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| Cape Town Volunteer Artillery Cape Field Artillery Nelson Mandela Artillery Regiment | |
|---|---|
 SANDF Cape Field Artillery emblem | |
| Active | 26 August 1857 to present |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Reserve Artillery |
| Role | Field Artillery |
| Part of | South African Army Artillery Formation Army Conventional Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort iKapa |
| Mottos |
|
| Anniversaries | 26 August (Regimental Day) |
| Artillery Guns | GV5 Luiperd 155mm Towed Howitzer, GV1 25-pounder (Ceremonial) |
| Commanders | |
| Current Commanding Officer | Lieutenant Colonel L.G. Claassen |
| Second in Command (2IC) | Captain V.L. Jensen |
| Insignia | |
| Collar Badge | Bursting grenade with seven flames |
| Beret Colour | Oxford Blue |
| Artillery Battery Emblems |  |
| Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992 |  |
| Abbreviation | NMAR |
TheNelson Mandela Artillery Regiment (formerly theCape Field Artillery) is a reserveartilleryregiment of theSouth African Army and part of theSouth African Army Artillery Formation.[1]
After news of theIndian Mutiny reached SirGeorge Grey, Governor of the Cape, he sent every available military unit in the Cape Garrison toIndia which left the Cape's military forces badly depleted of manpower. The volunteers of the Cape Royal Corps soon found themselves drilling on the guns stationed in Table Bay. As a result of their work on these batteries theCape Town Volunteer Artillery (CVA) was born on 26 August 1857 at the oldTown house inGreenmarket Square,Cape Town.
The regiment is one of the oldest volunteer artillery regiments in the world still in existence today, after it celebrated its 160th anniversary on 26 August 2017.[1] Major Duprat (Chevalier Alfredo Duprat; 21 June 1810 in Lisbon, Conceição Nova – 24 August 1881 in London, Kensington) was the first Commanding Officer. In 1867 theDuke of Edinburgh was escorted to Cape Town fromSimonstown by theCape Town Cavalry and upon his arrival the Cape Town Volunteer Artillery, drawn up on Caledon Square, fired aRoyal Salute as he passed towards Adderley Street. The great occasion of theroyal visit was on 24 August, when the Prince laid the foundation stone of thegraving dock and theCVO thundered out again in salute on the laying of the stone.
The Duke of Edinburgh was so impressed with the bearing of Cape Town's volunteer soldiers that, a few weeks later on 3 October 1867, a Government Notice No 318 was promulgated to the effect that he had conferred on the gunners the future designation ofPrince Alfred's Own Cape Town Volunteer Artillery (PAOCTVA). The words "Cape Town" were later dropped, and the title becamePrince Alfred's Own Volunteer Artillery. In 1896, the title was changed again, toPrince Alfred's Own Cape Artillery.[1]
The unit served in several regional campaigns, including the9th Frontier War of 1877 - 1879 and theTambookie Campaign of 1880 - 1881 on theEastern Cape frontier, then theBasutoland Rebellion inBasutoland and theSecond Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902.[1]
In 1903, the title was changed toPrince Alfred's Own Cape Field Artillery. Ten years later, in 1913, the unit was embodied in theCitizen Force of the newUnion Defence Forces as the6th Citizen Battery (PAOCFA).
Although the Regiment did not serve on theEuropean continent duringWorld War I, it did take part in theSouth-West Africa Campaign. The regiment was mobilised for war in August 1914. They spent three months with GeneralLouis Botha's forces to suppress theMaritz Rebellion, after which they were sent toUpington where they acted as garrison troops while waiting to join Col van Deventer's Southern Force to move intoGerman South-West Africa. Here they carried out patrols in the region and the artillery guns fought the Germans during a small action at Schuits Drift. While they were garrisoned inUpington the Republican Rebel,Manie Maritz, attempted to attack the town with a force of rebels accompanied by a battery of German artillery guns and twoQF 1-pounder pom-poms. After a four-hour battle the rebels surrendered.[2][3]
The unit also took part in the South African invasion ofGerman South-West Africa in 1915 where it earned the battle honour "South West Africa 1915".
The battery was renumbered "1st" in 1926. In 1932, the name was changed toCape Field Artillery (Prince Alfred's Own). From 1934 until the outbreak ofWorld War II in 1939, the CFA formed part of the Coast Artillery Brigade.
The Cape Field Artillery was reorganised as the1st Field Brigade (CFA) in February 1940 and in January 1941,1 Field Regiment (V), South African Artillery (PAOCFA). It fought duringOperation Crusader atBardia, Sollum,Halfaya Pass and atGazala during theBattle of Gazala. 2 Field Battery was lost during the fall of Tobruk in June 1942, when the 1st Field Brigade (CFA) fought as part of theSouth African 2nd Infantry Division under the command of GeneralHendrik Klopper. It fired the first and last rounds before the Fortress atTobruk surrendered on 21 June 1942.
1 and 3 Field Batteries, joined by 14 Field Battery, fought in theFirst Battle of El Alamein in July 1942 and in theSecond Battle of El Alamein that lasted between 23 October to 11 November 1942, as part of1st South African Division. On one day during the first battle the three batteries fired over 9000 shells to break up several German attacks. After these engagements the regiment returned to South Africa briefly in December 1942.
