Umkomaas Commando was activated when it inherited the urban members of the Pietermaritzburg Rifle Commando in 1963.
Operations
With the SADF
Initially, the Umkomaas Commando was headquartered in Ixopo under Kmdt J.R.Guy. It consisted of 3 companies with A Company being based at the Drill Hall in Pietermaritzburg, B Company based in Eston-Mid Illovo and C Company based in Ixopo.
Umkomaas Commando shared close affinity with Natalia Regiment. Its original HQ (post 1989) was in Richmond where it shared accommodation with Group 9 in the Old Gaol Building.
The unit was later transferred to Pietermaritzburg and allocated its own HQ in the Oribi Village.
By July 1981 the unit moved back to Richmond, but by 1991 it had returned to the Oribi Village in Pietermaritzburg.
Training and Operations
The unit held annual training camps and maintained a rifle shooting range on the farm Dawn Valley near Ixopo from 1963 to 1968, and near Shongweni and Hammarsdal from 1969 to 1975. From 1976 the unit deployed a company to South West Africa for border duty.
Areas of Responsibility
Umkomaas Commando provided quick reaction patrols in support of the South African Police during unrest in the Natal Midlands. By 1979 the units area of responsibility had changed and new borders set.
A new concept was established in the early 1980s and Industrial platoons were raised. Two of these now existed in the units original area of responsibility: at the Huletts Aluminium factory and the Pietermaritzburg Municipality.
National Colours
Umkomaas Commando was given its National Colours in June 1991.
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 SecurityCharles Nqakula.[3]
Unit Insignia
Leadership
Cmdt J. Guy 1963-1969
Cmdt G.A. Bowles 1969-1977
Cmdt I. Deetlefs 1977-1981
Cmdt E,B. Herbert 1981-1986
Cmdt J.E. Butler 1986-1989
Cmdt M.T. Staniland 1987-1991
Lt Col F.C. McHattie 1992-
References
^Col L B van Stade, Senior Staff Officer Rationalisation, SANDF (1997). . 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". Retrieved 17 January 2008.
^de Lange, Deon. "South Africa: Commandos Were 'Hostile to New SA'". Cape Argus. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
umkomaas, commando, light, infantry, regiment, south, african, army, formed, part, south, african, army, infantry, formation, well, south, african, territorial, reserve, emblemactive1963, country, south, africaallegiance, republic, south, africa, republic, sou. Umkomaas 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 Umkomaas CommandoUmkomaas Commando emblemActive1963 Country South AfricaAllegiance Republic of South Africa Republic of South AfricaBranch South African Army South African ArmyTypeInfantryRoleLight InfantrySizeOne BattalionPart ofSouth African Infantry CorpsArmy Territorial Reserve Group 9Garrison HQRichmond Pietermaritzburg Contents 1 History 1 1 Origin 1 2 Operations 1 2 1 With the SADF 1 2 1 1 Training and Operations 1 2 1 2 Areas of Responsibility 1 2 1 3 National Colours 1 2 2 With the SANDF 1 2 2 1 Disbandment 2 Unit Insignia 3 Leadership 4 References 5 See alsoHistory EditOrigin Edit Umkomaas Commando was activated when it inherited the urban members of the Pietermaritzburg Rifle Commando in 1963 Operations Edit With the SADF Edit Initially the Umkomaas Commando was headquartered in Ixopo under Kmdt J R Guy It consisted of 3 companies with A Company being based at the Drill Hall in Pietermaritzburg B Company based in Eston Mid Illovo and C Company based in Ixopo Umkomaas Commando shared close affinity with Natalia Regiment Its original HQ post 1989 was in Richmond where it shared accommodation with Group 9 in the Old Gaol Building The unit was later transferred to Pietermaritzburg and allocated its own HQ in the Oribi Village By July 1981 the unit moved back to Richmond but by 1991 it had returned to the Oribi Village in Pietermaritzburg Training and Operations Edit The unit held annual training camps and maintained a rifle shooting range on the farm Dawn Valley near Ixopo from 1963 to 1968 and near Shongweni and Hammarsdal from 1969 to 1975 From 1976 the unit deployed a company to South West Africa for border duty Areas of Responsibility Edit Umkomaas Commando provided quick reaction patrols in support of the South African Police during unrest in the Natal Midlands By 1979 the units area of responsibility had changed and new borders set A new concept was established in the early 1980s and Industrial platoons were raised Two of these now existed in the units original area of responsibility at the Huletts Aluminium factory and the Pietermaritzburg Municipality National Colours Edit Umkomaas Commando was given its National Colours in June 1991 With the SANDF Edit Disbandment Edit 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 Edit Leadership EditCmdt J Guy 1963 1969 Cmdt G A Bowles 1969 1977 Cmdt I Deetlefs 1977 1981 Cmdt E B Herbert 1981 1986 Cmdt J E Butler 1986 1989 Cmdt M T Staniland 1987 1991 Lt Col F C McHattie 1992 References Edit 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 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link About the Commando system Retrieved 17 January 2008 de Lange Deon South Africa Commandos Were Hostile to New SA Cape Argus Retrieved 5 March 2015 See also EditSouth African Commando System South Africa portal This South African military article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Umkomaas Commando amp oldid 1123781539, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
