Cape Garrison Artillery - Cape Garrison Artillery (2nd)

Cape Garrison Artillery (2nd)

South African home defences were strengthened during 1942, as a result of the threat posed by Japan. Among the new units that were formed were 50 Anti-Aircraft Battery at Saldanha Bay, 51 Anti-Aircraft Battery in Cape Town, and 52 Anti-Aircraft Battery in Simon's Town. These units were controlled by the South African Air Force until 1949, when they were transferred to the Army.

In 1951, the anti-aircraft units were transferred to the new South African Corps of Marines. When the SACM was disbanded in 1955, 50, 51 and 52 Anti-Aircraft Batteries were amalgamated to form 4 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment.

In 1960, 4 HAA was affiliated to the University of Cape Town under a new system designed to enable students to co-ordinate their studies and their military training. The regiment was renamed University of Cape Town Regiment. Although the "university regiment" system was discontinued when national service conscription was introduced in 1968, UCTR retained its name until 1974, when it was allowed to adopt the name of the former Cape Garrison Artillery.

The CGA served in the Border War in the 1970s and 1980s. Since the end of conscription in 1993, it has been a volunteer unit again, as part of the Reserve Force

Since a 2005 revival initiative, the regiment now has become active in key initiatives such as Force Preparation, Force Support and Force Training, which are some of the current main focus areas of the South African National Defence Force.

The regiment is housed in Fort Wynyard. In December 2005, the regiment began an unofficial initiative to save the Fort from further decay.

Read more about this topic:  Cape Garrison Artillery

Famous quotes containing the words cape, garrison and/or artillery:

    A solitary traveler whom we saw perambulating in the distance loomed like a giant. He appeared to walk slouchingly, as if held up from above by straps under his shoulders, as much as supported by the plain below. Men and boys would have appeared alike at a little distance, there being no object by which to measure them. Indeed, to an inlander, the Cape landscape is a constant mirage.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    Our country is the world—our countrymen are all mankind.
    —William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879)

    We now demand the light artillery of the intellect; we need the curt, the condensed, the pointed, the readily diffused—in place of the verbose, the detailed, the voluminous, the inaccessible. On the other hand, the lightness of the artillery should not degenerate into pop-gunnery—by which term we may designate the character of the greater portion of the newspaper press—their sole legitimate object being the discussion of ephemeral matters in an ephemeral manner.
    Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1845)