.C. Smuts, PC OM CH ED KC FRS 1950
FromHonorary ColonelsTo
10 July 1934Major P. J. Roos Paul_Roos_(rugby_player) (Col)22 September 1948
26 September 1960Capt. W. N. Naude (Col)24 February 1969
30 October 1982Councillor M. J. van Zyl (Col)30 November 1997
1 December 1997Capt. G. S. van Niekerk (Col)Present
FromCommanding OfficersTo
31 May 1934Lt Col. J. H. Wicht CM 1 October 1939
1 September 1939Lt Col. G. C. G. Werdmuller6 September 1939
7 September 1939Lt Col. C. J. Lemmer8 December 1939
9 December 1939Major. M. Versveld13 January 1940
14 January 1940Lt Col. C. J. Lemmer31 August 1940
1 September 1940Lt Col. H. S. G. Taylor31 December 1941
1 February 1946Lt Col. L. Verwoerd30 June 1947
1 July 1947Major. G. W. Krige MC 30 September 1947
1 October 1947Lt Col. L. Verwoerd21 April 1948
22 April 1948Major. G. W. Krige MC 11 February 1951
12 February 1951Cmdt. W. S. Malan6 January 1956
7 January 1956Cmdt. F. C. de Goede6 February 1961
7 February 1961Cmdt. D. I. Moodie SM JCD 29 February 1968
22 July 1968Cmdt. J. Kruger31 July 1971
1 August 1971Cmdt. E. J. J. Nel6 June 1972
7 June 1972Cmdt. A. A. Rossouw JCD 25 March 1976
26 March 1976Cmdt. A. W. Bester SD SM MMM JCD 01 01 1900 [lower-alpha 1]
1 January 1982Cmdt. G. W. Boshoff SD SM MMM JCD 31 March 1987
1 April 1987Cmdt. D. J. Holtzhausen SM MMM JCD 2 April 1992
3 April 1992Lt Col. A. A. Duminy MMM JCD 1 April 1999
2 April 1999Lt Col. D. H. Saayman MMM JCD 1 April 2000
2 April 2000Lt Col. J. J. Visser MMM JCD 1 April 2005
2 April 2005Lt Col. S. E. Pierce18 August 2012
19 August 2012Lt Col. H. H. GertsePresent
FromRegimental Sergeants MajorTo
1934WO1 SH Joubert1938
1939WO1 SW Burger1945
1946WO1 F Ferreira1952
1952WO1 R du Toit1955
1955WO1 M Louw1956
1957WO1 IM van Rooyen1964
1965WO1 L Liebenberg1968
1969WO1 H du Toit1972
1972WO1 PF de Bruyn1983
1983WO1 MP Eagar1985
1985WO1 WP van Rhyn1992
1992WO1 DR Oosthuizen1992
1992WO1 ND van der Walt2001
2001WO1 JM Cupido2005
2005WO1 T Jordaan2005
2006WO1 A WakiesPresent

Notes

  1. ↑ Later Col. A.W. Bester SD SM MMM JCD

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References

  1. ↑ South African Army C Army/D/PLAN/406/11/2 22 July 1980
  2. ↑ "Prestigious Western Cape Unit Described" (PDF). PARATUS. Pretoria: 10–11. July 1987. Retrieved 19 January 2015. reproduced in "JPRS Report: Africa (Sub Sahara)" (PDF). Foreign Broadcast Information Service. 16 September 1987. p. 93.
  3. ↑ Hulme, J. J., Major JCD (June 1969). "Cape Colony Volunteer Units 1877-79". Military History Journal. The South African Military History Society. 1 (4). ISSN   0026-4016 . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Hulme, J. J., Major JCD (December 1972). "Cape Colonial Volunteer Corps (Part I)". Military History Journal. The South African Military History Society. 2 (4). ISSN   0026-4016 . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Hulme, J. J., Major JCD (June 1973). "Cape Colonial Volunteer Corps (Part II)". Military History Journal. The South African Military History Society. 2 (5). ISSN   0026-4016 . Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Crook, Lionel, Col (Rtd) (1994). Greenbank, Michele (ed.). 71 Motorised Brigade: a history of the headquarters 71 Motorised Brigade and of the citizen force units under its command. Brackenfell, South Africa: L. Crook in conjunction with the South African Legion. ISBN   9780620165242. OCLC   35814757.
  7. ↑ Union Defence Force Special Command Order No. 21 (M) 154/51/325/29 25 August 1940
  8. ↑ Union of South Africa Prime Minister's Office154/51/325/29 1 September 1940
  9. ↑ Union of South Africa Prime Minister's Office 154/51/325/11 17 March 1941
  10. ↑ Union of South Africa, Defence Forces Order No. 4144, 5 July 1949.
  11. ↑ South African Military History Society Cape Town Branch Newsletter, No. 328, January 1996, accessed December 2014.
  12. ↑ Regiment Westelike Provincie Dress Code R.W.P/R406/11/
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