Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment (formerly Regiment De Wet) is a reserve

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of 300 to 1,200 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant colonel, and subdivided into a number of companies (usually each commanded by a major or a captain). In some countries, battalions are ...

of the

South African Army The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. ...

History

Origins

Regiment de Wet was one of six Afrikaans-speaking Citizen Force regiments established as part of the expansion of the then Union Defence Force of South Africa. The regiment was named after the Orange Free State Boer War commandant, Christiaan de Wet. The regiment's headquarters was located in

Kroonstad Kroonstad (Afrikaans directly translated "Crown City") is the third largest city in the Free State (after Bloemfontein and Welkom) and lies two hours' drive on the N1 from Gauteng. Maokeng is an area within Kroonstad, and is occasionally used ...

, a large town in the Orange Free State and a vital railway junction which gave some strategic importance, and recruits were enlisted from the entire Orange Free State province.

World War 2

The Regiment was used to reinforce the ranks of

Regiment President Steyn A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

during World War two, both of which were infantry units at the time.

Reorganisation

Regiment President Steyn was converted to an armored car regiment and in 1975 to a tank regiment but Regiment de Wet remained infantry.

Incorporation

Regiment de Wet was absorbed into

Regiment Bloemspruit The Mangaung Regiment (formerly Regiment Bloemspruit) is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. History Origin In 1964, Regiment Bloemspruit with its HQ in Bloemfontein, was established on 1 January as the first Citizen Forc ...

around April 1997.

Name change

After having been raised again; in August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. Regiment De Wet became the Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.

Battle honours

The unit also served in numerous deployments in the Border War in SWA/Namibia

Freedom of the City

Freedom of Kroonstad

Leadership

Regimental emblems

Dress Insignia

Roll of Honour

References

{{SA Army Units Infantry regiments of South Africa Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War South African Army