Natal Mounted Rifles

Active

1854–Present

Country

South Africa

Allegiance

Branch

Type

Armour

Role

Armour / Tank and Mechanised Infantry Regiment

Size

Regiment

Part of

South African Armoured Corps
Army Conventional Reserve

Garrison/HQ

Durban

Motto(s)

Rough but Ready

Anniversaries

Regimental Birthday - 23 March each year.

Equipment

Marmon Herrington Mk1V / Ferret armoured cars / Olifant mk1 A and B tanks

Battle honours

Battle Honours
Awarded
South Africa 1879
South Africa 1899-1902
Defence of Ladysmith
Natal 1906
South West Africa 1914 - 1915
Gibeon
East Africa 1940-41
Dadaba
Western Desert 1941-43
Gazala

Paliano

Best Post
Alamein Defence
El Alamein
Italy 1944-45
The Tiber
Celleno
Florence
The Greve
Gothic Line
Po Valley

South West Africa/Angola 1975-1976

Website

www.saarmour.co.za

Commanders

Current
commander

Lt Col M.J. Rowe

Colonel of
the Regiment

Lt Col M.J. Rowe

Insignia

Beret Colour

Black

Armour Squadron emblems

Armour beret bar circa 1992

The Natal Mounted Rifles is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit. It is part of the South African Army Armour Formation and is based in the city of Durban.

History

Origin

The original and accepted "Parent / Unit" of the Natal Mounted Rifles is the "Royal D'Urban Rangers" which was formed at a meeting of the public in the town of Durban, at "Boltbee's Hotel" on 23 March 1854. Other ante-cedant Units that were then subsequently amalgamated into the NMR since 1854 are as follows:

1854–1869: Royal D'Urban Rangers
1888–1869: Victoria Mounted Rifles
1875–1887: Stanger Mounted Rifles
1865–1888: Alexander Mounted Rifles
1878–1879: Isipingo Mounted Rifles
1873–1888: Durban Mounted Rifles
1884–1888: Umzimkulu Mounted Rifles

Timeline events

1888: Units amalgamated into a new unit known as the Natal Mounted Rifles
1894: The NMR was split into two units, namely the Border Mounted Rifles and the Natal Mounted Rifles
1913: Just prior to World War I the BMR and NMR once more amalgamated and became the 3rd Mounted Rifles (N.M.R.)
1925: The East Griqualanad Mounted Rifles amalgamated into the NMR
1932: Another name change, to the Natal Mounted Rifles
1940: At South Africa's entry to World War II, the NMR was re-formed into two units, namely: The 1st BN (V) N.M.R. and the 2nd BN (V) N.M.R.
1945: The two units amalgamated once more, into the Natal Mounted Rifles,and has remained such to this day

Formation

In May 1868 the Regimental Committee of the Durban Mounted Rifles, presided over by Captain WH Addison, held a meeting to discuss the forming of the Natal Mounted Rifles. The formation of the regiment would entail the amalgamation of four Volunteer Units; Royal D’urban Rangers (1854), Victoria Mounted Rifles (1862), Alexander Mounted Rifles (1865) and Durban Mounted Rifles(1873).^[1]

Anglo Boer War

The regiment was re-activated in Durban during February and March 1901 for service in the South African War. It was originally called the 2nd Natal Volunteer Composite Regiment but the name was soon changed to Natal Mounted Infantry. The unit was armed and equipped by the Natal Volunteer Department and horsed by the Imperial Remount Department. The first depot was at Dundee, but, on the unit changing its name, this was transferred to Newcastle.^[2]

World War I

At the outbreak of WW1, the regiment became the 3rd Mounted Rifles and was attached to the 8th Mounted Brigade with the Central Force in the German South West African Campaign.

World War II

On 1 July 1913 the Regiment was re-amalgamated with the Border Mounted Rifles, renamed the 3rd Mounted Rifles (Natal Mounted Rifles) and transferred to the Active Citizen Force of the Union Defence Force. In 1932 the Regiment's name was simplified to The Natal Mounted Rifles and in 1934 it was converted to infantry.

In addition to the campaigns in which its various constituent units fought in before the Regiment's formation, the Natal Mounted Rifles served in the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), the Zulu Rebellion (1906–1907), World War I (specifically in South-West Africa from 1914 to 1915), World War II (See 1st SA Infantry Division and South Africa's post-war internal conflicts and the South African Border War).^[3]

Post World War II

Border War

Main article: South African Border War

SADF 8th Armoured Division Natal Mounted Rifles Flash

Post 1994

Since the 1994 Democratic Elections, the NMR has undergone several training exercises and continues to recruit members into its ranks. It boasts a Regimental Pipe Band and is affiliated to the 3rd King’s Own Hussars.

