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| Lys' Volunteer Corps Transvaal Horse Artillery Volunteers Transvaal Horse Artillery Sandfontein Artillery Regiment | |
|---|---|
 SANDF Transvaal Horse Artillery emblem | |
| Active | 17 March 1904 to present |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Reserve Artillery |
| Part of | South African Army Artillery Formation Army Conventional Reserve |
| Garrison/HQ | Mount Collins, Kelvin,Sandton |
| Anniversaries | 17 March 1904 |
| Equipment | 140mm guns |
| Engagements | |
| Battle honours | South West Africa 1914-1915 |
| Website | Official website[dead link] |
| Commanders | |
| Officer Commanding | Major Richard Ngwenya |
| Insignia | |
| Collar Badge | Bursting grenade with seven flames |
| Beret Colour | Oxford Blue |
| Artillery Battery Emblems |  |
| Artillery Beret Bar circa 1992 |  |
| Abbreviation | SAR |
TheSandfontein Artillery Regiment (formerly theTransvaal Horse Artillery) is a reserveartilleryregiment of theSouth African Army.
The Sandfontein Artillery Regiment is currently located in Johannesburg. The main ordnance of the regiment is theG6 self-propelled 155 mm gun/howitzer. It consists of four batteries: Regimental Headquarters Battery, 7 Battery, 8 Battery and 9 Battery.
The Transvaal Horse Artillery was formed on 17 March 1904 asLys' Volunteer Corps (after its first commanding officer, Major Godfrey Lys) and was a regiment dependent on horse transport from the start.[1]: 60 [2] His adjutant was Brevet-Major J.W.F Lamont,Royal Field Artillery.[1]: 60 Lys would resign in January 1905 and Major A. Langebrink took over command.[1]: 60 The uniform was in the style of the Royal Household Artillery with the silver substituted by gold.[1]: 60 Its first honorary colonel wasThomas Cullinan.[1]: 60 The regiment's name was changed six months later to theTransvaal Horse Artillery Volunteers, which it retained until 1911, when the volunteers designation was dropped, to become theTransvaal Horse Artillery.[3]
In 1913, the unit was embodied in thecitizen force of the newUnion Defence Forces as the7th Citizen Battery (THA).[3]
The regiment was part of theNorthern Force sent to invade (the then)German South-West Africa at the outbreakWorld War I. It first saw action in September 1914 atSandfontein[4] and later distinguished itself at Riet andNamutoni.[3]
Volunteers from the Transvaal Horse Artillery also later fought as part of the South African Heavy Artillery inPalestine,Egypt andEurope.[3]
In the inter-war period the regiment grew from a single battery to a three batterybrigade; it was also mechanised by the introduction oftrucks. During the 1922Rand Rebellion the THA took part in the Battle ofBrixton Bridge and in the clearing ofFordsburg.
The unit was renumbered as the3rd Citizen Battery (THA) in 1926, and reverted to the name Transvaal Horse Artillery in 1932. On the outbreak ofWorld War II in 1939, it became the3rd Field Brigade (THA).[3]
DuringWorld War II, the THA first saw action against theItalians inAbyssinia.
The regiment's most memorable action during the war was during the battle ofSidi Rezegh in theWestern Desert on 23 November 1941. As a part of 5 South African Infantry Brigade Group, the THA suffered considerable losses during heavy action which saw it firing over open sights at thepanzers of theAfrika Korps.
After the collapse ofTobruk in June 1942, the regiment lost its headquarters unit as well as its 8th and 9th batteries, except for one troop of 8th Battery. This troop, together with theColdstream Guards, were the only units to drive out in formation. The remaining (7th) battery of the regiment was first attached to 7 Field Regiment and took part in the fighting atEl Alamein in October 1942. It subsequently joined 4/22nd Field Regiment, South African Artillery and saw action throughout theItalian Campaign.[3][2]
From 1960 to 1968, the THA was affiliated to theUniversity of the Witwatersrand and was known as theWitwatersrand University Regiment.[3]
During the post-war period, the regiment was often mobilised with7 South African Infantry Division's 72 Brigade,[5] to take part inSouth Africa's Border War. The regiment was called up in 1976 for three months active service in Angola and South West Africa and followed this up with two months in the operational area in 1979.[2] Other operations included:
In August 2019, 52 Reserve Force units had their names changed to reflect the diverse military history of South Africa.[6] The Transvaal Horse Artillery became theSandfontein Artillery Regiment, and had three years to design and implement new regimental insignia.[7]
| From | Honorary Colonel | To |
| From | Officers Commanding[3] | To |
| 1980 | CommandantRoy Andersen[2][a][b] | 1985 |
| 1985 | Commandant Johan Van Wyk | 1986 |
| 1986 | Commandant Brent Chalmers | 1988 |
| 1988 | Commandant Ivor Rimmer | 1991 |
| 1991 | Commandant Raymond Bothé | 1994 |
| 1994 | Lt Col Mark Dabner | 2001 |
| 2001 | Major Ian McDonald | 2005 |
| 2005 | Major Albert D. Pestana | 2015 |
| 2015 | Major Johan Agenbag | 2017 |
| 2017 | Major Richard Ngwenya | 20 October 2025 |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
The Freedom of Entry into theCity of Johannesburg was bestowed on the Regiment in 1964.[3]
The regiment celebrated their 110th Anniversary in 2014.[8][2]
On 11 June 2007 the THA shared aRoyal Salute alongside theHonourable Artillery Company, (HAC) at the traditional saluting base, theTower of London, in honour of the official birthday ofPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, consort toQueen Elizabeth II. It was the first time that any non-Commonwealth troops participated in such an event in theUnited Kingdom.[8][2]
On 16 December 2013 the THA had the honour of firing a 21 gun national salute for the president at the official parade to commemorate theDay of Reconciliation and also in honour of the late PresidentNelson Mandela at the occasion of the unveiling of this statue at theUnion Buildings.[8][2]
| Awarded to Transvaal Horse Artillery |
|---|
 |
The two Transvaal Horse Artillery guns uncoupled and swung into action; the white gunners and black auxiliaries demonstrated significant courage in fighting back from such an exposed position with ammunition being rushed across from inconveniently parked munition wagons. A German shell burst killed Battery Sergeant-Major Harris and UDF artillery casualties rose; by noon both guns were out of action.
