Witwatersrand Rifles Regiment - History

History

The Witwatersrand Rifles (often familiarly known as the "Wits Rifles") was formed on 1 May 1903 by 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 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 emphasized this link.

The Regiment first saw action during the Bambata Rebellion of 1906, when it deployed a contingent to (the then) Zululand.

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

The regiment was mobilized again when World War I broke out. 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. 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. Other members of the regiment served in the Witwatersrand Rifles company of 7 South African Infantry Battalion; this unit which served in German East Africa against the forces of General von Lettow Vorbeck.

The inter-war years saw the Regiment deployed during the 1922 Rand Revolt, when rebellious South African Communist Party white miners attempted to overthrow the government of General Jan Smuts.

In the early 1930s the Regiment affiliated with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 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.

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 were amalgamated with Regiment de la Rey. This combined Regiment, nicknamed the "Royal Boere", saw extensive action in Italy as part of the South African 6th Armoured Division, particularly at Monte Caprara and Monte Stanco.

From 1970 until the first all-race democratic election in 1994, the Regiment saw action in the South African Border War in South West Africa (now Namibia) and Angola as well as on the South Africa/Botswana border and in South African townships.

During South Africa's second democratic election in 1999, the Regiment deployed 180 volunteers in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

In order to re-establish and maintain the Witwatersrand Rifles' Scottish links, the Regiment has formed an alliances with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and the King's Own Scottish Borderers.