Pretoria Highlanders


The Pretoria Highlanders Regiment[1] was a regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Pretoria Highlanders Regiment
SANDF Pretoria Highlanders emblem
Active1939 to 4 June 2017
Disbanded4 June 2017
Country South Africa
Allegiance
Branch
TypeReserve Artillery
SizeBattery
Part ofSouth African Army Artillery Formation
Army Conventional Reserve
Nickname(s)Jacaranda Jocks
Insignia
Collar BadgeBursting grenade with seven flames
Beret ColourOxford Blue
Artillery Battery Emblems
Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992

History

World War 2

The regiment was founded by Peter Lawrence Goudie on the outbreak of World War II in 1939. He recruited 1,400 men within six weeks and also raised the funds to equip them with Highland uniforms.

During World War II the regiment, as part of 7 South African Infantry Brigade, took part in "Operation Rose", the invasion of Madagascar by South African forces in June 1942. As far as is known, this is the first (and only) amphibious operation in which South African troops ever participated.

Post World War and into Border War

In 1946, the PH were converted to artillery and renamed 1 Anti-Tank Regiment (PH). When the Army was reorganised in 1960, for internal security duties, the regiment was converted to armour and reverted to its original name of Pretoria Highlanders.

The regiment was assigned to the 7th Division's 73 Motorised Brigade.

73 Brigade Pretoria Highlanders commemorative letter circa 1989

Pipe Band

The Regimental Pipe band[2] has been part of the regiment since shortly after it was raised.[3]

Officers Commanding
  • Cmdt Henk Kaal

Regimental Symbols
  • Uniform
    • Headdress: khaki Tam O'Shanter, black glengarry; Tourie (on both): bottle green.
    • Tartan: Hunting Stewart (kilt); Sporran: brown leather as working dress and silver/grey haired for mess dress .
    • Hose: khaki with tops of regimental tartan, green garter flashes.
  • Nickname: "Jacaranda Jocks" (Pretoria is known as "the Jacaranda City")

Previous Dress Insignia
SADF era Pretoria Highlanders insignia

Battle honours
  • Madagascar 1942

References
  1. http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol021ce.html
  2. http://www.pretoriahighlanders.co.za/
  3. "Pipe Band History". www.pretoriahighlanders.co.za. Pretoria Highlanders Pipe Band. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
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