Midmar Commando

Midmar Commando
Midmar Commando
	Midmar Commando emblem
Active	1978-
Country	South Africa
Allegiance	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, Group 9
Garrison/HQ	Howick
Motto(s)	"Pro Aris et Focis" For Hearth and Home

Midmar 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

Raised in 1978 at Howick after a decision was reached that Umkomaas Commando was responsible for too large an area. C and D companies of Umkomaas Commando then formed the nucleus of this new unit.

Operations

With the SADF

The units headquarters was situated in an old World War Two hospital on the outskirts of Howick.

A shoulder flash for the unit was designed to represent the Midmar Dam wall and approved for use on 15 June 1982.

Colonel M.O. Norton was appointed as the unit's Honorary Colonel on 29 November 1986.

In October 1987, the Commando was mobilised to assist with humanitarian operations caused by heavy flooding in the Howick and surrounding areas as a result of heavy rains.

Midmar Commando was often deployed on operations to assist the South African Police during internal unrest.

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.^[1]^[2] 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.^[3]

Unit Insignia

Leadership

Cmdt M.O. Norton 1979-1981
Cmdt A.M. Bosworth-Smith 1981-1984
Cmdt I.H.W Rottcher 1984-1986
Maj J.B. Weston 1986-1987
Lt Col J.H. Hughes 1987-

References

^ 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)
^ "About the Commando system". Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
^ de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.