Rand Light Infantry

Rand Light Infantry
Rand Light Infantry
	SANDF Rand Light Infantry 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
Part of	South African Infantry Formation ; Army Conventional Reserve
Motto(s)	Vincit qui patitur; (He conquers who endures)
March	Quick: One and All and Trelawney; Slow: Duke of York/Preobajensky ; Double Time: Keel Row
Engagements	World War I ; World War II ; South African Border War ;
Battle honours	South West Africa 1914-1915; Western Desert 1941-43; Bardia; Gazala; El Alamein; Alamein Defence;
Website	http://1rli.wordpress.com/
Commanders
Current; commander	Lt Col John Mellitchey
Insignia
Company level Insignia
SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992	SA Motorised Infantry beret bar

Last updated February 15, 2024

The Rand Light Infantry (RLI) 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 unit or United States Army National Guard unit.

History

Origin

The history of this regiment dates back to the Transvaal Cycle Corps, which was formed in Johannesburg on 1 October 1905 from the Bicycle Section of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment.^[1] A small section of this unit subsequently took part in the suppression of the Bambata Rebellion in Zululand.^[2]^[3]

After its return from this conflict the unit recognised the possibilities of mechanisation and members of the regiment manufactured three armoured cars, creating a motorised fighting unit.^[3] This led to the renaming of the unit in 1909 to the Transvaal Cycle and Motor Corps.^[2]

On 1 July 1913 the regiment was renamed the 11th Infantry (Rand Light Infantry) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force.^[3] Simultaneously, the unit was converted to a normal infantry regiment. The regiment's Pretoria detachment was transferred to the 12th Infantry (Pretoria Regiment).^[2]

World War One

During World War I the regiment took part in the South-West Africa, suffering light casualties – only two dead and eleven wounded.^[2]

In 1932 the regiment was renamed the Rand Light Infantry.^[2]^[3]

World War Two

The RLI was mobilized for World War II in June 1940 and gained fame in North Africa where it took part in many front line engagements and earned battle honours at Bardia, Gazala and El Alamein. (See 1st SA Infantry Division) After the defeat of Rommel’s Afrika Korps, the RLI returned to South Africa and was merged with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles. The remaining members of the regiment were trained in armour, and sent as reinforcements to the South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy.^[2]^[3]

Border War

The regiment took part in the South African Border War.^[4]

Freedom of Entry

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

Regimental Symbols

Regimental motto: Vincit qui patitur (He conquers who endures)^[3]
The RLI were allied to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1932. This alliance later fell into abeyance but was resurrected in April 1995, when the regiment became allied with The Light Infantry Regiment^[3]^: 22
Regimental March: One and All and Trelawney.
Regimental slow march: Duke of York and Preobajensky March.
Regimental double march: Keel Row.

Previous Dress Insignia

Current Dress Insignia

Alliances

United Kingdom – The Rifles

Battle honours

The RLI has been awarded the following Battle Honours:^[3]^: 21 South West Africa 1914-1915, Western Desert 1941 – 1943, Bardia, Gazala, El Alamein, Alamein Defence

