Regiment North Natal 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 British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Army Reserve or United States

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unit.

History

Regiment North Natal was established in the 1950s at Paulpietersburg and named originally as Regiment Smuts. SADF Regiment Smuts beret badge

The regiment was renamed Regiment North Natal in 1961 and its headquarters was moved to

Vryheid Vryheid (/Abaqulusi) is a coal mining and cattle ranching town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Vryheid is the Afrikaans word for "freedom", while its original name of Abaqulusi reflects the AbaQulusi (Zulu), abaQulusi clan based in the loc ...

. Members served in Owamboland in northern South West Africa from 1976 to 1980. The headquarters was finally moved again to Newcastle around 1980.

Border War

The regiment served in numerous deployments in the Border War in SWA/Namibia where 4 active companies and about 800 Citizen Force members served in the operational and border areas.

Democratic elections of 1994

In 1994 the regiment provided reaction force support to the police for South Africa's first democratic elections.

Disbandment

Regiment North Natal was disbanded in 1997.

Battle honours

Freedom of the City

Freedom of Vryheid in 1961.

Leadership

Regimental emblems

Dress Insignia

SADF era Regiment North Natal insignia ver 2

Roll of Honour

References

{{SA Army Units 1950 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 1950 South African Army