Carolina Commando Explained
Unit Name: | Carolina Commando |
Allegiance: | |
Branch: | |
Type: | Infantry |
Role: | Light Infantry |
Size: | One Battalion |
Command Structure: | South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve |
Garrison: | Carolina, South Africa |
Motto: | Altyd Getrou (Always Loyal) |
Battle Honours: | Modjadji 1890, Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, Mpefu 1898, South West Africa 1914-1915 |
Carolina Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army for the district of Carolina, South Africa. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.
History
Origin
Previously a part of the Lydenburg Commando, Carolina Commando was formed around 1859.
Operations
With the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek
During the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek the first engagements of the Carolina Commando included:[1]
- Opposing the Jameson Raid in 1896, and
- The war against Mphephu (1897–1898).
The commando was involved in the following engagements in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902):[2]
- The Battle of Modderspruit (Lombard's Kop or Farquhar's Farm) on 24 October 1899.[3] [4]
- The Battle of Platrand on 6 January 1900. The Carolina Commando attacked Ladysmith to prevent reinforcements from being sent to Platrand.
- The Battle of Spioenkop on 23–24 January 1900 where the Commando formed part of the reserve.[5]
- The Carolina and Lydenburg Commandos defended Botha's Pass (on the road between Memel and Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal) on 6 June 1900.
- The Battle of Bergendal on 21–27 August 1900.[6]
- The remaining members laid down the arms at the farm Twyfelaar in June 1902.
By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.
By 1912, however previous Commando members could join shooting associations.
By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.
With the South African Defence Force
Under the South African Defence Force (SADF), this Commando was seconded to Group 28's Command. It was utilised in the area protection role.
With the South African National Defence Force
Under the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) its Group 12 situated in Ermelo, Mpumalanga made use of the commandos at Carolina, Ermelo and Piet Retief for some borderline functions.[7]
Disbandment
This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all of them.[8] [9] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.[10]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Commandant Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo and his presentation sporting Mauser Rifle . ditsong.org.za . 4 April 2024 . Richard . Henry . DITSONG: National Museum of Military History . June 30, 2021.
- Book: MacLeod, Andrew John . The psychological impact of guerilla warfare on the boer forces during the Anglo-Boer war (PhD thesis) . PDF . Chapter V. Regional background to the guerrilla warfare . . 2024 . 4 April 2024 . 956373548.
- Boer guerrilla and British counter-guerrilla operations in South Africa, 1899 to 1902 . PDF . André . Wessels . Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies . 39 . 2 . 2011 . 4 April 2024.
- Book: Davitt, Michael . Boer Fight for Freedom . Chapter XIV - Battle Of Modderspruit . 1902 . Funk & Wagnall . New York . 902103982.
- After the Siege: The British advance and Boer retreat through Natal, March to June 1900 . The South African Military History Society / Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging . Military History Journal . 11 . 3/4 . October 1999 . Ken . Gillings . 4 April 2024 . 0026-4016.
- Web site: The Battle of Bergendal 21 AUGUST 1900… . Cecilia P. . Jooste . August 22, 2016 . 4 April 2024 . ShowMe™ Community Websites . showme.co.za.
- Web site: SANDF Control of the Northern and Eastern Border Areas of South Africa, Occasional Paper No 52 . issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com . 4 April 2024 . Ettienne . Hennop . Institute for Security Studies . August 2001.
- Web site: Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge . 5 March 2015 . 1997 . Col. L. B. van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF . Institute for Security Studies . issafrica.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160316204323/https://issafrica.org/pubs/asr/6no2/vanstade.html . 16 March 2016 .
- Web site: About the Commando system . 2008-01-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071206150052/http://www.saps.gov.za/statistics/reports/rural_safety/eng/pages/no2e.htm . saps.gov.za . 2007-12-06.
- Web site: de Lange . Deon . South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA' . Cape Argus . 4 April 2024 . subscription . Cape Town — Members of the defunct military commando system were unwilling to serve a black government and were hostile to democracy in South Africa, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota has told Parliament. During the Defence Department budget debate on Tuesday, he told MPs that former commando members were politically indoctrinated and supplied with weapons and training to spy on blacks in their areas, making this military structure wholly unsuited to the new South Africa..