Harrismith Commando

Harrismith Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

Harrismith Commando
Harrismith Commando emblem
Active1899-2008
Disbanded2008
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeInfantry
RoleLight Infantry
SizeOne Battalion
Part ofSouth African Infantry Corps
Army Territorial Reserve, Group 25
Garrison/HQHarrismith

History

Origin

This unit originated upon the mobilisation orders of the Orange Free State Republic in 1899.

Operations

With the Free State Republic
Anglo Boer War

This commando was initially sent to occupy mountain passes of the Drakensberg between the Orange Free State and the British Colony of Natal. English speakers of Harrismith were sent to the Oliviershoek Pass or serve in the Town Guard.

The first engagement of the war was at Besters Station with an advance on Ladysmith when this commando occupied Middle Hill. 100 men from the commando were part of the initial assault.

The first Free Stater to die in the Anglo Boer War, Fred Johnson, came from this commando.[1]

This Commando was also involved in the battle of Rietfontein which[2] took place on 24 October 1899 between six commandos of the Free State Army commanded by General A Piet Cronje and a British Flying Column dispatched from Ladysmith under the command of Sir George White.[3][4][5]

The Free State forces consisted of the following commandos:

In 1900, the commando together with those from Vrede and Heilbron were again assigned the defence of the mountain passes.

The remnants of the Harrismith Commando was captured in a sweep operation between block house lines by a British column on 13 February 1902.[6]

With the UDF

By 1902 all Commando remnants were under British military control and disarmed.

By 1912, previous Commando members could however join shooting associations.

By 1940, such commandos were under control of the National Reserve of Volunteers.

These commandos were formally reactivated by 1948.

UDF era National Reserve of Volunteers shoulder tab

With the SADF

During this era, the unit was mainly used for rural area force protection, police assistance and stock theft control. The unit was also engaged in securing the Lesotho border.

The unit resorted under the command of the SADF's Group 25.

With the SANDF
Disbandment

This unit, along with all other Commando units was disbanded after a decision by South African President Thabo Mbeki to disband all Commando Units.[7][8] The Commando system was phased out between 2003 and 2008 "because of the role it played in the apartheid era", according to the Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula.[9]

Harrismith Commando was the last commando to be disbanded, in March 2008.[10]

Unit Insignia
SADF era Harrismith Commando insignia

Leadership
Leadership
From Honorary Colonels To
From Commanding Officers To
1899 Commandant C.J. de Villiers nd
1900 Commandant Phillip Botha nd
1902 Commandant Truter nd
1994 Lt Colonel A.J. Jordaan 2008
From Regimental Sergeants Major To

Memorials

Reconciliation Memorial

On 11 June 2017, a Reconciliation Memorial was unveiled at Platrand near Ladysmith. This memorial honours the fierce battle that occurred on 6 January 1900 between the Devonshire Regiment and the Harrismith Commando on that site.[11]

Market Square

The towns market square has a monument, adjacent Warden Street, to the memory of those who served in the Harrismith Commando. An obelisk in the same street in front of the Dutch Reformed Church lists the names of the men of the Harrismith Commando who died in the Anglo Boer war. Of the 73 names, 19 are listed as having died at Platrand, 32 killed or mortally wounded elsewhere and 22 who died in prisoner of war camps overseas and buried in India and Sri Lanka.[12][13]

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References
  1. https://kznpr.co.za/uncategorized/military-interest-general/
  2. http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol155jh.html
  3. http://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/visiting-historic-harrismith-cemetery
  4. https://www.zulu.org.za/places-to-go/battlefields/page17
  5. "Personal Reminiscences of a Free State Burgher During the Investment of Ladysmith". Royal United Services Institution. Journal. 46: 1170–1193. 1902. doi:10.1080/03071840209416120.
  6. Atwood. R, General lord Rawlinson From Tragedy to Triumph Bloomsburg Academic 2018 pg 74
  7. Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
  9. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  10. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7661:new-medal-for-ex-commandos&catid=111:sa-defence
  11. https://ladysmithgazette.co.za/87829/unveiling-reconciliation-memorial-wagon-hillplatrand/
  12. Ascoli, David A Companion to the British Army 1660-1983. (London. 1983)
  13. Hawkins, E.B. The Story of Harrismith. (Ladysmith. 1982)

See also
  • South African Commando System
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