The Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment (formerly the Cape Garrison Artillery) is a reserve air defence artillery regiment of the

South African Army The South African Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Servi ...

Cape Garrison Artillery (1st)

The original regiment had a fragmented history:

1879-1899

A new unit, called the Cape Town Volunteer Engineers was formed in the Cape Colonial Forces in 1879. It served in the

Transkei Transkei ( , meaning ''the area beyond Great Kei River, he riverKei''), officially the Republic of Transkei (), was an list of historical unrecognized states and dependencies, unrecognised state in the southeastern region of South Africa f ...

campaign in 1880 and 1881. In 1889, it added a coast artillery company, and the title was later changed to Garrison Artillery & Engineer Volunteer Corps. Engineering was discontinued in 1896, and the title was then changed to Cape Garrison Artillery. The commanding officer of the unit at that time was Major le Vicomte de Montfort. The Regiment had an authorised strength of 320 men and was trained by the Royal Garrison Artillery. In 1898 the CGA was changed to a partially paid unit and thus lost its volunteer status.

1899-1902

The CGA was mobilized for participation in the Second Anglo-Boer War in 1899. Initially the Regiment had 373 members, but the figure increased to 560 (with some recruits arriving from overseas) by February 1900. During 1900 the CGA was mainly used on the main western railway line of Cape Colony, as well as west of that line, assisting in garrisoning important posts. A small number of CGA members were also under the command of Sir

Charles Warren Sir Charles Warren (7 February 1840 – 21 January 1927) was a British Army officer of the Royal Engineers. He was one of the earliest European archaeologists of the Biblical Holy Land, and particularly of the Temple Mount. Much of his military ...

Griqualand West Griqualand West is an area of central South Africa with an area of 40,000 km2 that now forms part of the Northern Cape Province. It was inhabited by the Griqua people – a semi-nomadic, Afrikaans-speaking nation of mixed-race origin, w ...

. Parts of the regiment also joined Kitchener's Horse. Elements of the CGA were also involved in the attack on Jacobsdal on 25 October 1900. During 1901 detachments of the regiment were often stationed alongside the

Cape Town Highlanders The Cape Town Highlanders is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army. History Origins Descendants of Scotland, Scottish immigrants to South Africa raised the Cape Town Highlanders in 1885. On 24 April of the same year, ...

as well as other local troops in the west of

Cape Colony The Cape Colony (), also known as the Cape of Good Hope, was a British Empire, British colony in present-day South Africa named after the Cape of Good Hope. It existed from 1795 to 1802, and again from 1806 to 1910, when it united with three ...

and other areas, up to the German South-West Africa border. Other actions that elements of the CHA were involved in during the war were: Brugspruit (October 1900), Wonderfontein (February 1901), Naauwpoort (February 1901), Mafeking (November 1901), Omkyk (January 1902), Okiep (April 1902) and Daspoort near

Pretoria Pretoria ( ; ) is the Capital of South Africa, administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to the country. Pretoria strad ...

(May 1902).

1902-1913

On 30 June 1902 the unit was demobilised, although it continued as a part-time volunteer unit. In 1904 Princess Christian presented the unit with a Kings Colour in Cape Town.

With the Union Defence Force

The CGA was embodied in the Coast Garrison Force of the Union Defence Force in 1913 as the 1st Division, South African Garrison Artillery (CGA). CGA manned batteries at Sea Point, Fort Wynyard and the Castle of Good Hope in

Cape Town Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...

as well as at "Noah's Ark" and other batteries at

Simon's Town Simon's Town (), sometimes spelled Simonstown, is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa and is home to Naval Base Simon's Town, the South African Navy's largest base. It is located on the shores of Simon's Bay in False Bay, on the eastern s ...

1914-1918

Members of the CGA served with the Heavy Artillery Brigade in the German South-West Africa Campaign in 1915. On the successful conclusion of the South-West Africa Campaign, many members of the CGA joined the Heavy Artillery Brigade of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force, which served with great distinction in France and was later commemorated by the South African Heavy Artillery memorial below the Union Buildings in

. From 1916 until the war ended, the CGA as such manned the

Cape Peninsula The Cape Peninsula () of South Africa is a generally mountainous peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean at the south-western extremity of the African continent. At the southern end of the peninsula are Cape Point and the Cape of Good ...

defences.

1919-1939

Between the two world wars, the CGA was closely linked with the South African Permanent Garrison Artillery. The approach of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

led to the expansion of the South African military and in 1934 the Cape Garrison Artillery became 1 Heavy Battery (CGA) (in Cape Town) and 2 Heavy Battery (CGA) (in Simon's Town). They formed part of the Coast Artillery Brigade (later called the Cape Peninsula Artillery Brigade). A 5th Heavy Battery (CGA) was formed in 1938/39 to man the new batteries on

Robben Island Robben Island () is an island in Table Bay, 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of the coast of Bloubergstrand, north of Cape Town, South Africa. It takes its name from the Dutch language, Dutch word for seals (''robben''), hence the Dutch/Afrika ...