Battle Honours
Awarded to Rand Light Infantry

Leadership

Leadership
From	Colonels in Chief^[3]^: 40	To
1906	Field Marshall, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Connaught KG KT GCSI GCMG GCIE GCVO	1942
1947	Her Royal Highness, The Princess Margaret	14 February 2024
From	Honorary Colonels^[3]^: 41	To
1910	Col Sir William van Hulsteyn KT VD	1939
1940	Col A.D. Viney	1968
1971	Col G.B. Brown JCD MC	1991
1992	Col J.D.Vos SM JCD	2012-->
From	Commanding Officers^[3]^: 42	To
1905	Lt Col H.A. Woolf	1909
1909	Lt Col G.H. Hamilton-Dickson MVO	1912
1912	Lt Col J.M. Fairweather DSO	1915
1915	Lt Col W.J. Thompson DSO VD Croix de Guerre	1920
1920	Lt Col J.H. Blaney DSO DCM	1922
1923	Lt Col W.A. Abbott VD	1925
1925	Lt Col W.A.D. Cherrington VD	1927
1927	Lt Col H.E. Jackson DCM VD	1931
1931	Lt Col W.J. Endean MC	1932
1932	Lt Col A.A. Hayton DSO VD	1937
1937	Col J.O. Henrey MBE VD	1942
1942	Lt Col A.C. Thomas	1943
1944	Amalgamated with CTR	1945
1946	Lt Col C.D. Hancock ED	1950
1950	Cmdt W.P.F. Clark ED	1955
1955	Cmdt G.B. Brown JCD MC	1962
1963	Cmdt R.S. Munton JCD MM	1966
1967	Cmdt B.G. Simpkins JCD with 30 Yr Clasp MM	1969
1969	Cmdt J.D. Vos SM JCD	1975
1975	Cmdt A.B. Dalgleish JCD	1977
1977	Cmdt J.M. Smuts JCD	1980
1981	Cmdt C.E. Story JCD	1983
1983	Cmdt Kevin G.E. Mulligan	1989
1990	Cmdt B Durham	1991
1992	Lt Col S.J.Vos MMM JCD	2002
2003	Lt Col Haydon Goument JCD	2005
2005	Lt Col John Mellitchey DWD	2016
From	Regimental Sergeants Major^[3]^: 42–43	To
1906	RSM E. Evans	1910
1911	H.A.E. Hall	1914
1914	S. Piggott	1917
1918	A.H. Miller	1923
1924	J.S. Porter	1925
1925	D. Suttie	1925
1925	R.G.B. Heydenrych	1928
1929	H.R. Lahner	1942
1942	G. Trobridge	1943
1944	Amalgamated with CTR	1945
1946	G.C. Webb	1947
1948	V. Dove	1951
1952	D.N. Rathbone	1962
1963	E.L. Hansen	1964
1964	WO1 J.H. Honey	1967
1968	WO1 J.L. Keene PMM JCD	1979
1980	WO1 S. Rogoff JCD	1984
1985	WO1 N.P. Wegener	1989.
1990	WO1 PHR Wells MMM JCD	2008

Related Research Articles

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.

The South African 2nd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the army of the Union of South Africa during World War II. The division was formed on 23 October 1940 and served in the Western Desert Campaign and was captured by German and Italian forces at Tobruk on 21 June 1942. The remaining brigade was re-allocated to the South African 1st Infantry Division.

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

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

The Bambatha Rifles is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army.

The Rifles is an infantry regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of four Regular battalions and three Reserve battalions. Each Regular battalion of The Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light Division. Since formation, the regiment has been involved in combat operations in the later stages of the Iraq War and in the War in Afghanistan.

The Durban Light Infantry is a Motorised Infantry regiment of the South African Army. It lost its status as a Mechanised infantry regiment in 2010 in line with the rationalisation of resources. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

The South African Army Infantry Formation supervises all infantry within 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.

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

The Pretoria Armour Regiment is a reserve armoured regiment of the South African Army.

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

The General Jan Smuts Regiment is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army.

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

The Queen Nandi Mounted Rifles is an reserve armoured regiment of the South African Army.

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

Regiment Groot Karoo was an infantry battalion of the South African Army. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">81 Armoured Brigade (South Africa)</span> Military unit

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

References

↑ D. J. Potgieter, M. A. (1973). Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa. Internet Archive. Cape Town. p. 240.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rand Light Infantry" (pdf). rfdiv.mil.za. Reserve Force Division, SANDF. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Mulligan, Commandant K.G.E. (1986). RLI Guide for Officers. Johannesburg: Rand Light Infantry.
↑ Mulligan, Kevin (March 2009). Carry On Regardless. Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920169-87-9. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.

External links

"RLI Webpage".
RLI Roll of Honour Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
"Rand Light Infantry Blog".
"RLI Facebook group". FaceBook.
"British Army". UK Ministry of Defence.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[Stan01-1] D. J. Potgieter, M. A. (1973). Standard Encyclopedia of Southern Africa. Internet Archive. Cape Town. p. 240.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[rfdiv-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Rand Light Infantry" (pdf). rfdiv.mil.za. Reserve Force Division, SANDF. Retrieved 23 October 2014.

[GuideOff-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Mulligan, Commandant K.G.E. (1986). RLI Guide for Officers. Johannesburg: Rand Light Infantry.

[4] Mulligan, Kevin (March 2009). Carry On Regardless. Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920169-87-9. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]