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Kimberley Commando
Kimberly Commando insignia
Active	1964-2003
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	Cape Colony 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	Kimberley

Kimberley 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.

History

Origin

The origin of this unit is the Kimberley Town Guard which raised in October 1899 to defend the city from Boer Republican attack. By November 1899 the strength of the Town Guard, had been increased to 130 officers and 2,520 non-commissioned officers and men. During the siege of Kimberly, the Town Guard, held trenches and defensive works.

Operations

With the UDF

The Kimberly Commando was originally established in Kimberly in 1936 as the West End Rifle Association. Members had to provide their own weapons and ammunition. By 1938, the Defence Rifle Association was created and weapons could then be bought directly from the Department of Defence.

With the SADF

As with other Rifle Associations, this unit was renamed in 1964.

Its headquarters was based in the private homes of its commanding officers.

In 1964, 1970, 1974 and 1980 the HQ was moved around until it finally shared space with Group 22 HQ at Scanlan Street. The units main function in this era was search and cordon assistance in the urban area of Kimberly in assistance to the Police.

Border War

From 1976, the unit provided troops for service in the operational area.

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. 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.

Leadership

Unit insignia

References

1. "Anglo Boer War - Kimberley Town Guard".
2. 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
3. "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. 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

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• Infantry regiments of South Africa
• South African Commando Units
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