The Bambatha Rifles (formerly the Witwatersrand Rifles) is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment 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

Origin

The Witwatersrand Rifles (often familiarly known as the "Wits Rifles or the Wit Rifles") was formed by proclamation on 1 May 1903 and absorbed the members of the Railway Pioneer Regiment and the Rand Rifles, both of which had fought on the British side during the

Second Anglo-Boer War The Second Boer War ( af, Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, , 11 October 189931 May 1902), also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics (the South ...

of 1899 – 1902. As befitted a regiment based from the gold-rich Witwatersrand region, it had a very close relationship with the mining establishment of the time; and its cap badge further emphasised this link.

Bambatha Rebellion

The regiment first saw action during the

Bambata Rebellion The Bambatha Rebellion (or the Zulu Rebellion) of 1906 was led by Bambatha kaMancinza (c. 1860–1906?), leader of the Zondi clan of the Zulu people, who lived in the Mpanza Valley (now a district near Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal) against British ...

of 1906, when it deployed a contingent to (the then) Zululand.

Absorption of the Transvaal Light Infantry

In 1907 the regiment was further strengthened when it absorbed the Transvaal Light Infantry Regiment.

World War 1

The regiment was mobilised again when World War I broke out.

German South West Africa

The first action that it took part in was the South African invasion of German South-West Africa (now Namibia). After the successful conclusion of this campaign, virtually all members volunteered for overseas service.

Western Front

Most of the volunteers were consequently assigned to the 3rd South African Infantry Battalion. (Due to the South African military law of the time, soldiers could not be forced to serve overseas, nor could existing military units be deployed there.) The most well-known action that this unit took part in was the Battle of Delville Wood in the

Somme __NOTOC__ Somme or The Somme may refer to: Places *Somme (department), a department of France *Somme, Queensland, Australia *Canal de la Somme, a canal in France *Somme (river), a river in France Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Somme'' (book), a ...

East Africa

Other members of the regiment served in the Witwatersrand Rifles company of 7th Infantry ACF, which served in

German East Africa German East Africa (GEA; german: Deutsch-Ostafrika) was a German colony in the African Great Lakes region, which included present-day Burundi, Rwanda, the Tanzania mainland, and the Kionga Triangle, a small region later incorporated into Mozam ...

against the forces of General von Lettow-Vorbeck.

Rand Revolt

The inter-war years saw the regiment deployed during the 1922 Rand Revolt, when rebellious South African Communist Party miners attempted to overthrow the government of General Jan Smuts. In the early 1930s the regiment affiliated with the

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was a rifle regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 26th Cameronian Reg ...

Regiment of the British Army. As a consequence, the Witwatersrand Rifles adopted the uniform and many of the traditions of this Scottish Lowland regiment. Despite the Cameronians' disbandment in 1968, the Wits Rifles still continues this heritage today.

World War 2

As a result of the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the regiment was expanded to two battalions. However, due to the battalions being used to supply replacements in a piecemeal fashion to depleted South African units taking part in the North African campaign, the Witwatersrand Rifles was only deployed as a coherent unit (to Egypt) in 1943. During its service in North Africa, the Witwatersrand Rifles was amalgamated with Regiment de la Rey. This combined regiment, was nicknamed the "Royal Boere" and saw extensive action in Italy as part of the

South African 6th Armoured Division The 6th South African Armoured Division was the second armoured division of the South African Army and was formed during World War II. Established in early 1943, it was based on a nucleus of men from the former 1st South African Infantry Div ...

, particularly at Monte Caprara and Monte Stanco.

Border War

From 1970 until the first all-race democratic elections in 1994, the regiment saw action in the South African Border War in

South-West Africa South West Africa ( af, Suidwes-Afrika; german: Südwestafrika; nl, Zuidwest-Afrika) was a territory under South African administration from 1915 to 1990, after which it became modern-day Namibia. It bordered Angola (Portuguese colony before 1 ...

(now Namibia) and Angola as well as on the South Africa/Botswana border and in South African townships.

Post 1994

When conscription ended in 1993, the regiment began an active recruitment drive to maintain reserve troop strength. During South Africa's second democratic election in 1999, the regiment deployed 180 volunteers in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Late in its history the Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment attracted volunteers for regular part-time training.

Scottish tradition

To maintain its Scottish links, the regiment had formed alliances with the

and the King's Own Scottish Borderers (now amalgamated into the Royal Scots Borderers). Up to the disbandment and name change, members of the regiment continued to maintain their traditional Scottish Lowland uniforms and traditions and uphold very high standards of discipline and effective military training. The regiment also had an active pipe band as well as one of the top shooting teams in the country and was ably supported by a Regimental Council, a very active Regimental Association and a Ladies Committee up to the point of the renaming process.

Peacekeeping

The Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment provided troops for internal operations in support of the South African Police Service and on the border (as part of Operation Corona) as well as for United Nations peacekeeping operations in the DRC and the Sudan.

Name Change

In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. The Witwatersrand Rifles became the Bambatha Rifles, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.

Freedom of Entry

The Regiment holds the Freedom of the Cities of Johannesburg and Germiston as well as the town of Barberton.

Commanding officers

Colonel-in-Chief

(This Honorary post officially fell away in 1961 when the Union of South Africa became a Republic) * HM Queen Elizabeth (The Queen Mother) (1947–1961) (unofficially 1947 – 2002)

Railway Pioneer Regiment

*Lt Col. J.E. Capper, RE (1899–1903) (Later Maj Gen. J.E. Capper, )

Witwatersand Rifles

1st Battalion

2nd Battalion

Regimental Symbols

*Regimental motto: "Pro Deo et Patria" (For God and Country). This motto was adopted in 1961, when the Republic of South Africa became a republic, prior to 1961 the motto was "Pro Deo et Rege et Patria" (For God, King and Country). *Regimental march: "Within a Mile O' Edinburgh Town". *Regimental anniversaries: Regimental Day (1 May), Monte Stanco Day (20 April). *Regimental Freedoms: Germiston, Johannesburg, Barberton. *Regimental badge: A

Maltese cross The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically. It is a heraldic cross variant which developed f ...

within a wreath of ten Protea flowers, with a rifle on each side of the cross. The cross was surmounted by a stringed bugle and in the centre of the cross is a mine shaft in a circlet. At the top of the wreath is the Cameronian Star and on the base of the wreath is a scroll with the inscription "Pro Deo et Patria". *Regimental headdress: Glengarry or Kilmarnoch with black hackle. *Regimental tartan: Douglas (trews).

Previous Dress Insignia

Current Dress Insignia

Honours and Affiliations

Battle honours

As a Rifle regiment, the Witwatersrand Rifles did not carry colours. Instead the honours banner was displayed on the pipes of the Pipe Major. The Witwatersrand Rifles had the following battle honours: *First World War: South West Africa 1914–1915 *Second World War: Italy 1944–45, Cassino II, Allerona, Florence, Monte Querciabella, Monte Fili, The Greve, Gothic Line, Monte Stanco, Monte Salvaro, Sole/Caprara, Po Valley, Campo Santo Bridge

Sister Regiments

* – Transvaal Scottish Regiment * – Regiment de la Rey

Alliances

* – The Royal Scots Borderers * –

References

External links

Witwatersrand Rifles Regimental History Archive
{{Greater Johannesburg South African Army Infantry regiments of South Africa Military units and formations in Germiston Military units and formations established in 1903 Military units and formations of South Africa in World War I Military units and formations of South Africa in World War II Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War