1939-1945

The batteries were mobilised on the outbreak of World War II in 1939, and manned the Cape coast defences throughout the war. An ''8th Heavy Battery (CGA)'' was formed at

Saldanha Bay Saldanha Bay () is a natural harbour on the south-western coast of South Africa. The town that developed on the northern shore of the bay, also called Saldanha, Western Cape, Saldanha, was incorporated with five other towns into the Saldanha Bay ...

in 1942. No South African port was actually attacked during the war; the only instance of a shot being fired in anger was when the Portuguese

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and maneuvera ...

''Alfonse d'Albuquerque'' did not respond to signals when she passed a shore station. However, one round brought her to, and she was identified. Many troops of the CGA were released for service in North Africa and

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

1945-1958

In 1951, the Cape Garrison Artillery batteries were renamed "coast regiments". 5th Heavy Battery was disbanded, but 1 Coast Regiment (CGA), 2 Coast Regiment (CGA) and 8 Coast Regiment (CGA) were transferred to the newly formed South African Corps of Marines, which was directed by the Navy. The SACM also controlled anti-aircraft units, and when the SACM disbanded in 1955, the anti-aircraft units were transferred to the Army, and the coast regiments were taken over by the Navy. The three CGA units were renamed SAS ''Ubique'', SAS ''Diaz'', and SAS ''Malgas''. They were disbanded in 1958.

Cape Garrison Artillery (2nd)

History

World War Two

South African home defences were strengthened during 1942, as a result of the threat posed by Japan. Among the new units that were formed were 50 Anti-Aircraft Battery at Saldanha Bay, 51 Anti-Aircraft Battery in Cape Town, and 52 Anti-Aircraft Battery in Simon's Town. These units were controlled by the

South African Air Force The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II a ...

until 1949, when they were transferred to the Army.

Union Defence Force

In 1951, the anti-aircraft units were transferred to the new South African Corps of Marines. When the SACM was disbanded in 1955, 50, 51 and 52 Anti-Aircraft Batteries were amalgamated to form 4 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment.

Under the SADF

In 1960, 4 HAA was affiliated to the

University of Cape Town The University of Cape Town (UCT) (, ) is a public university, public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university status in 1918, making it the oldest univer ...

under a new system designed to enable students to co-ordinate their studies and their military training. The regiment was renamed University of Cape Town Regiment. Although the "university regiment" system was discontinued when national service conscription was introduced in 1968, UCTR retained its name until 1974, when it was allowed to adopt the name of the former Cape Garrison Artillery.

=Border War period

The CGA served in the Border War in the 1970s and 1980s under the command of 7 South African Infantry Division. Since the end of conscription in 1993, it has been a volunteer unit again, as part of the

Reserve Force A military reserve force is a military organization whose members (reservists) have military and civilian occupations. They are not normally kept under arms, and their main role is to be available when their military requires additional ma ...

Under the SANDF

Since a 2005 revival initiative, the regiment now has become active in key initiatives such as Force Preparation, Force Support and Force Training, which are some of the current main focus areas of the South African National Defence Force. The regiment is housed in Fort Wynyard. In December 2005, the regiment began an unofficial initiative to save the Fort from further decay. In 2012 the sinking of the SS Mendi was commemorated at the

, with a memorial service hosted by the Cape Garrison Artillery. The regiment became part of the South African Army Air Defence Artillery Formation which was formed in 1999.

Name Change

In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. The Cape Garrison Artillery became the Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.

Leadership

Regimental Symbols

* As the ''Garrison Artillery and Engineer Volunteers'' (1891–96), the original regiment used the

coat of arms and motto () as its badge. * Later, it adopted the standard artillery badge of a crowned field gun with the motto (Where Right and Glory Lead). * In the 1950s and 1960s, the current regiment wore the South African Artillery badge - also a field gun, but without the crown – with the coat of arms of the

on the wheel of the gun. Since the 1970s, the badge has been a field gun topped by a three-towered castle. * The regiment's coat of arms, worn as a shoulder flash, is a shield which depicts a golden castle against a background divided (vertically) into red and sky blue. It dates from the 1970s. * The regiment received its National Colours during Exercise Genesis in 1992. SADF era Cape Garrison Artillery insignia ver 2

SADF era Cape Garrison Artillery insignia ver 2

King's Colour

In 1905, the original CGA was presented by a King's Colour in recognition of its service in the Anglo-Boer War.

Battle honours

The Unit saw service in the Transkei in 1880 during the Basutoland Rebellion In 1927, the original CGA was awarded the battle honour "South West Africa 1915" for its service in the German South-West Africa Campaign. The unit assembled in 1940 for service in Abyssinia, the Middle East and Italy and consisted of two heavy battery's and an anti aircraft battery. The unit also saw service in early 1976 and took part in Operation Askari in 1984.

References

Bibliography

* * * * Tylden, G, Major. ''The Armed Forces of South Africa 1659–1954''. City of Johannesburg Africana Museum. Frank Connock Publication No.2. Facsimile 1982. {{SA Army Units Artillery regiments of South Africa Military units and formations in Cape Town Military units and formations established in 1859 Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations of the Second Boer War Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War 1859 establishments in South Africa