Regimental

Symbols

NMR Badge Plaque

Regimental mottos:

1888–1913: Just and frank
1913 – Present: Rough but ready

Alliances

United Kingdom - affiliated 9 April 1930 to The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish)
Glenwood Boys High School affiliated to NMR on 17 February 1936
South African School of Armour affiliated to NMR on 21 March 1997
Durban Metro Police Equestrian Unit affiliated to NMR on 25 March 2000
South African Air Force No.15 (Helicopter) Squadron, Durban, affiliated to NMR

Battle honours

South Africa 1879
South Africa 1899-1902
- Defence of Ladysmith
Natal 1906
South-West Africa 1914-1915
- Gibeon
East Africa 1940-1941
- Dadaba
Western Desert 1941-1943 (See 1st SA Infantry Division)
Gazala
Springbok Road
Paliano
Bir Temrad
- Best Post
- Alamein Defence
- El Alamein
Italy 1944-1945
- The Tiber
- Celleno
- Florence
- The Greve
- Gothic Line
- Po Valley
El Yibo (The first action of the NMR in World War II 16-18 January 1940)
South African Border War 1975-1976

Leadership

Natal Mounted Rifles Leadership
From	Honourary Colonels	To
n.d.	unknown	Present
From	Commanding Officers	To
n.d.	Lt Col Mike Rowe	Present
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To
n.d.	MWO Bobby Freeman	Present

Notes

References

↑ "Ladysmith History and the Boer War". Natal Mounted Rifles. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
↑ "South African Units". Natal Mounted Infantry. Retrieved 18 October 2010.
↑ http://www.saarmourassociation.co.za/natal-mounted-rifles.aspx

South African Army Units

Department of Defence, South African National Defence Force, South African Army

Divisions and Brigades

Brigades	43 South African Brigade 44 Parachute Brigade 46 South African Brigade

Armoured Formation (SAAAF)

Training	School of Armour

Tank	Regular 1 South African Tank Regiment Reserve Pretoria Regiment Natal Mounted Rifles Regiment President Steyn

Armoured Car	Regular 1 Special Service Battalion Reserve Umvoti Mounted Rifles Regiment Oranjerivier Regiment Mooirivier Light Horse Regiment

Infantry Formation (SAAIF)

Training	South African Infantry School

Parachute Infantry	Regular 44 Para 1 Para 44 Pathfinders 13 Signal Squadron 18 Light Regiment 44 Medical Task Group 101 Air Supply Unit SAOSC 44 Training Wing Parachute Packing Wing Reserve 2 Para 3 Para

Air Assault Infantry	Regular 6 SAI Reserve First City Regiment Prince Alfred's Guard

Seaborne Infantry	Regular 9 SAI Reserve Cape Town Rifles ("Duke's")

Light Infantry	Regular 21 SAI Reserve Rand Light Infantry Regiment Oos Rand Regiment Paul Kruger

Mechanised Infantry	Regular 1 SAI 8 SAI Reserve Regiment De La Rey Regiment Northern Transvaal Cape Town Highlanders Regiment Western Province Witwatersrand Rifles

Motorised Infantry	Regular 2 SAI 4 SAI 5 SAI 7 SAI 10 SAI 14 SAI 15 SAI 121 SAI Reserve Regiment Botha Regiment Christiaan Beyers Johannesburg Regiment South African Irish Transvaal Scottish Tshwane Regiment Buffalo Volunteer Regiment Durban Regiment Durban Light Infantry Kimberly Regiment Natal Carbineers Regiment Bloemspruit Regiment Piet Retief

Artillery Formation

Training	School of Artillery (South Africa)

Regular	HQ Artillery Mobilisation Regiment 4 Artillery Regiment

Reserve	Cape Field Artillery Natal Field Artillery Transvaal Horse Artillery Regiment Potchefstroom Universiteit Transvaalse Staatsartillerie Vrystaatse Artillerie Regiment Pretoria Highlanders 18 Light Regiment

Air Defence Artillery Formation

Training	School of Air Defence Artillery (South Africa)

Regular	HQ 6 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment 44 Parachute Anti-Aircraft Regiment

