Middelburg Commando

Middelburg 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.

Middelburg Commando
Middelburg Commando emblem
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQMiddelburg

History

Origin

The Middelburg Commando can probably trace its origins to the Middelburg Vrywilligers(Volunteers) of 1876.

Boer Bagananwa War

During the period of 1894-95, the Middleburg commando was involved in the siege of Leboho as a result of the government introducing a hut tax on people living in their suzerainty. Kgosi Maleboho and the Bahananwa refused to pay taxes and three commandos were sent to subdue them, besieging their mountain fortress.[1]

Anglo Boer War

During the Anglo Boer War, the Middelburg Commando was engaged against the British at the Battle of Thukela Heights on 13 to 28 February 1900 and the Battle of Bergendal on 21 August 1900.[2][3]

With the Union Defence Force

Closed down by the British following the Anglo Boer War, it then existed as a Rifle Association in the early 1920s until the formal establishment as a Rifle Commando around 1949.[4][5]

With the SADF

During this era, the unit was mainly used for area force protection, search and cordones as well as stock theft control assistance to the rural police. The unit was part of the Danie Theron Group of the NT Command. It was then placed under the command of Group 12 HQ at Ermelo.

Disbandment

This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[6][7] 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.[8]

Unit insignia
SADF era Middelburg Commando Insignia

Leadership
  • Kommandant W.J. Steyn 1899-1902
  • Kommandant Piet Trichaardt 1900 at the Battle of Thukela Heights

See also

References
  1. "The Siege of Leboho".
  2. "Anglo Boer War - Middelburg Commando".
  3. "5. New Memorial plaque - Middelburg Commando Anglo Boer War 1899-1902".
  4. "Middelburg Commando - First World War Casualties".
  5. "The South Africa War Graves Project - Search Results".
  6. Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  8. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.