Hillcrest Commando

Hillcrest Commando Regiment
Hillcrest Commando Regiment
	Hillcrest Commando Regiment emblem
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Republic of South Africa ; Republic of South Africa ;
Branch	South African Army ; South African Army ;
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps ; Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Hillcrest, Gauteng
Motto(s)	"Vincit Virtus" (English: Excellence prevails)
Commanders
Last OC	Lt Col Brenton Geach

Last updated December 06, 2021

Hillcrest 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. Hillcrest was a Commando from 1962 to 1983 and was the first English commando in Pretoria. Hillcrest was however a Regiment from 1983 to 2003.

Origin

Hillcrest's two tailed lion

Hillcrest was an exclusive English speaking unit, but on the Minister of Defense's persistence that they should speak both official languages it was decided to " instead of one tail, our lion will have two tails as the Minister insisted". This is a play on words as the Afrikaans word for languages is Tale.

Operations

With the SADF

Area of Responsibility

As a commando, Hillcrest deployed as far north as Rhodesia.

Commando to Regiment

Hillcrest became a Regiment in 1983 whereafter it did border camps in the Far North Command.

Hillcrest was assigned to Group 29 at Ellisras and to the Soutpansberg Military Area near Messina as part of 73 Brigade and as part of Far North Command Pietersburg

In March 1994, the Regiment supplied platoons to assist the SADF in resolving the AWB/Bophuthatswana civil unrest.

In April 1994, the Regiment called up 3 companies for duty in the East Rand and Johannesburg after the 29 March Shell House massacre.

With the SANDF

The Regiment was part of the first National Defence Force parade held in Pietersburg on 11 November 1994.

Amalgamation into Tshwane Regiment

In December 2002, Regiment Hillcrest with other structures in the Greater Pretoria area was amalgamated into the new Tshwane Regiment.

Leadership

1962: Cmdt M. Malone
1984: Cmdt W. Louw
Last OC: Lt Col Brenton Geach
1994: RSM Tertius Zitzke

Dress Insignia

SADF era Hillcrest Regiment Insignia SADF era Hillcrest Regiment Insignia.jpg — SADF era Hillcrest Regiment Insignia

SADF Regiment Hillcrest commemorative letter SADF Regiment Hillcrest commemorative letter.jpg — SADF Regiment Hillcrest commemorative letter

Related Research Articles

The South African Army is the ground warfare branch of South African National Defence Force. Its roots can be traced to its formation 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 both World War I and 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.

The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within the South African Army.

The Job Masego Regiment is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army.

Northern Transvaal Command was a command of the South African Army. It was active from 1959 to mid 2000 when it was disestablished. Formerly it was named Northern Command from 1946 to 1959.

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

Griqualand East 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.

Hercules 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.

Wemmerpan 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.

Weenen-Kliprivier 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.

Umkomaas 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.

Schanskop 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.

Sandton 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.

Johannesburg East 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.

Magol 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.

Midmar 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.

Munitoria 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.

Pietersburg 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.

Tshwane Regiment is an 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.

81 Armoured Brigade was a Formation of 8th Armoured Division, a combined arms force consisting of armour, mechanised infantry, and mechanised artillery.