Reserve	Cape Garrison Artillery Regiment Vaalriver Regiment Oos Transvaal 7 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (1969–97) Regiment Overvaal

Engineer Formation

Training	South African Army Engineer School

Regular	HQ 2 Field Engineer Regiment 35 Engineer Support Regiment 1 Construction Regiment Engineer Terrain Intelligence Unit

Reserve	3 Field Engineer Regiment 19 Field Engineer Regiment 44 Parachute Engineer Regiment

Training Formation

3 SAI (Training Depot)
SAACTC
Army Gymnasium
Army College
de Brug Training Area
Wallmannsthal Training Area

Support Formation

Army Support Bases (Eastern Cape, Johannesburg, Kimberley, KZN, Limpopo, Potcheftstroom, Western Cape, Mpumalanga)
Mobilisation Centre
Main Ordnance Depot
National Ceremonial Guard
15 Maint Unit
Other Maintenance Units
37 Field Workshop SAOSC
Other Field Workshops

Signals Formation

Regular	1 Sig Regt 2 Sig Regt 3 Sig Regt 4 Sig Regt 5 Sig Regt

Reserve	6 Signal Regt 7 Signal Group 11 Field Postal Unit 71 Signals Unit 84 Sigs Unit

Disbanded Units

Commands	Eastern Province Command (Port Elizabeth) Natal Command Northern Transvaal Command Northern Cape Command Orange Free State Command (Bloemfontein) Western Province Command (Cape Town) West Transvaal Command Witwatersrand Command (Johannesburg) Far North Command

Corps	I South African Corps Cape Corps

Divisions	1st South African Infantry Division 2nd South African Division 6th South African Armoured Division 7th South African Infantry Division 8th South African Armoured Division 9th South African Division 10 South African Division (Operation Prone)

Brigades	16 Brigade (see 81 Armoured Brigade) 17 Brigade (see 71 Motorised Brigade) 18 Brigade (see 72 Motorised Brigade) 19 Brigade (see 82 Mechanised Brigade) 20 Brigade 60 Brigade (Battlegroups HQ Lohatla) 71 Motorised Brigade 72 Motorised Brigade 73 Motorised Brigade 74 Brigade (see 8th Armoured Division) 75 Brigade (see 9th Division) 81 Armoured Brigade 82 Mechanised Brigade 83 Brigade (planned but never existed) 84 Motorised Brigade 10 Artillery Brigade Other brigades

Battlegroups	Combat Group Juliet 61 Mech 62 Mech 63 Mech

Regiments	Regiment Algoa Bay Regiment Congella Regiment Dan Pienaar Regiment De Wet Regiment Groot Karoo Regiment Highveld Regiment Hillcrest Regiment Langenhoven Regiment Louw Wepener/Oos Vrystaat Regiment Molopo Regiment North Natal Regiment Port Natal Regiment Pretorius Regiment Springs Regiment Skoonspruit Regiment University of Cape Town Regiment University of the Free State Regiment University of Potchefstroom Regiment University of Pretoria Regiment University of Stellenbosch Regiment Vanderbiljpark Regiment Vrystaat 5 Forward Air Delivery Squadron 6 Field Artillery Regiment 7 Medium Artillery Regiment 10 Armoured Squadron 14 Field Artillery Regiment 19 Rocket Regiment 25 Field Artillery 26 Field Artillery SA Army Troop Information Unit

Battalions	32 Battalion SSB 2 Special Service Battalion 11 SAI 12 SAI 13 SAI 111 Battalion 112 Battalion 113 Battalion 115 Battalion 116 Battalion 117 Battalion 121 Battalion 151 Battalion

Military Areas	Walvis Bay Military Area Soutpansberg Military Area

Commando System	South African Commando System

State Presidents Guard	State Presidents Guard

SWATF	Regular Infantry Battalions 31/201 Battalion 33/701 Battalion 34/202 Battalion 35/101 Battalion 301 Battalion 36/203 Battalion 37/102 Battalion 41/911 Battalion/Regiment Windhoek 912 Battalion/Regiment Erongo 913 Battalion/Regiment Namutoni Modular Infantry Battalions 51 Battalion 52 Battalion 53 Battalion 54 Battalion 55 Battalion SWATF Brigade 91 Reaction Force Brigade Support Structures Logistics Brigade SWA Mil School Special Forces 1 SWA Specialist Unit 2 SWA Specialist Unit 1 SWA Parachute Battalion Air Component 1 SWA Commando Squadron

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