Regiment Botha
Encyclopedia
Regiment Botha is an infantry
regiment
of the South African Army
. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States
Army National Guard
unit. The Regiment was named after General Louis Botha
, the first prime minister
of South Africa
.
on 1 April 1934, as part of an expansion of the Army's infantry branch.
A second battalion was formed on the outbreak of World War II
in 1939. The first battalion did not serve in the war, but the second fought in the North Africa
campaign in 1941 and 1942 as part of the 1st Infantry Division. In 1943, it was temporarily amalgamated with Regiment President Steyn
.
The two battalions separated after the war, and in 1951 the second battalion was renamed Regiment Christiaan Beyers.
From 1960 to 1966, Regiment Botha was called Regiment Pongola.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the South African Army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
unit. The Regiment was named after General Louis Botha
Louis Botha
Louis Botha was an Afrikaner and first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa—the forerunner of the modern South African state...
, the first prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
History
The regiment was formed in Ermelo, MpumalangaErmelo, Mpumalanga
Ermelo is the educational, industrial and commercial centre of the 7,750 km² Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga province, Republic of South Africa. Mixed farming and anthracite, coal and torbanite mining take place here...
on 1 April 1934, as part of an expansion of the Army's infantry branch.
A second battalion was formed on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939. The first battalion did not serve in the war, but the second fought in the North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
campaign in 1941 and 1942 as part of the 1st Infantry Division. In 1943, it was temporarily amalgamated with Regiment President Steyn
Regiment President Steyn
Regiment President Steyn is an armoured regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
.
The two battalions separated after the war, and in 1951 the second battalion was renamed Regiment Christiaan Beyers.
From 1960 to 1966, Regiment Botha was called Regiment Pongola.