SOUTH AFRICAN IRISH REGIMENT 100 TODAY

[irishhorse]

The South African Irish Regiment are celebrating the 100 anniversary of their first formation. So happy birthday to them. Unfortunately it will probably be their last under the current title. As a number of South African regiments are facing an imminent name change. Irish Scottish Transvaal etc, will be dropped from the names. This will also mean being re-badges, and the Irish Regiment losing their hackle, green trousers and black boots. As it is intended to standardize the uniform throughout the whole army.

[Alex Rice]

It will be interesting to see what the SANDF comes up with as there are a lot of famous SA regiments which could be affected. It looks like a lot of the new badges will be plastic cr*p.
Thanks for the info though.
Cheers,
Alex

[iaindh]

The last I heard was that they had asked the Regts to come up with suggestions as names with colonial links and provinces that had undergone name changes would have to change.
With the Natal regts, I'm not sure if eg the Natal Carbineers could become KwaZulu Natal Carbineers?
At the state opening of parliament, they love to parade the Cape Town Highlanders so it will be interesting if they keep the pipe band.

Watch this space!

regards, Iain

[irishhorse]

Originally Posted by iaindh

The last I heard was that they had asked the Regts to come up with suggestions as names with colonial links and provinces that had undergone name changes would have to change.
With the Natal regts, I'm not sure if eg the Natal Carbineers could become KwaZulu Natal Carbineers?
At the state opening of parliament, they love to parade the Cape Town Highlanders so it will be interesting if they keep the pipe band.

Watch this space!

regards, Iain

I think they will move away from place names. And regiments will be named after people who have played a significant role in South African military history. A number of ANC members names have been mentioned ! The South African Irish Regiment band will certainly continue at least as the association badge.

[iaindh]

You say some ANC members have been named but so few did anything in their "struggle years;" they sat in London living off donations! However.... to the victor...

The Transvaal Scottish pipe band has also operating as almost an independent unit for a while as far as I know.

Originally Posted by irishhorse

I think they will move away from place names. And regiments will be named after people who have played a significant role in South African military history. A number of ANC members names have been mentioned ! The South African Irish Regiment band will certainly continue at least as the association badge.

[Brian Conyngham]

Guys

Yes, I have heard that all Infantry regiments will have ONE badge...lovely!

Typical political moron mentality...take anything that actually works and destroy it! Cannot understand it actually, as even in Shakas army he had different regiments with different colour shields to show individual regiment identities!

Brian

[Frank Kelley]

LOL, and I thought things were bad here!

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Guys

Yes, I have heard that all Infantry regiments will have ONE badge...lovely!

Typical political moron mentality...take anything that actually works and destroy it! Cannot understand it actually, as even in Shakas army he had different regiments with different colour shields to show individual regiment identities!

Brian

[safpiper]

Originally Posted by irishhorse

The South African Irish Regiment are celebrating the 100 anniversary of their first formation. So happy birthday to them. Unfortunately it will probably be their last under the current title. As a number of South African regiments are facing an imminent name change. Irish Scottish Transvaal etc, will be dropped from the names. This will also mean being re-badges, and the Irish Regiment losing their hackle, green trousers and black boots. As it is intended to standardize the uniform throughout the whole army.

Im a Piper in the band.

[iaindh]

Would it be Simon by any chance?

Originally Posted by safpiper

Im a Piper in the band.

[irishhorse]

With the official end of the regiment's centenary year. Thought I would post this medal. Its from the Value Logistics "Ou Voetpad" (old footpath) ten mile run. The Voortrekker Monument Athletic Club, in conjunction with Tshwana University of Technology. Held a run last year celebrating the centenary of the SAIR. The old footpath was a communication path. That had linked a chain of Boer War blockhouses. And at one time been manned by the 2nd Battalion The Leinster Regiment. The medal was given to all finishers.

[Frank Kelley]

I don't understand why the regiment thinks it is one hundred years old, Colonel Brennan's lads were only around for a matter of months in GWSA before their disbandment, the regiment must claim a link with them despite only really having existed from December 1939.
Notwithstanding, they did well with the 1st South African Division, at their best at Sidi Rezegh, although, they certainly had to pay a rather high price.

[johnG]

Please tell me it is not true the kilt is to be replaced with a skirt of monkey tails.

[irishhorse]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

I don't understand why the regiment thinks it is one hundred years old, Colonel Brennan's lads were only around for a matter of months in GWSA before their disbandment, the regiment must claim a link with them despite only really having existed from December 1939.
Notwithstanding, they did well with the 1st South African Division, at their best at Sidi Rezegh, although, they certainly had to pay a rather high price.

Captain J H Geoffrey was the driving force behind the formation in 1914. And the formation in 1939, a tenuous link.The regiment certinly has not had 100 years continues service.

[craigen]

For what it is worth, the unit traces its history from the 1914 unit, indirectly through 9 SAI to deactivation in 1919 and then reactivation in 1939.

Perhaps the involvement of Maj Twomey in the formation of both the WWI and WWII units added some weight to their claims but, however strong or weak the argument, the link to 1914 seems to be officially accepted.

Regards
Craig

[irishhorse]

Originally Posted by craigen

For what it is worth, the unit traces its history from the 1914 unit, indirectly through 9 SAI to deactivation in 1919 and then reactivation in 1939.

Perhaps the involvement of Maj Twomey in the formation of both the WWI and WWII units added some weight to their claims but, however strong or weak the argument, the link to 1914 seems to be officially accepted.

Regards
Craig

The South African Irish were demobilised in July 1915. A number of men joined other units such as the 9th SAI. And 5th SAI which formed an Irish company. Both these units faught in German East Africa. But almost as many joined units destined for the West Front.