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| Kimberley Regiment | |
|---|---|
 SANDF Kimberly Regiment emblem | |
| Active | 1890 to present |
| Country | South Africa |
| Allegiance | |
| Branch | |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Light infantry |
| Size | One battalion |
| Part of |
|
| Garrison/HQ | Kimberley |
| Battle honours |
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| Insignia | |
| Company level Insignia |  |
| SA Motorised Infantry beret bar circa 1992 |  |
TheKimberley Regiment is aninfantryregiment of theSouth African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of aBritishArmy Reserve or United StatesArmy National Guard unit.
The regiment's origins lie in the early, lawless,diamond rush days inKimberley in the 1870s. To bring law and order to the region, which was then known asGriqualand West, the government encouraged the formation of part-time volunteer forces. Among them were theKimberley Light Horse and theDu Toitspan Hussars, both formed in 1876, which amalgamated in 1877 to form theDiamond Fields Horse. Volunteers from the DFH served in the9th Frontier War in 1877, in operations in Griqualand West in 1878, and in theBasutoland Gun War in 1880 and 1881.
Kimberley later raised two more units, theVictoria Rifles of Kimberley in 1887, and theKimberley Scots in 1890. They, along with theDiamond Fields Artillery,[1] amalgamated in 1890 to form theKimberley Rifles. Both theDFH and theKimberley Rifles served in the 1896-1897Bechuanaland campaign. In 1899, the two units amalgamated to form theKimberley Regiment.[2]
Regimental traditions have survived from each of the constituent cavalry, artillery and rifle units, with a distinctly Scottish element very much in evidence in the uniforms, pipe band and regimental culture to this day.[1]
During theAnglo-Boer War of 1899 to 1902, the Regiment helped to defend the city during the four-month-longSiege of Kimberley. It is one of only two regiments of the British Empire holding as a Battle Honour the defence of its own city - in this instanceDefence of Kimberley.[1]
On 1 July 1913 the Regiment was embodied in theCitizen Force of theUnion Defence Forces, as the7th Infantry (Kimberley Regiment).
DuringWorld War I, it fought in theGerman South-West Africa campaign in 1915, providing two battalions. It further provided 'C' Company of the composite 1st Regiment of the1st South African Brigade which fought inFrance. AtDelville Wood, PrivateWilliam Faulds (later CaptainVC MC) was the only South African to be awarded theVictoria Cross for his part in that epic battle.[1]
The title of the Regiment reverted toKimberley Regiment in 1932.
DuringWorld War II, the Kimberley Regiment fought inItaly in 1944 and 1945, forming the Motor Battalion together with theImperial Light Horse Regiment[3] in the Armoured Brigade of the6th South African Armoured Division throughout the Italian Campaign.[1] Winning Battle Honours and awards for bravery, the Kimberley Regiment also suffered more casualties than any other South African regiment in the campaign.
Kimberley Regiment was the first to become officially bilingual (English and Afrikaans) in South Africa, in 1963. It was later, in 1977, the first South African Regiment to apply to become multiracial, although the request was not approved at the time.[1]
The regiment served in theSouth African Border War in the 1970s and 1980s.
Since 1994 it has been deployed in peace-keeping roles in theSudan and theDemocratic Republic of Congo.[1]
| From | Honorary Colonel | To |
| From | Officer Commanding | To |
| From | Regimental Sergeants Major | To |
The twenty authorised Battle Honours[1] on the Regimental Colour include:
| Awarded to Kimberley Regiment |
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