Winburg Commando

Winburg 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.

Winburg Commando
Winburg Commando emblem
Active	1899 - 2003
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Orange Free State Republic Union of South Africa  Republic of South Africa  Republic of South Africa
Branch	South African Army  South African Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Light Infantry
Size	One Battalion
Part of	South African Infantry Corps Army Territorial Reserve
Garrison/HQ	Winburg, Free State

History

Origin

With the Orange Free State Republic

In October 1899, President Marthinus Steyn of the Free State ordered his commandants to muster all able bodied burgers in anticipation of war with the British.

Marthinus Prinsloo was elected as commandant of Winburg.

On 9 October he occupied positions at Platberg. He was subsequently elected Chief Commandant of the Free State and thus Helgard Theunissen was placed in command of this commando.

Note:The Boer General Koos de la Rey was born in the district of Winburg on the farm Doornfontein.

A sub commando of Winburg from Senekal began operating independently. Together these and other commandos invaded Natal in the upper Tugela region.

(Transfer to the Western Front and the Battle of Paardeberg) The Winburg Commando was withdrawn from the Natal Front on 14 February 1900 and rushed to the Kimberly area to assist General Piet Cronje.

500 boers from Heidelberg and Winburg Commandos attacked a koppie held by the Yorkshire Regiment and East Kent Regiment.

The boer forces was using this area as an escape route. Kommandant Helgaard Theunissen with 87 Winburgers held their ground until the main boer forces reached safety and after a few hours surrendered to the British. At least 15 Winburgers were killed in this operation.[1]

Under the UDF

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

By 1912, however previous Commando members could 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

Under the SADF

The majority of the commandos operations in this era was local area protection.

Under 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.[2][3] 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.[4]

Unit Insignia

Leadership

Leadership

From	Honorary Colonels	To
From	Commanding Officers	To
From	Regimental Sergeants Major	To

• Commandant Marthinus Prinsloo 1899
• Commandant Helgard Theunissen 1899

References

1. https://kimberly.org.za/today-in-kimberleys-history
2. Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). "Rationalisation in the SANDF: The Next Challenge". Institute for Security Studies. Retrieved 5 March 2015.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. "About the Commando system". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
4. de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.

See also

• South African Commando System