Winburg Commando

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Winburg Commando
SADF era Winburg Commando emblem.jpg
Winburg Commando emblem
Active1899 - 2003
Country South Africa
Allegiance
  • Orange Free State Orange Free State Republic
  • South Africa Flag 1910-1912.svg Union of South Africa
  •  Republic of South Africa
  •  Republic of South Africa
Branch
  •  South African Army
  •  South African Army
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQWinburg, Free State

Winburg 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.

History[]

Origin[]

With the Orange Free State Republic[]

In October 1899, of the Free State ordered his commandants to muster all able bodied burgers in anticipation of war with the British.

was elected as commandant of Winburg.

On 9 October he occupied positions at Platberg. He was subsequently elected Chief Commandant of the Free State and thus Helgard Theunissen was placed in command of this commando.

Note:The Boer General Koos de la Rey was born in the district of Winburg on the farm Doornfontein.

A sub commando of Winburg from Senekal began operating independently. Together these and other commandos invaded Natal in the upper Tugela region.

(Transfer to the Western Front and the Battle of Paardeberg) The Winburg Commando was withdrawn from the Natal Front on 14 February 1900 and rushed to the Kimberly area to assist General Piet Cronje.

500 boers from Heidelberg and Winburg Commandos attacked a koppie held by the Yorkshire Regiment and East Kent Regiment.

The boer forces was using this area as an escape route. Kommandant Helgaard Theunissen with 87 Winburgers held their ground until the main boer forces reached safety and after a few hours surrendered to the British. At least 15 Winburgers were killed in this operation.[1]

Under the UDF[]

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.

UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab

Under the SADF[]

The majority of the commandos operations in this era was local area protection.

Under the SANDF[]

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.[2][3] 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.[4]

Unit Insignia[]

Leadership[]

Leadership
From Honorary Colonels To
From Commanding Officers To
From Regimental Sergeants Major To
  • Commandant Marthinus Prinsloo 1899
  • Commandant Helgard Theunissen 1899

References[]

  1. ^ https://kimberly.org.za/today-in-kimberleys-history
  2. ^ Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Retrieved 5 March 2015.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  4. ^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also[]

  • South African Commando System


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