Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment - Commanding Officers

Commanding Officers

RAILWAY PIONEER REGIMENT

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

WITWATERSRAND RIFLES

• Lt Col. J.G. Hamilton, MVO (1903–1905) (Later Hon. Col.)
• Lt Col. T.J. Macfarlane, CMG (1906–1908)
• Lt Col. R.W. Schumacher - Ffennell (1908–1909) (Later Hon. Col.)
• Lt Col. C.B. Saner (1909–1912)
• Lt Col. J.W. Smyth, VD (1912–1919)
• Lt Col. S.B. Schlam (1919–1923)
• Lt Col. R. Dukoff - Gordon, VD (1923–1928)
• Lt Col. W.C.M. Howarth, VD (1928–1931)
• Lt Col. W. Crewe - Brown, VD (1931–1936) & (29.4.1942 - 9.8.1942)
• Lt Col. L.F. Sprenger, DSO, MC, VD (1936–1939)
• Lt Col. W. James, ED (1939–1942) & (10.2.1943 - 5.7.1943)
• Lt Col. H.C. Sumner, MC, MM, VD (9.8.1942 - 20.2.1943)
• Lt Col. W.A.D. Cherrington, VD (2 Bn) (1940–1941) (Later Col. W.A.D. Cherrington, VD)
• Lt Col. J.B. Bester, DSO & Bar (1943–1945) (Later Brig. J.B. Bester, DSO & Bar and Hon Col)
• Lt Col. W.R. Van Der Riet, MC (1945–1946) (Later Lt Gen. W.R. Van Der Riet, SSA, SM, MC and Hon Col.)
• Lt Col. G.M. St.L. Daines, ED (1946–1951)
• Cmdt. C.J.R. Nicholls, ED (1951–1956)
• Cmdt. E.C. Harris, ED (1956–1962)
• Cmdt. C.L. Pitt, JCD (1962–1965)
• Cmdt. R.C. Gradige (1965–1968)
• Cmdt. C.J. Derby - Lewis (1968–1973) (Acting OC: 1967–1968)
• Cmdt. D.C. Fletcher, SM, JCD (1973–1981)
• Cmdt. (Dr.) J.L. Job, SM, MMM, JCD (1981–1986) (Later Hon. Col.)
• Cmdt. A.E. Dixon - Seager, MMM, JCD (1986–1989)
• Lt Col. K.J. Townsend, SM, MMM, JCD (1989–1997)
• Lt Col. E.L. Carton - Barber, JCD (1997–2002) (Later Col. E.L. Carton - Barber, JCD)
• Lt Col. C.E. Casey, JCD (2002–2005)
• Lt Col. M.F. Robberts (2005–2007)
• Lt Col. C. Valentine (2007 - )

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)

Honorary Colonels

• Col. Sir, L. Phillips - Bart, VD, (MLA) (1908–1937)
• Col. R.W. Schumacher - Ffennel (1909–1923)
• Col. J.G. Hamilton, MVO (1910)
• Col. The Hon. C.F. Stallard, DSO, MC & Bar, ED, QC (MP) (1937–1971)
• Brig. J.B. Bester, DSO & Bar (1972–1985)
• Lt Gen. W.R. Van Der Riet, SSA, SM, MC (1985–1988)
• Maj Gen. W.N.A. Barends, SM, MC & Bar (1989–2002)
• Col. (Dr.) J.L. Job, SM, MMM, JCD (2002 - )