Sandfontein Artillery Regiment

Last updated
Lys' Volunteer Corps
Transvaal Horse Artillery Volunteers
Transvaal Horse Artillery
Sandfontein Artillery Regiment
SANDF Transvaal Horse Artillery emblem.jpg
SANDF Transvaal Horse Artillery emblem
Active17 March 1904 to present
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeReserve Artillery
Part of South African Army Artillery Formation
Army Conventional Reserve
Garrison/HQMount Collins, Kelvin, Sandton
Anniversaries17 March 1904
Equipment140mm guns
Engagements
Battle honours South West Africa 1914-1915
Website Official website [ dead link ]
Commanders
Officer CommandingMajor Richard Ngwenya
Insignia
Collar BadgeBursting grenade with seven flames
Beret ColourOxford Blue
Artillery Battery Emblems SANDF Artillery Battery emblems.jpg
Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992 SANDF Artillery Beret Bar.jpg
AbbreviationSAR

The Sandfontein Artillery Regiment (formerly the Transvaal Horse Artillery) is a reserve artillery regiment of the South African Army.

Contents

The Sandfontein Artillery Regiment is currently located in Johannesburg. The main ordnance of the regiment is the G6 self-propelled 155mm gun/howitzer. It consists of four batteries: Regimental Headquarters Battery, 7 Battery, 8 Battery and 9 Battery.

History

Origins

The Transvaal Horse Artillery was formed on 17 March 1904 as Lys' Volunteer Corps (after its first commanding officer, Major Godfrey Lys) and was a regiment dependent on horse transport from the start. [1] :60 [2] His adjutant was Brevet-Major J.W.F Lamont, Royal Field Artillery. [1] :60 Lys would resign in January 1905 and Major A. Langebrink took over command. [1] :60 The uniform was in the style of the Royal Household Artillery with the silver substituted by gold. [1] :60 Its first honorary colonel was Thomas Cullinan. [1] :60 The regiment's name was changed six months later to the Transvaal Horse Artillery Volunteers, which it retained until 1911, when the volunteers designation was dropped, to become the Transvaal Horse Artillery. [3]

In 1913, the unit was embodied in the citizen force of the new Union Defence Forces as the 7th Citizen Battery (THA). [3]

World War I

German South-West Africa Campaign

The regiment was part of the Northern Force sent to invade (the then) German South-West Africa at the outbreak World War I. It first saw action in September 1914 at Sandfontein [4] and later distinguished itself at Riet and Namutoni. [3]

Europe

Volunteers from the Transvaal Horse Artillery also later fought as part of the South African Heavy Artillery in Palestine, Egypt and Europe. [3]

Inter-war

In the inter-war period the regiment grew from a single battery to a three battery brigade; it was also mechanised by the introduction of trucks. During the 1922 Rand Rebellion the THA took part in the Battle of Brixton Bridge and in the clearing of Fordsburg.

The unit was renumbered as the 3rd Citizen Battery (THA) in 1926, and reverted to the name Transvaal Horse Artillery in 1932. On the outbreak of World War II in 1939, it became the 3rd Field Brigade (THA). [3]

Helmet Flash - Transvaal Horse Artillery (THA) - 1904 - 1939 Flash-THA-1904-1939.svg
Helmet Flash - Transvaal Horse Artillery (THA) - 1904 - 1939

World War II

During World War II, the THA first saw action against the Italians in Abyssinia.

The regiment's most memorable action during the war was during the battle of Sidi Rezegh in the Western Desert on 23 November 1941. As a part of 5 South African Infantry Brigade Group, the THA suffered considerable losses during heavy action which saw it firing over open sights at the panzers of the Afrika Korps.

After the collapse of Tobruk in June 1942, the regiment lost its headquarters unit as well as its 8th and 9th batteries, except for one troop of 8th Battery. This troop, together with the Coldstream Guards, were the only units to drive out in formation. The remaining (7th) battery of the regiment was first attached to 7 Field Regiment and took part in the fighting at El Alamein in October 1942. It subsequently joined 4/22nd Field Regiment, South African Artillery and saw action throughout the Italian Campaign. [3] [2]

Post-war

From 1960 to 1968, the THA was affiliated to the University of the Witwatersrand and was known as the Witwatersrand University Regiment . [3]

South African Border War

During the post-war period, the regiment was often mobilised with 7 South African Infantry Division's 72 Brigade, [5] to take part in South Africa's Border War. The regiment was called up in 1976 for three months active service in Angola and South West Africa and followed this up with two months in the operational area in 1979. [2] Other operations included:

Name change

In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. [6] The Transvaal Horse Artillery became the Sandfontein Artillery Regiment, and had three years to design and implement new regimental insignia. [7]

Leadership

Leadership
FromHonorary ColonelTo
FromOfficers Commanding [3] To
1980Commandant Roy Andersen [2] [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] 1985
1985Commandant Johan Van Wyk1986
1986Commandant Brent Chalmers1988
1988Commandant Ivor Rimmer1991
1991Commandant Raymond Bothé1994
1994Lt Col Mark Dabner2001
2001Major Ian McDonald2005
2005Major Albert D. Pestana2015
2015Major Johan Agenbag2017
2017Major Richard Ngwenya1 March 2024
FromRegimental Sergeants MajorTo

Freedom of Entry

The Freedom of Entry into the City of Johannesburg was bestowed on the Regiment in 1964. [3]

Current

The regiment celebrated their 110th Anniversary in 2014. [8] [2]

On 11 June 2007 the THA shared a Royal Salute alongside the Honourable Artillery Company, (HAC) at the traditional saluting base, the Tower of London, in honour of the official birthday of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort to Queen Elizabeth II. It was the first time that any non-Commonwealth troops participated in such an event in the United Kingdom. [8] [2]

