Umvoti Mounted Rifles
Umvoti Mounted Rifles | |
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Active | 16 May 1864 to present (159 years) |
Country | South Africa |
Allegiance | |
Branch | |
Type | Rooikat armoured fighting vehicle |
Battle honours |
|
Website | http://www.umrhistory.com/ |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt Col M.S.C. Magigaba |
Insignia | |
Beret Colour | Black |
Armour Squadron emblems | |
Armour beret bar circa 1992 |
The Umvoti Mounted Rifles (named after the
History
Origin
On 16 May 1864, 159 years ago, the Umvoti Mounted Rifles (UMR) was founded in Greytown as the Greytown Mounted Rifles.[1] There were some 45 men in the original unit, under command of Capt A.S. Wyndham who was also the Magistrate of Greytown at the time.
The Umvoti Mounted Rifles Hall is the oldest hall in Greytown. It was built in 1880 as a
The Umvoti Mounted Rifles was formed in 1893 at Greytown,
Engagements and Wars
The Natal Mounted Rifles served in the
Various musterings
The UMR since 1920 served under command of the OC,
Affiliation with 8th Armoured Division
During 1984 the UMR was brigaded as the Armoured Car Regiment of
Regimental Colours
In 1866 the first Regimental Colours of blue silk were presented to the Grey-town Mounted Rifles. In 1901 the regiment was again honoured by the presentation of colours by two Greytown ladies. In 1904 HRH Princess Helena, third daughter of Queen Victoria, presented the King's Colours to UMR. These have been consecrated and are housed in St James Church in Greytown for safekeeping. In 1964 the latest presentation of the Colours took place during the regiment's 100th birthday celebrations by Commandant-General P H Grobbelaar and incorporates the regimental badge in gold on a blue background which signi¬fies an armoured regiment.
National Colours
On 14 July 1990, National Colours were presented to the Regiment by Major General D J Mortimer.
Under the SANDF
In 1999,
In 2012 the long-awaited new history of the regiment, written by historian Mark Coghlan, was published by Just Done Productions Publishing.[5]
Insignia
Previous dress insignia
Leadership
From | Honorary Colonels | To |
1927 | Maj Gen Alexandra Cambridge, Earl of Athlone | c. 1957 |
1957 | Col W S Slatter | c. 1967 |
1968 | Col C L J Crookes | c. 1985 |
1995 | Col S R Meyer | c. 2000 |
2000 | Col W R L Wilson | c. 2015 |
2015 | Lt Col L Palmer | Present |
From | Officers Commanding | To |
1946 | Lt Col V.H.E. Reiche | c. 1947 |
1947 | Lt Col W.S. Slatter | c. 1949 |
1949 | Cmdt O.C. Oftebro | c. 1957 |
c. 1957 | Cmdt C.L.J. Crookes[a] | c. 1959 |
c. 1959 | Cmdt R.G. Norman Smith | c. 1965 |
c. 1965 | Cmdt A.Z. Titiestad | c. 1967 |
c. 1967 | Cmdt A.J.S. Slatter | c. 1972 |
c. 1972 | Cmdt P.T. Menne | c. 1977 |
c. 1977 | Cmdt S.R. Meyer[a] | c. 1980 |
c. 1980 | Cmdt D.N.E. Leitch | c. 1984 |
c. 1984 | Cmdt D.H.E. Tweedie | c. 1987 |
c. 1987 | Cmdt J.W. Allchin | c. 1992 |
c. 1992 | Cmdt L.F. Stapelberg | c. 1994 |
c. 1994 | Cmdt W.R.L. Wilson[b][a] | 2000 |
2000 | Lt Col W. Pat Titlestad | 2015 |
2015 | Lt Col David Quinton | 2017 |
2017 | Lt Col M.S.C. Magigaba | Present |
From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
c. 1946 | WO1 J.S.S. Martens | c. 1955 |
c. 1955 | WO1 P.G. Renaud[c] | c. 1984 |
c. 1984 | WO1 J.L. Shardelow | c. 1988 |
c. 1988 | WO1 P.G. Renaud[d] | c. 1995 |
c. 1995 | WO1 C.A. Greef | c. 1997 |
c. 1997 | WO1 C.E. Wilson | c. 2005 |
c. 2005 | WO1 A.R.J Morrison | c. 2017 |
c. 2017 | WO1 V.R. Chamier | Present |
Freedom of entry
- Greytown
- Melmoth
- Empangeni
- Eshowe
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Ladysmith
Alliances
- The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish)
Battle honours
South Africa 1879, South Africa 1899–1902, Relief of Ladysmith, Natal 1906, South West Africa 1914–1915, Gibeon, Western Desert 1941–43
Awarded to Umvoti Mounted Rifles |
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As virtually the whole Regiment was captured at Tobruk in June 1942, there were no more World War II battle honours.
References
- ^ a b "Umvoti Mounted Rifles". Archived from the original on 22 April 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- ISBN 978-1920-315-77-1. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ^ Reference see Natal Command article
- ^ "African and African American history - Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekizulu Newsletter May 2014" (PDF). www.africanafrican.com. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ "Umvoti Mounted Rifles". UMR. Retrieved 5 October 2014.