Johannesburg Regiment

Johannesburg Regiment has been in existence since 1 July 1951. At the time it was an Artillery unit known as 8 Field Regiment South African Artillery. Colonel J. S. K. Brink was the Regiment’s first commanding officer and following his retirement he became its honorary colonel. In February 1960, 8 Field Regiment disbanded and the unit officially became known as Johannesburg Regiment and was re mustered as an Infantry Regiment.

The Regiment mobilised for the first time in 1960 and saw initial service in Bloemfontein, Vereeniging and Sasolburg.

Subsequent successes include amongst others the following operations/ exercises: Madimbo, Savannah, Caterpillar, Protea, Thunder Chariot, Ops Eardrum, Ops Paal, Excalibur 1&2, Eagle Hill, Kwiksilwer, Vincity and Southern Cross.

On 29 February 1960, 8 Field Artillery Regiment closed down and re-mustered on 1 March 1960 as an Infantry Regiment named Johannesburg Regiment.

The Regiment’s Headquarters were originally based at Auckland Park, where the current SABC offices are situated.

Officers and other ranks of 8 Field Artillery Regiment automatically moved over to Johannesburg Regiment. Commandant A.J. Pretorius was the officer Commanding and his Second in Command was Major van der Merwe with WO1 G. F. Hauptfleish as the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM).

In May 1962 the Johannesburg Municipality agreed that the Regiment could use the MunicipalCoat of Arms as their Unit Emblem. Some minor changes were however done to the coat of arms, namely, the two sable antelope that acted as the supporters being replaced with two F.N. Rifles togive it a military touch. With this, the Regiment made history by being the first unit that used an
F.N. Rifle in its armorial bearings. A badge that consists only of the shield, was also included.

The official Colour presentation parade was held at the Milnerpark Showgrounds stadium on 26 February 1966. Whilst the unit was formed up, the Colour was draped over the traditional three tenor drums by Councilor Alec Jaffe, then Mayor of Johannesburg.

The Johannesburg Regiment has been actively involved in continuous and operational service since its founding in 1960.

The Regiment achieved a pinnacle in its history, becoming one of the first then citizen force units to be converted from a motorized to a mechanized unit in 1980 – the achievement occurred as the Regiment was voted the best unit in 72 Brigade Formation on various evaluations during the year.

In 2005 Johannesburg Regiment again made history when it provided troops for the first Reserve Company to be deployed in Peace Support Operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The motto is on a braid in Latin wording “Fortiter Et Recte” which means “With Valour and Justice