On 16 December 2013 the THA had the honour of firing a 21 gun national salute for the president at the official parade to commemorate the Day of Reconciliation and also in honour of the late President Nelson Mandela at the occasion of the unveiling of this statue at the Union Buildings. [8] [2]

Regimental symbols

SADF era Transvaal Horse Artillery bullion badge SADF Transvaal Horse Artillery bullion badge.png
SADF era Transvaal Horse Artillery bullion badge
SADF era Transvaal Horse Artillery insignia SADF era Transvaal Horse Artillery insignia.jpg
SADF era Transvaal Horse Artillery insignia

Battle honours

Battle Honours
Awarded to Transvaal Horse Artillery
South West Africa 1914-1915 Embroidered.png

Alliances

Notes

  1. Later Major General
  2. General of the Gunners

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honourable Artillery Company</span> Oldest regiment of the British Army

The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is a reserve regiment in the British Army. Incorporated by royal charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII, it is the oldest regiment in the British Army and is considered the second-oldest military unit in the world. Today, it is also a charity whose purpose is to attend to the "better defence of the realm", primarily through supporting the HAC regiment. The word "artillery" in "Honourable Artillery Company" does not have the current meaning that is generally associated with it, but dates from a time when in the English language that word meant any projectile, for example arrows shot from a bow. The equivalent form of words in modern English would be either "Honourable Infantry Company" or "Honourable Military Company".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Army</span> Branch of the South African National Defence Force

The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. The Army is commanded by the Chief of the Army, who is subordinate to the Chief of the SANDF.

The 1st South African Infantry Division was an infantry division of the army of the Union of South Africa. During World War II the division served in East Africa from 1940 to 1941 and in the Western Desert Campaign from 1941 to 1942. The division was disbanded on 1 January 1943, for conversion into what would become the 6th South African Armoured Division. The division was also briefly active after the war from 1 July 1948 to 1 November 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solomon Mahlangu Regiment</span> Military unit

The Solomon Mahlangu Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Town Highlanders</span> Military unit

The Cape Town Highlanders is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Artillery Regiment</span> Military unit

The State Artillery Regiment is a reserve artillery regiment of the South African Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Mlangeni Regiment</span> South African Army reserve unit

Andrew Mlangeni Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chief Langalibalele Rifles</span> Military unit

The Chief Langalibalele Rifles is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johannesburg Light Horse Regiment</span> Reserve unit of the South African Army

The Johannesburg Light Horse Regiment, is a reserve armoured car reconnaissance unit of the South African Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nelson Mandela Artillery Regiment</span> Reserve artillery regiment of the South African Army

The Nelson Mandela Artillery Regiment is a reserve artillery regiment of the South African Army and part of the South African Army Artillery Formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment</span> Military unit

The Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment is a reserve air defence artillery regiment of the South African Army.

South Africa has a number of Traditional Regiments. These are mostly South African Army Reserve Force regiments that were established either under previous colonial governments or by the Apartheid regime and which have continued to exist by accepting the authority of the government-of-the-day - be it colonial, union, Apartheid, or fully democratic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Nottinghamshire Hussars</span> Military unit

The South Nottinghamshire Hussars is a unit of the British Army formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794. Converted to artillery in 1922, it presently forms part of 103 Regiment, Royal Artillery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st South African Infantry Brigade</span> South African Army combat formation

The South African 1st Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the army of the Union of South Africa during World Wars I and II. During World War I, the brigade served as a British formation in Egypt and on the Western Front, most famously the Battle of Delville Wood. It was reactivated at the start of the Second World War as a South African formation and served in East Africa and the Western Desert; the brigade disbanded on 1 January 1943.

A Battery, Honourable Artillery Company is a L118 light gun battery that provides a reserve to 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. Its predecessor was a horse artillery battery that was formed from Light Cavalry Squadron, HAC, in 1891. It transferred to the Territorial Force in 1908 as artillery support for the London Mounted Brigade.

B Battery, Honourable Artillery Company was a horse artillery battery that was formed from the Field Artillery, HAC in 1899. It transferred to the Territorial Force in 1908 as artillery support for the South Eastern Mounted Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7 South African Infantry Division</span> Military unit

7 South African Infantry Division was a formation of the South African Army, active from the 1960s to 1999.

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2 Locating Regiment</span> Military unit

2 Locating Regiment was an artillery regiment of the South African Artillery. The regiment provided divisional troops but was typically organized to allocate locating batteries to brigades.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Praagh, L.V. (1906). The Transvaal and Its Mines: (The Encyclopedic History of the Transvaal). London: Praagh & Lloyd.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "History of the Transvaal Horse Artillery". THA. Archived from the original on 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Orpen, Neil D. (1 January 1975). The History of the Transvaal Horse Artillery 1904 to 1974 (1st ed.). Transvaal Horse Artillery Regimental Council. ISBN   978-0620023504.
  4. Warwick, Rodney (28 October 2014). "When South Africa fought the Germans". politicsweb.co.za. PoliticsWeb. Retrieved 29 October 2014. The two Transvaal Horse Artillery guns uncoupled and swung into action; the white gunners and black auxiliaries demonstrated significant courage in fighting back from such an exposed position with ammunition being rushed across from inconveniently parked munition wagons. A German shell burst killed Battery Sergeant-Major Harris and UDF artillery casualties rose; by noon both guns were out of action.
  5. "A hundred and 10 not out for the Transvaal Horse Artillery". defenceWeb. 2014-04-29. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  6. "New Reserve Force unit names". defenceWeb. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  7. "Renaming process has resulted in an Army structure that truly represents SA". IOL. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "A hundred and 10 not out for the Transvaal Horse Artillery". defenceweb.co.za. DefenceWEb. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  9. "Affiliations" . Retrieved 31 March 2021.