The regiment returned to North Africa in 1943 where it merged with 6th Field Regiment to form1/6 Field Regiment (V), South African Artillery (PAOCFA). It joined theSouth African 6th Armoured Division and moved to Italy in April 1944 where it fought in theBattle of Monte Cassino and all the other battles and engagements in which the 6th Armoured division were involved.[2]
The units title was changed again, in 1960, toRegiment Tygerberg. This title, imposed on the regiment, was not popular, and in 1963 it was changed back toCape Field Artillery, but without the princely style, which was no longer appropriate as South Africa had become a republic.[4]: 36
During the post-war period the regiment was mobilised several times for duty in theSouth African Border War (1966 to 1989), includingOperation Savannah in 1976.[1] In August/September 1988 the Cape Field Artillery provided a 140 millimetres (5.5 in) battery for10 Artillery Brigade in order to counter Cuban Forces who were threatening the South-West African Border.[2]
Currently the regiment is classed as a reserve unit in theSouth African Army. Members of the Nelson Mandela Artillery Regiment regularly undergo refresher training to maintain physical fitness levels and to ensure that they remain well versed with theR4 assault rifle. Members are also required to receive training in computer literacy.
To qualify as an artillery gunner in the Nelson Mandela Artillery Regiment, members receive three weeks of decentralised training from theSchool of Artillery at Fort iKapa in the use of theGV5 Luiperd 155mm Towed Howitzer.
The regiment also fulfils many ceremonial duties. Its Ceremonial Gun Troop maintains severalGV1, 25 pounder guns which it fires on certain occasions such as during the annual Opening of Parliament in central Cape Town, the annual Gun Run and the annual Robertson Agricultural Show.
As part of the opening of the2010 FIFA World Cup, the Ceremonial Gun Troop fired its 25-pounder guns on Friday 11 June at 18:00 in front of theCastle of Good Hope. The guns were fired once more on Sunday 11 June at 18:40 in front of the Castle, marking the final day of the 2010 World Cup. During the course of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Staff Sergeant Andrew Imrie of the Cape Field Artillery Pipes and Drums played 'Nightfall in Camp' from the Leerdam Bastion.
The regiment has received the Freedom ofBellville and of the City of Cape Town, a mark of honour that permits military units to parade through the city streets with fixed bayonets, drawn swords, drums beating and colours flying on all ceremonial and other occasions.[1]
In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa.[5] The Cape Field Artillery became theNelson Mandela Artillery Regiment, and have 3 years to design and implement new regimental insignia.[6] The new title was in honor of the man who for many was the symbol of the long battle for a diverse South Africa for over three decades and later own assumed not just the presidency of the republic but also became the first modern commander in chief of the SANDF.
Although artillery units in the South African Army do not usually receivebattle honours, the CFA was awarded the honour
| Awarded to Cape Field Artillery |
|---|
 |
| From | Honorary Colonels | To |
| nd | unknown | Present |
| From | Commanding Officers | To |
| 26 August 1857 | Lt-Col the Chevalier A. du Prat | 20 May 1862 |
| 21 May 1862 | Capt P.A. Brand | 11 April 1872 |
| 12 April 1872 | Capt J. Hopkirk (acting until 29.10.1872) | 25 August 1875 |
| 26 August 1875 | LtT.J.C. Inglesby | 9 October 1877 |
| 10 October 1877 | Lt-Col the Hon Richard SoutheyCMG | 19 November 1890 |
| 20 November 1890 | Maj P.J. Stigant | 7 December 1890 |
| 8 December 1890 | Lt-Col R.A. Lanning | 20 March 1892 |
| 21 March 1892 | Maj W. McLachlan | 7 June 1892 |
| 8 June 1892 | Lt-Col T.J.J. InglesbyVD | 30 June 1908 |
| 1 July 1908 | Maj (Brevet Lt-Col) F.W. DivineVD | 27 April 1919 |
| 29 April 1919 | Maj (Brevet Lt-Col) C.H.F. DivineDSO VD | 7 January 1921 |
| 8 October 1921 | Lt G. Backwell | 2 August 1922 |
| 3 August 1922 | Maj R.D. Pilkington-JordanED | 14 August 1932 |
| 15 August 1932 | Capt A.S. MehanVD | 30 September 1935 |
| 1 October 1935 | Capt P. Inglesby | 31 August 1939 |
| 1 September 1939 | Maj W.R. de Smidt | 4 January 1940 |
| 5 January 1940 | Lt-Col P. InglesbyED | 29 March 1940 |
| 30 March 1940 | Maj W.R. de Smidt | 29 May 1940 |
| 30 May 1940 | Maj C.R. Divine | 11 June 1940 |
| 12 June 1940 | Maj H.T. Calvert | 8 September 1940 |
| 9 September 1940 | Maj J.L. Atkinson | 24 September 1940 |
| 25 September 1940 | Lt-Col L. du Toil | 30 January 1942 |
| 31 January 1942 | Maj C.J.N. Lever | 7 February 1942 |
| 01 01 1900 | Cmdt. E. Bester | 01 01 1900 |
| 01 01 1900 | Lt Col C.A. (Kees) de Haan | 01 01 1900 |
| 1 April 2020 | Lt Col L.G. Claassen | Present |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
| 19 October | MWO B. Havenga | Present |
The UDF men were captives until liberated in mid-1915 by triumphant South African forces - after the crushing by the state of the Afrikaner rebellion in the Northern Cape, eastern Free State and western Transvaal. The Germans had even attacked Upington in support of their Afrikaner rebel allies in early 1915, before being routed by UDF forces including the Cape Field Artillery - the only time this country's borders have ever been breached by a conventional military force.
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