Pre WWI SA Inf Regts
 

Hi All,

I was trying to identify the pre WWI SA Infantry Regts.

What I have so far is:

1st ?
2nd Dukes
3rd Prince Alfred's Guard
4th First City
5th Kaffrarian Rifles ????
6th Cape Town Highlanders
7th Durban Light Infantry ????
8th Transvaal Scottish
9th
10th
11th
12th Pretoria Regt

Can anyone fill the gaps?

Thx Iain

1st = Durban Light Infantry
2nd = Dukes
3rd = Prince Alfred's Guard
4th = First Eastern Rifles (an amalgamation of First City and Queenstown Rifle Volunteers)
5th = Kaffrarian Rifles
6th = Cape Town Highlanders
7th
8th = Transvaal Scottish
9th = Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Cape Peninsula Rifles
10th = Witwaterrand Rifles
11th = Rand Light Infantry
12th = Pretoria Regt
13th = Kimberly Regiment

Not sure on 7th but sure to find out

Steven

1st = Durban Light Infantry
2nd = Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
3rd = Prince Alfred's Guard
4th = First City (called 'First Eastern Rifles' at that time)
5th = Kaffrarian Rifles
6th = Cape Town Highlanders
7th = Kimberley Regiment
8th = Transvaal Scottish
9th = Cape Peninsula Rifles
10th = Witwatersrand Rifles
11th = Rand Light Infantry
12th = Pretoria Regiment

Thanks, Steven, Arthur,

I should have guessed that the DLI was 1st as it does say on their badge First in Africa; I did however think it would be a Cape Regt.

Iain

Just something to add re. Kimberly Regiment. I had them down as No. 13 but they are in fact No. 7 as Arthur has them. They were 13 for a very short period and then changed to 7.

Regards
Steven

Steven,

thanks for the further info.

I also didnt realise that the Eastern Rifles were the forerunners of the First City Regt.

Iain

Hi Iain
The amalgamation of FC and QRV in 1913 was known as First Eastern Rifles. There was of course a First City before this fo FC predates FER.

Steven

Hi Steven,

Owen's has the Southern Mounted Rifles as being formed by the amalgamation of the ER and WR, but then he says the same of the Northern Mounted Rifles?

Iain

Iain, these are all Transvaal volunteer units pre 1913 that you list:

ER - 1905 -1907
EMR - 1907 - 1908
WR - 1902 - 1907
WMR - 1907 - 1908
SMR - 1908 - 1913

NR - 1903 -1907
NMR - 1907 - 1913

There is a good article on the Transvaal volunteers in an old copy of Militaria.
If memory serves, ER became EMR abd WR became WMR and these two amalgamated in 1908 to form SMR.

Steven

Hi Steven,

I find this period of SA Military to be a little sketchy and difficult to find information on.

but thanks, Iain

Iain
Try this link to find more info on Transvaal Volunteers period 1902-1913. You will need to download the pdf document and it is quite big 65meg but some good information. Partial Afrikaans and English text.

http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac...e/view/942/972

Steven

Many thanks Steven

Hello Iain,
As Stephen says the Kimberley Regiment was the 7th and you see this on the reverse of their 1914-15 Star, for the GWSA campaign.
I actually like the Kimberley Regt, do you collect them as well?
Regards Frank

Hi Frank,

yes I do, but as yet I dont have that many. The older stuff hardly comes up at all.

regards, Iain

Oh Iain,
I like the Kimberley Regiment and both the Kimberley and Victoria Rifles.
The Kimberley Regt had some of their officers badges made by Hobson and Sons, they were superb!:)
Kind regards Frank