Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment (formerly Regiment De Wet) is a reserve

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 ...

History

Origins

Regiment de Wet was one of six Afrikaans-speaking Citizen Force regiments established as part of the expansion of the then Union Defence Force of South Africa. The regiment was named after the Orange Free State Boer War commandant,

Christiaan de Wet Christiaan Rudolf de Wet (7 October 1854 – 3 February 1922) was a Boer general, rebel leader and politician. Life Born on the Leeuwkop farm, in the district of Smithfield in the Boer Republic of the Orange Free State, he later resided at ...

. The regiment's headquarters was located in

Kroonstad Kroonstad ( in Afrikaans) is a town in Free State, South Africa, consisting of the following suburbs: Brentpark, Constantia, Constantia Park, Dawid Malanville, Elandia, Gelukwaarts, Goedgedacht, Heuningspruit, Industria, Jordania, Koek ...

, a large town in the Orange Free State and a vital railway junction that gave some strategic importance, and recruits were enlisted from the entire Orange Free State province.

World War 2

The Regiment was used to reinforce the ranks of

Regiment President Steyn A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

during World War two, both of which were infantry units at the time.

Reorganisation

Regiment President Steyn was converted to an armored car regiment and in 1975 to a tank regiment but Regiment de Wet remained infantry.

Incorporation

Regiment de Wet was absorbed into Regiment Bloemspruit around April 1997.

Name change

After having been raised again; in August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa. Regiment De Wet became the Chief Albert Luthuli Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.

Battle honours

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

Freedom of the City

Freedom of Kroonstad

Leadership

Regimental emblems

Dress Insignia

Roll of Honour

References

{{SA Army Units Infantry regiments of South Africa Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War South African Army