Regiment Dan Pienaar was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

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 ...

. As a reserve force unit, it had a status roughly equivalent to that of a British

Army Reserve Army Reserve refers to a land-based military reserve force, including: *Army Reserve (Ireland) *Army Reserve (United Kingdom) *Australian Army Reserve *Canadian Army Reserve * New Zealand Army Reserve *United States Army Reserve *United States Navy ...

or United States

Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG) is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Army. It is simultaneously part of two differen ...

unit.

History

Origins

Regiment Dan Pienaar was initially formed as 2 Regiment Bloemspruit as an offshoot of

Regiment Bloemspruit The Mangaung Regiment (formerly Regiment Bloemspruit) is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army. History Origin In 1964, Regiment Bloemspruit with its HQ in Bloemfontein, was established on 1 January as the first Citizen Forc ...

(Renamed 1 Regiment Bloemspruit, but reverted after 2RBS was renamed.).

Renamed

Subsequently, it was decided to rename 2RBS after the famous World War II general and Free Stater, General

Dan Pienaar Major General Daniel Hermanus Pienaar (27 August 1893 – 19 December 1942) was a South African World War II military commander. Early life and career He was born in Ladybrand, Orange Free State and in his youth grew up in Natal. His family ...

on 1 June 1976, thus the unit could begin to form its own history and traditions.

Disbanded/Amalgamated

After being disbanded in 1997 the remaining members were incorporated into Regiment Bloemspruit. The part-time units, Regiments De Wet (Kroonstad), Louw Wepener (Bethlehem) and Dan Pienaar (Bloemfontein) were amalgamated with

by 1 April. The name Regiment Bloemspruit was retained under the command of the Commanding General, Free State Command."

Battle honours

The unit also served in numerous deployments in the Border War in SWA/Namibia

Freedom of the City

Freedom of the city of Bloemfontein in 1981

Leadership

Regimental emblems

Dress Insignia

Roll of Honour

Regiment Dan Pienaar has one Honoris Crux on the Roll of Honour: Delport J C Rfn. 13 September 1978. Here is his citation:

References

General references

* Pollock, A.M.. "Pienaar of Alamein". 1943. ''

Cape Times The ''Cape Times'' is an English-language morning newspaper owned by Sekunjalo Investments, Independent News & Media SA and published in Cape Town, South Africa. the newspaper had a daily readership of 261000 and a circulation of 34523. By th ...

''. The biography of Major-General Dan Pienaar, a South African officer on the battle fields of Abyssinia and Egypt. * Malherbe, E.G. ''Never a Dull Moment''. Reminiscences of his distinguished career as an educationalist, Director of Census & Statistics, as well as Director of Military Intelligence for SA during World War II. Reveals some intimate views of Generals Smuts, Dan Pienaar, Alexander, Evered Poole, and Klopper etc. Timmins. Cape Town 1981. {{SA Army Units 1976 establishments in South Africa Infantry regiments of South Africa Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War Military units and formations established in 1976 South African Army